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A rural village tucked into a corner of west Clare is making last-minute preparations to welcome Donald Trump.<\/p>\nA rural village tucked into a corner of west Clare is making last-minute preparations to welcome Donald Trump.<\/p>\n
While the controversial US president is accustomed to protests and public outrage wherever he goes, he will be warmly greeted with smiles and cheers from the locals of Doonbeg.<\/p>\n
The village, home to Mr Trump\u2019s golf and hotel resort, has been bedecked in American flags and bunting to ensure the investor is made to feel welcome.<\/p>\n
The small parish, home to around 800 people, has become the focal point of his visit to Ireland.<\/p>\n
A major security operation has seen hundreds of garda\u00ed, members of the Defense Forces, private security, sniffer dogs and the Secret Service trawling roads, fields and villages in west Clare.<\/p>\n
Members of the navy were also spotted off the coast checking small boats.<\/p>\n
Local residents living close to Trump International Golf Links and Hotel have been issued security passes and photographic identification while travelling to and from their homes.<\/p>\n
Mr Trump, who is due to arrive at Shannon Airport on Wednesday, has been hailed for bringing massive employment to the area.<\/p>\n
More than 300 staff work at the Doonbeg resort, making him the biggest local employer.<\/p>\n
John Flanagan, chairman of Doonbeg Community Development, said he hopes the president will stop in the village.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are planning music in the bars and doing activities like pony rides,\u201d he said. \u201cWe would love if Mr Trump came down to the village but we doubt he will.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf he did visit the village and shook a few hands, that would make people\u2019s lives. His visit is one of the biggest events that will happen here.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat would we have without Donald Trump? You take the hotel out and we are back to square one. It would be a rural town with a few tourists stopping in July and August.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr Trump is a big contributor here to local businesses. We are delighted he is coming, it\u2019s a great honor. There\u2019s not many heads of state that visit Doonbeg.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe ruffles some feathers but he\u2019s here as the president of the US.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walls have been freshly painted and new flowers planted to ensure the president and his wife Melania are warmly received, despite protesters who have set up camp near Shannon Airport.<\/p>\n
Murty Doyle, who works for Doonbeg Community Development, spent a few hours watering plants in the heavy rain, and hopes the sun will be out for Mr Trump\u2019s arrival.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have been preparing for him coming for a long time. We are delighted to hear he is coming, it\u2019s great for the area,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope to have a pint of cider with him.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a big community effort to get the show on the road because it won\u2019t happen again. There\u2019s a great atmosphere and everyone is so happy and jolly about it.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s brought a lot of employment to a small village, we would be lost without him. The protesters are wasting their time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sharon Pinder, who works in a local newsagent, said there is great excitement in the village.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s brought great employment in the area. We are all hoping to catch a glimpse of him,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s made a huge difference to the community, it\u2019s really important. You won\u2019t have anyone say a bad word about him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis political views is a different story. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion about him but he is the president and he is going to get negativity, but we have great time for him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chicago tourist Lisa Shannon, who stopped off in Doonbeg as part of her tour of Ireland, said she was \u201cdisappointed\u201d to learn of his visit to the area.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t like anything about him. We get embarrassed when people ask what we think about him,\u201d she added. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing I like about his presidency.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caitlin Hitchinson, also from Chicago, agreed, saying she does not like his policies.<\/p>\n
Businessman and bar owner Tommy Tubridy said Mr Trump has put Doonbeg on the world map.<\/p>\n
The owner of Tubridy\u2019s bar said: \u201cIt\u2019s great he\u2019s coming to our parish, it\u2019s a fantastic development for Doonbeg and west Clare.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s the president of America and was elected by the people so we appreciate him coming to Ireland.\u201d<\/p>\n