ACP Statement on the Irish Open Golf Tournament 2026
We, in the Association of Catholic Priests, are very disappointed at the choice of Trump’s course in Doonbeg, Co Clare, for next year’s Irish Open Golf tournament. Given the excitement generated by the K Club, this, by contrast generates anger. The choice of the venue is another example of appeasing Donald Trump.
As President of the United States, he is promoting many policies that are directly contrary to the message of Jesus —the cutting of US aid, with major consequences for the poor around the world; the harassing and imprisoning of emigrants; supporting Israeli action against the Palestinians; and many other examples.
We believe it is inappropriate, even shameful, to provide him with the platform to promote himself and all that he stands for in this country. It is probably too much to expect our government to intervene in this decision, but we hope that the many Irish people who share our unhappiness will make their voices heard in whatever way they can. Maybe even some of our Irish golfers will take a stand by not participating in the event.
Fri 12 Sept 2025
That is what I thought when I heard the announcement yesterday. Would golfers and the public stay away? I agree with your statement and your previous one on Allianz.
People in glasshouses shouldn’t throw golf balls, need to get your own house in order.
Sheep.
You forgot to mention when criticizing Trump that his government overturned Roe v Wade ruling, which meant that there was no longer a constitutional right to abortion in the US. Trump’s government has also defunded the Planned Parenthood organisation which is the biggest provider of abortions in the United States, and it will likely lead to the saving of thousands of lives of unborn children, the most vulnerable human beings in society, unlike Ireland where the taxes of Irish people have funded the homicide of 60,000 innocent unborn babies since 2018.
You also didn’t mention that his handling of immigrants isn’t about all immigrants, but illegal immigrants, in fact, Obama deported more illegal immigrants than Trump in his first term.
As regards USAID, there is nothing stopping the EU from filling in the gap. Why should US taxpayers fund the world, including projects which included indirect funding of some terrorist organisations, at a time when the US has massive debts?
As regards Israel, the US has always supported the only democratic nation in the region as it’s surrounded by dictatorships that want to destroy it, and even Trump, like many others, isn’t happy with Netanyahu and his actions.
Of course, Trump can be totally boorish, and his take on Putin and Ukraine is a disaster and very strange. But I would support Trump any day on his actions against abortion, compared to Biden/Harris who weren’t averse to late term abortions, but I wouldn’t support some of his other policies. Nevertheless, the criticism of Trump above should take everything into account rather than being selective.
I came here to make a comment and discovered you had already posted exactly what I planned to say. Until your last paragraph that is. Perhaps you didn’t have the benefit of reading President Trumps post today on social media calling on all NATO countries to stop buying Russian oil and to impose sanctions on countries who do, namely India and China.
There is a ridiculous and dangerous game being played by NATO member states leaders who are urging the US to take unilateral action on sanctions whilst maintaining purchases of oil/gas from Russia and normal trading with India and China. If NATO is to thwart Putin, it will only do so by providing a united front and acting as a bloc economically as well as militarily. In fact, there will be no need for military action if they can just use their economic clout and show some backbone.
It is difficult for us cradle Catholics not to be single-issue voters. I found it helpful to examine the character of the person for whom I will vote. Are they, in Pope Francis words “scandalized by the plight of the poor, migrants and prisoners and other societal injustices”? Does their life respect others or is wealth and personal achievements their priority?
I suppose the ACP need something to make them feel relevant given the fact it’s an organisation predominantly of Boomers and zero young Priest members for obvious reasons.
I wonder what age bracket Alan Lawless speaks from? As to “Robert”‘s set of encomia for Trump, they seem quite skewed to this old boomer. For instance, “late term abortions” are medical emergencies threatening the life of the mother (and perhaps covered by Catholic ethics of double effect).
Doonbeg will be a great location and we are all excited about it.
Trump Doonbeg is a fantastic venue and a great employer in the area and thank God someone, i.e. Trump, saw the massive opportunity/benefit and value of the links and what it would bring to Clare/Ireland.
When Trump was elected first time round it was the now deceased parish priest of Doonbeg, a lovely man, his name escapes me, who spoke to RTE’s Morning Ireland and espoused all that was virtuous about President Trump. He couldn’t wait to meet him as President.
And now we have the ACP saying that the Irish Open should be pulled from Doonbeg because of the connection with Trump and because of what he stands for. Well that won’t happen.
As a Catholic I have to admire the protestant Trump is his defense of the unborn (didn’t hear the ACP being annoyed when the liberal, pro abortion President Biden, a Catholic, visited Ireland).
In his first presidency, Trump had a statue of Our Lady of Fatima displayed in the White House. A most noble and Catholic thing to do.
He attends Mass, with his Catholic wife. She should have known better than to marry a divorcee!! Anyway!
He regularly references God in his speeches. (Might be playing to the crowd but he does it nonetheless)
As for his actions, he pulled USAID, check out what they have been doing worldwide to corrupt generations of children.
DEI: no, not Mater Dei but the rotten policy of exclusion and he has initiated it’s demise.
Yes, Mr Trump might be guilty of some actions not in line with good moral codes but he is now trying his best to bring Christian values to America’s core with it we have a rise in US church attendances and a greater respect for morality (see Charlie Kirk, Candace Owens, Matt Walsh, etc.) so I advise the ACP, to instead of lobbing sensationalist grenades, that they concentrate on the immoral behaviours and actions of our own deluded, self-important politicians who increasingly are guiding us all towards a country so left of centre that we have falling church attendances, children unable to pray, increased family break-up, anti-Christian attitudes prevailing in the media, lack of community and immorality widespread.
Finally if you had such a problem with what President Trump stands for remember what we were all told when we were kids in Catechism class ‘Pray!’ and I too will pray that we return to the Christian values, those now returning to the US and to have them back here with us in Ireland
And I will Pray that the Irish Open wil be a great success and we’ll have it back in Doonbeg in 2027 too.
Fr Haugh was his name, a lovely Holy priest…Pray for him and say a mass for him please 🙏
Jesus was crucified because he became involved in politics! Should his followers not do the same?
Please give us a break from Trumpist cecity.
We all know the amorality of the fascist takeover. Destruction of the environment, of people’s health (with a vaccine denier in charge and millions stripped of insurance and assistance), of universities and free speech, of all democratic institutions and “checks and balances”, of LGBT rights and protections, of pregnant women’s health and dignity, of gun control. And much more.
It was great to see such diversity of comment on this website. This could lead to an interesting debate. Is that not what Synodality is all about? Keeping in mind the need for prayer, the to avoid the media’s own opinions, being true to one’s conscience and making up your own mind about Mr.Trump, President of the United States.
It is ironic that a man who famously cheats at golf has been given the prestige of hosting the Irish Open!
Ireland could not refuse the use of Shannon for rendition flights during the Iraq War and even to inspect them would have been construed as “an unfriendly act” (which would have been costly). Pouring plamás on Trump as a golfer and making much of his golf course is mere peanuts in comparison. “It costs nothing to be nice” and to tug the forelock. At least we have not been forced to stage a State Visit and to arrest pro-Palestine protestors en masse. The essential thing is to avoid Trump having the same destructive impact on us that he has on his own country. Suppose he demanded the extradition or deportation of Rosie O’Donnell as the price of his favour? Suppose he proposed that we become the 51st State? Would we resist as manfully as Brazil or Canada have done?