Phoenix Park to be closed for two days for Trump visit

Dublin's Phoenix Park will be closed to the public for two days due of the visit of US President Donald Trump to Dublin.

All gates and roads in the park will be closed from 11pm on Thursday 10 September and will not re-open until 6pm on Saturday 12 September.

The Office of Public Works said it apologises for any inconvenience this may cause and said if the operations involved in the visit are completed ahead of schedule, the gates will re-open earlier.

The closure means that members of the public will not be allowed to visit attractions in the park such as Dublin Zoo next Friday and Saturday, but it is understood access will be facilitated for staff.

In a statement, Dublin Zoo said it will be closed to visitors for Friday 11 September and Saturday 12 September due to the closure of all Phoenix Park gates and roads for operational reasons during these dates.

It says it will reopen as normal on Sunday 13 September.

Mr Trump is set to meet President Catherine Connolly at Áras an Uachtaráin on Saturday 12 September shortly after arriving in Dublin that morning.

It is understood that an event will also be held at the US Ambassador's residence in the Phoenix Park on the same day.

The Dublin leg of Mr Trump’s visit will be largely confined to the Phoenix Park for meetings with President Connolly and Taoiseach Micheál Martin.

The US president will leave the park on the Saturday afternoon and will head to his golf resort in Doonbeg, Co Clare where he will attend the Irish Open.