Gardaí have already taken up security duties at Shannon Airport as preparations for a possible visit by US President Donald Trump continue.
While there has been no official confirmation of any visit by Mr Trump, it’s known that plans by different agencies have already swung into action ahead of a reported June 5th arrival.
Gardaí have been deployed at a usually unmanned roads security box at the entrance to Shannon Airport with officers monitoring traffic on at 24-basis since Thursday.
While there has been no confirmation of this from Gardaí, sources have confirmed the measure has been put in place in anticipation of a likely visit by the US President.
It’s also understood that over 1,000 Gardaí have been placed on standby for the massive security operation that will be required for Mr Trump’s visit.
However, while there has still been no formal confirmation of a visit, some doubt has now been cast over whether the US President will travel to his family-owned hotel and golf resort in West Clare.
There has been some disagreement between Irish and US officials over a venue for a possible meeting between Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and the President Trump.
It’s understood the Trump administration favours hosting the meeting at the Trump property in Doonbeg while the Taoiseach would prefer another venue, possibly Dromoland Castle.
Despite the apparent disagreement, it’s widely believed that the controversial visit will go ahead with protests likely to be held at a number of locations.
While using the Presidential helicopter could see Mr Trump transported from Shannon Airport to Doonbeg in around 15 minutes it’s not clear whether this is being considered as an option.
Sources have confirmed however that a road route would always have to be identified and available in case weather conditions or other issues affected plans to use air transport.
The route by road would take at least an hour. It has also emerged that at least two possible routes to Doonbeg have already been checked and confirmed if the President does travel by road.
It’s understood that both options are about 60 kilometres long with over 20 kilometres made up of motorway of dual-carriageway.
It’s also expected that Gardaí will be posted on the side of the motorway at 500m intervals while officers will take up positions on all flyovers and interchanges along the N19 and M18 sections.
One of the biggest elements of the massive security operation will be to identity, count and mark all manhole and drain covers on the entire route.
Once this task has been completed, it’s believed that members of the Army Engineers Corps will move in and weld each of the metal covers in place.
Once the welding operation has been completed, the seals will be checked and double-checked before the Presidential motorcade travels the route.
The measures are similar to those undertaken ahead of the visit of former President George W Bush in 2004.
It’s also known that as many as 30 US officials, including US secret service agents, visited the Trump property earlier this month.
It’s expected that further advance parties will arrive over the next few weeks as the security operation is stepped up.
In May 2005, President George W Bush was a no-show at Shannon despite extensive and costly security measures being put in place. Air Force One, the Presidential jet, was due to make a refuelling stop at Shannon on its way from Tiblisi to Washington.
The operation, which involved An Garda Síochána, the Irish Army and Irish Aer Corps, was reported to have cost the state around €250,000 even though the stopover didn’t take place.
The previous year, in June 2004, President Bush visited Ireland to attend an EU/US summit at Dromoland Castle. 6,000 gardaí and troops were deployed for that operation at a cost of €6m.
