Galway activists granted bail after Doonbeg golf protest during Trump visit
Two women charged under the Public Order Act were released on bail after staging an anti-war protest on the seventh green at Trump Doonbeg as presidential helicopters approached.
Disruption on the seventh green
Two activists from County Galway appeared before a special court sitting following an incident on the seventh green of the Trump Doonbeg golf links in County Clare. The event occurred on Saturday afternoon during the third day of the Amgen Irish Open golf tournament. Gardaí intervened at 3:05pm as the United States presidential helicopter, Marine One, was in the air preparing to land at the coastal resort. Social media footage showed police officers removing both individuals from the course in front of spectators gathered in an adjacent grandstand.
The two women, identified as 41-year-old theatre artist Emma O'Grady of Inis Oírr and 35-year-old community worker Áine Ní Thréinir of Salthill, wore anti-war T-shirts and shouted slogans on the course. Their demonstration took place alongside another police intervention from the previous night, when gardaí arrested a woman in her 20s on Friday evening for allegedly trespassing on the Doonbeg property.
- A woman in her 20s is arrested for trespassing on the Doonbeg golf links
- Gardaí arrest Emma O'Grady and Áine Ní Thréinir on the seventh green
- Ennis District Court grants bail to the defendants with conditions to stay away from the resort
- Donald Trump departs Ireland following the golf tournament visit
- Remanded defendants scheduled to appear before Kilrush District Court
Court appearance and bail terms
During a special sitting at Ennis District Court on Saturday night, O'Grady and Ní Thréinir faced formal charges under Section 6 of the Criminal Justice Public Order Act. The statute defines an offence as using threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour with the intent to provoke a breach of the peace in a public place. Judge Adrian Harris granted legal aid to defence solicitor Daragh Hassett to represent both accused women throughout the proceedings.
Gardaí raised no objection to bail during the Saturday night hearing. Judge Harris granted bail under the agreed condition that both defendants stay away from the Trump Doonbeg golf resort and remain on good behaviour. The court remanded O'Grady and Ní Thréinir to appear next before Kilrush District Court on 20 October. All three women detained over the two-day period on the golf links were brought before the special court sitting.
Protests and regional security measures
A large deployment of gardaí secured the Ennis courthouse on Saturday night, where closed perimeter gates separated officers from a small gathering of protesters and supporters outside. Following the brief court appearance, O'Grady spoke to describe the timing of their arrest on the golf links.
At 3.05pm we were arrested by gardaí on the seventh green just as Trump's helicopters were in the air landing.
O'Grady stated that the demonstration aimed to express opposition to military transit through Shannon Airport and state expenditure connected to the presidential stopover.
We were engaging in a peaceful protest displaying 'US warplanes out of Shannon' on our T-shirts and saying that 'Trump is unwelcome', calling for a free Palestine and calling for the US military out of Shannon.
The activist also addressed the financial cost of public resources allocated to secure the private visit across County Clare.
We wanted to highlight that we want the US military out of Shannon and the Irish Government is spending €20 million on security for a private trip this weekend. It is just wrong.
Donald Trump arrived in Ireland on Saturday, making a brief stop in the capital before travelling to his golf links in County Clare for the Amgen Irish Open. Gardaí stated that a substantial security operation will continue across County Clare, with road and movement restrictions around Doonbeg until the president departs Ireland on Sunday evening.
