Gardaí have warned the public of rolling road closures and traffic restrictions for the M50 motorway ahead of Donald Trump's visit to Ireland this weekend.
These closures are to facilitate the US President's visit, which has been described by An Garda Síochána as an "extraordinary event" due to the sheer scale of the policing operating. They said that the policing and security operation for this visit will be “one of the biggest policing and security operations” organised by the force. (All quotes according to The Journal).
Restrictions will take place between Junction 3 (the M50/M1 interchange) and Junction 6 (Blanchardstown-Castleknock), with rolling road closures also in place across the M50 and around the Phoenix Park on Saturday morning.
The highest impact of the M50 traffic restrictions will take place between 8am and 9am on Saturday morning, when Mr Trump will meet with President Catherine Connolly at Phoenix Park, as well 12 and 1pm when the US President will travel to the airport to fly to Shannon.
All passengers that are due to fly from Shannon and Dublin have been advised to allow for extra travel time. Dublin Airport have asked passengers to allow for extra travel time on Saturday, with passengers maybe required to take alternative routes to access the airport.
According to The Journal, an aviation management source said that a stop could also be enforced for approximately 15 minutes until Mr Trump lands and leaves the airfield, should the US Secret Service request for it. This could lead to delays for planes flying into Dublin, as they will not be able to land until President Trump has left.
All gates and roads at Phoenix Park have been closed since Thursday to facilitate President Trump's meeting with President Catherine Connolly, and they will remain closed until 6pm on Saturday, with public access to attractions such as Dublin Zoo not facilitated during this time.
The Garda sub-aqua team were also pictured searching the water in Phoenix Park ahead of the visit.
The park have said that the gates may re open earlier than planned if operations are completed ahead of schedule.
It has also been reported that a large scale policing and security operation will being at the Trump International Golf Links & Hotel this evening, with restrictions placed on traffic and movement expected for West Clare over the weekend, ahead of Mr Trump's arrival at his golf course in Doonbeg.
This operation is to involve frontline uniform and plain clothes garda, who will be backed up by specialist units from the Special Tactics and Operations Command, like armed support and counter drone units.
It will also include policing units, national and local intelligence units, national public order units and special detective units, including four water canons.
All visitors to Shannon Airport are advised to have photo ID, while passengers should include photo ID and valid flight documents.
Ahead of the visit, Sinn Féin announced that they would be taking part in protests against Mr Trump's visit to Ireland, as the US continue to allow for the "onslaught against the Palestinian people", their leader, Mary Lou McDonald said. More on this here.
