US President Donald Trump visits Ireland for meetings and golf tournament

US President Donald Trumpis in Ireland for a two-day visit.

He has arrived at Farmleigh House, in Phoenix Park, where he is meeting with Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin.

Trump's first visit was to the Áras an Uachtaráin - the official residence of the Irish president - where he had a courtesy call with Irish President Catherine Connolly.

He will also attend events at the US Ambassador to Ireland's residence, before attending the Amgen Irish Open golf tournament which is taking place at the Trump International Golf Links and Hotel Doonbeg in County Clare, which he owns.

He was greeted by Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Simon Harris and Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee at Dublin Airport on Saturday morning.

Trump was welcomed at the Áras an Uachtaráin by President Connolly.

President Connolly, an outspoken Gaza activist who has been critical of the US and said Trump is acting "like a bully" over tariffs, has come under pressure to raise issues in the Middle East during her brief meeting with the US president.

Sinn Féin and a series of other parties in the Republic who backed her in the Irish presidency campaign last year have called on her to raise Gaza during her meeting with Trump.

Ireland is one of the most pro-Palestinian countries in the European Union and has been criticised for its stance by Israel.

Thousands of people are expected at protests in Dublin.

A small number of crowd control barriers are beside the American Embassy in central Dublin but President Trump is not scheduled to be anywhere near the building.

Several protesters have also started to gather in Doonbeg, a few miles from Trump's hotel where he will attend the Irish Open.

He will be accompanied by his sons Eric and Donald Trump Junior.

There is a heavy Garda (Irish Police) presence, road closures and countless tricolour bunting through the village.

Sixty-year-old Jessie Phillips is in Doonbeg to protest

She lives in county Clare but is originally from Tennessee and said she was protesting as a "concerned member of the public".

"I just want him [President Trump] to see my placard so he knows I don't care for him and that my family doesn't care for him and that he's not welcome here or over there in my opinion."

Speaking earlier this week in the BBC's Borderlands podcast, Micheál Martin said: "We will have discussions with the president and there will be a reception in the American Embassy but I think he's also very anxious to get to Doonbeg and watch the Irish Open."

An avid golf fan, in July Trump said he hoped to travel to Doonbeg to watch the Irish Open.

In a special video message, he told the US Embassy's Fourth of July celebration event that he wants to see "Rory [McIlroy] and all the great players".

"There's nothing better than Irish-American friendship and I have a beautiful place over there - it's one of the best, most beautiful golf courses anywhere in the world," said Trump in his message, which was broadcast on a large screen.

"We have a place that's so top and we have the Irish Open going to be there.

"They call it Trump National, we sometimes use the name of the location, but it's Trump National Golf Club, and we're looking forward to it.

"We're going to have a tremendous celebration. I think I'm going to come over and I'm going to see it and watch. It'll be something very, very special."