Doonbeg, County Clare — Ireland’s Defence Forces bomb disposal team responded to a security alert at Donald Trump’s Doonbeg Golf Links & Hotel on Wednesday, January 17, 2026, after staff discovered a suspicious package containing white powder. The incident prompted a response from the Army, fire brigade, and local police, known as the gardaí.
Golf Resort Briefly Shuts Down Amid Security Scare
A package containing an unidentified white powder triggered a bomb disposal alert at the former U.S. president’s Irish golf course.
- The Irish Defence Forces’ Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit examined a package at Trump Doonbeg.
- Gardaí are currently investigating the incident, offering no further details at this time.
- The resort, a frequent destination for the former president, has faced previous security concerns.
- Eric Trump visited the resort earlier this week before attending the World Economic Forum in Davos.
What happens when a suspicious package is found at a high-profile location like Trump Doonbeg? Security protocols are immediately activated, involving local law enforcement, emergency services, and specialized units like the Defence Forces’ EOD team to assess and neutralize any potential threat.
A Garda spokesperson stated, “We are currently dealing with an ongoing incident at a premises in west Clare. There will be no further comment at this time.” A Defence Forces spokesperson also declined to comment on ongoing operations, citing security reasons.
The resort, owned by the former U.S. president since 2014, has been the site of previous security incidents. In March 2025, several greens were deliberately damaged in what appeared to be a protest. Late in 2024, gardaí conducted a search of the complex following reported threats.
Eric Trump, the former president’s son, made a private visit to Doonbeg earlier this week before traveling to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Doonbeg Golf Links & Hotel is scheduled to host the Irish Open golf tournament in September, attracting some of the world’s leading golfers. While there has been speculation about a potential appearance by the former president, sources indicate his attendance is unlikely.
The former president has visited the resort several times since its purchase, including during his first term in office in 2019 and again in 2023.
Hotel and Trump Organization representatives were contacted for comment but had not responded as of this publication.
Worth a look
