President Trump is met with music and dancers as he touches down at his Irish golf resort

The President’s sons Donald Junior and Eric Trump poured pints of Guinness and chatted with locals last night in the tiny Irish village in which they and their father are staying at his golf course and hotel resort.

Supporters and fans posed for selfies and waved American flags as they mingled with the President’s sons, who run the business which employs 300 people in a village with a population of just 262.

The Trump Organization has owned the Trump International Golf Links And Hotel since 2014, in Doonbeg in County Clare on the west coast of Ireland. 

Yesterday evening the President was given a warm welcome to the tiny village when his helicopter Marine One touched down at the hotel, as the village erupted into a carnival of celebration with ceili music and Irish dancers taking over the main street. 

Donald Trump Jr. (centre), and Eric Trump (right), the sons of US President Donald Trump, behind the bar in Tubridy’s Bar in the village of Doonbeg, Co Clare, on the first day of US President Donald Trump’s visit to the Republic of Ireland

Don Jr and Eric chatted with locals and pulled pints of Guinness in the popular local watering hole on Wednesday night

Don Jr and Eric chatted with locals and pulled pints of Guinness in the popular local watering hole on Wednesday night

Eric Trump (right) and Donald Jr then moved on to Madigan's pub in Doonbeg to serve thirsty locals

Eric Trump (right) and Donald Jr then moved on to Madigan’s pub in Doonbeg to serve thirsty locals

Donald Trump Jr. (centre), and Eric Trump (right), with Father Joe Haugh (left) in Igoe's Pub in Doonbeg

Donald Trump Jr. (centre), and Eric Trump (right), with Father Joe Haugh (left) in Igoe’s Pub in Doonbeg

Crowds of well-wishers came out to  greet the Trump sons in Doonbeg, which has received enormous investment from their corporation

Crowds of well-wishers came out to  greet the Trump sons in Doonbeg, which has received enormous investment from their corporation

A supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump is seen during a visit by Trump's sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr. to a local pub in Doonbeg

A supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump is seen during a visit by Trump’s sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr. to a local pub in Doonbeg

The Clare village only has a population of 262 but a large percentage seemed to have taken to the streets to see the Trumps

The Clare village only has a population of 262 but a large percentage seemed to have taken to the streets to see the Trumps

A woman leans out of a window, smartphone in hand, to get a glimpse of President Trump's sons in Doonbeg

A woman leans out of a window, smartphone in hand, to get a glimpse of President Trump’s sons in Doonbeg

Yesterday the President was forced to deny rumours that his stay in the Republic was in fact merely a marketing gimmick for the loss-making resort, after the White House initially tried to schedule his meeting with the Taoiseach at Doonbeg.

Asked about Doonbeg he denied he was simply trying to tout his golf course, saying: ‘This trip is really about great relationships that we have with the U.K. and I really wanted to do this stop in Ireland.

‘It was very important to me because of the relationship I have with the people and with your prime minister.’

Earlier Mr Trump met Leo Varadkar at Shannon airport. Their conversation touched on the Brexit Irish border issue – with Mr Trump slipping into old habits and referring to a ‘wall’ instead of a border’.

In the morning he took part in a multinational D-Day ceremony in Portsmouth and today will commute from Doonbeg to the commemoration in Normandy, France before returning to Ireland for another 24 hours of golf and relaxation. 

Marine One touches down outside the Trump International Golf Links And Hotel in Doonbeg

Marine One touches down outside the Trump International Golf Links And Hotel in Doonbeg

Mr Trump has owned the resort since 2014, in the tiny town of Doonbeg in County Clare on the west coast of Ireland

Mr Trump has owned the resort since 2014, in the tiny town of Doonbeg in County Clare on the west coast of Ireland

Trump supporters awaiting the President's arrival in the tiny Co Clare village of Doonbeg where Mr Trump will be staying at the golf course and hotel he bought there in 2014

Trump supporters awaiting the President’s arrival in the tiny Co Clare village of Doonbeg where Mr Trump will be staying at the golf course and hotel he bought there in 2014

Local people watch a Ceili Dance as they await the arrival of President Donald Trump in the village of Doonbeg in County Clare on the first day of his visit to the Republic of Ireland

Local people watch a Ceili Dance as they await the arrival of President Donald Trump in the village of Doonbeg in County Clare on the first day of his visit to the Republic of Ireland

The powerful military helicopter made for an unusual sight over the rural Irish countryside

The powerful military helicopter made for an unusual sight over the rural Irish countryside

A small group of locals came out to greet Mr Trump, who has created jobs in the village

A small group of locals came out to greet Mr Trump, who has created jobs in the village

Schoolchildren performed Irish dancing in Shannon as First Lady Melania Trump looked on, while her husband met with Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadker

Schoolchildren performed Irish dancing in Shannon as First Lady Melania Trump looked on, while her husband met with Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadker

Melanis posed with the dancers and musicians during the First couple's brief stop in Shannon yesterday afternoon

Melanis posed with the dancers and musicians during the First couple’s brief stop in Shannon yesterday afternoon

The First Lady was presented with a bouquet of flowers by one of the dancers, before she flew on to Doonbeg, Co Clare

The First Lady was presented with a bouquet of flowers by one of the dancers, before she flew on to Doonbeg, Co Clare

Mr Trump is staying a short distance away in his five-star hotel where he landed in his Marine One shortly before 6.30pm on Wednesday. Local residents arrived in their droves to mark the visit.

A number of young men could be seen with the American flag draped over their shoulders while American and Irish flags were erected side by side on lampposts to ensure the president was made to feel welcome.

Paul Markham, who lives in nearby Kilmurry McMahon, is a huge Trump supporter. He enlisted the help of a few neighbours to make an American-inspired top hat, which he hopes will catch the attention of Mr Trump if he visits the village.

Speaking in Doonbeg, he said: ‘I think it’s a great cead mile failte (Irish welcome) for him to Ireland and to this historic village.

‘The atmosphere is building up and we are all here to welcome the Trump family, it’s a great occasion.

‘He’s providing employment for west Clare and tourism. We are hoping Donald will come down from his hotel and into the village.

‘People are waiting anxiously waiting to greet him. He’ll get a great welcome.’

Michael Leahy travelled the short distance from Kilrush to welcome the American president.

There were supporters (pictured above at Shannon airport) as well as protestors for Trump's Ireland visit but villagers at Doonbeg are broadly in favour of the President

There were supporters (pictured above at Shannon airport) as well as protestors for Trump’s Ireland visit but villagers at Doonbeg are broadly in favour of the President

Wearing the Make America Great Again cap, he said: ‘It’s such a wonderful thing to have such a significant historical figure coming to this parish.

‘I think he’s of great significance from a point of view of world peace. He’s a very peace-making president.’

However, as common with most of his visits, the controversial figure attracts protesters.

Cork man John Lennon travelled to Doonbeg to express his opposition to the president.

He accused Mr Trump of having ‘no respect for women’.

He said: ‘I am ashamed that the Taoiseach was at Shannon airport meeting him, a man who has no respect for the truth.

‘There are two homes in Ireland for foreign people to be entertained, Leinster House or Aras an Uachtarain (the presidential home). I am embarrassed for the people of Ireland. Trump is a scumbag.’

US veterans Ken Mayers 82, and Tarak Kauff, 77 were also there to protest against the visit.

Ken, a former US Marine Corps Major, said: ‘Donald Trump represents the murder that the United States is creating all over the world.

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump disembark Air Force One upon arrival at Shannon Airport in Shannon, County Clare, Ireland

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump disembark Air Force One upon arrival at Shannon Airport in Shannon, County Clare, Ireland

Mr Trump met Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and referred to the Irish border as a 'wall' in a conversation about Brexit

Mr Trump met Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and referred to the Irish border as a ‘wall’ in a conversation about Brexit

‘Unfortunately the Irish government is complicit because they are not enforcing their neutrality.

‘Three million US soldiers have passed through Shannon Airport since 2003 on their way to wars in the Middle East and North Africa.’

The president’s 400-acre hotel and golf course, which sits above the Atlantic’s waves, is a large employer in the area, and many who call Doonbeg home believe it benefits economically from the visitors.

The Trump Organization has poured tons of millions into Doonbeg since it bought the resort in 2014 but it has yet to make a profit.

The club has been hurt by shutdowns during renovations over the years, but expected to start making money in 2017. Instead, it posted operating losses that year and, according to unaudited figures provided by the Trump Organization, did again the following year.

Losses notwithstanding, the financial trends for the Irish resort appear to be heading in the right direction. Operating losses last year were a third of those a year earlier.

His arrival in Ireland comes amid a massive security operation in west Co Clare. A ring of steel has been erected around the five-star Doonbeg resort.

Around 3km of barriers and 3km of 6ft-high fencing have been put in place for the visit. And 1,500 gardai have been drafted in throughout the area for three days.

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