G8 Summit Fermanagh,
Michelle Obama Dublin visit, Trinity College, Riverdance, Gaiety Theatre
Washington has released
details of the First Lady’s private trip to the Republic with daughters Malia
and Sasha next Monday and Tuesday, including a visit to Trinity College and a
special performance of Riverdance.
Mrs Obama will be shown
archives in the Old Library of the university documenting her husband’s Irish
ancestry and also view the Book of Kells.
The couple visited the
president’s ancestral homeland in Co Offaly in May 2011.
Mrs Obama will stay in a 5 Star Dublin Hotel next week.
The Riverdance troupe have
agreed to put on a special show at a city theatre, which will also be attended
by groups of local young people, President Michael D Higgins’ wife Sabina and
Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s wife Fionnuala.
On Tuesday, Mrs Obama and
her daughters plan to visit the Wicklow Mountains National Park, the White
House said.
She will also take the
opportunity to meet US embassy staff in Dublin during her short visit.
The Obamas will travel to
Germany after the G8 summit in Northern Ireland ends.
Meanwhile, a security source
has said there is no hard intelligence of any major public disorder planned in
the Republic of Ireland during the G8.
A police operation involving
900 Garda officers kicked off yesterday, with road checks in force along the border
counties in south Donegal, Leitrim, Cavan and Monaghan.
Senior officers said that,
while there are no official events planned for the Republic, they remain
conscious of the close proximity of the summit to the jurisdiction.
“We will be using all our
intelligence to watch people of interest, criminals, subversives and any other
people,” a security source said.
“The threat is significantly
high up there, as always.
“But there is no hard
intelligence or notifications of anything going on or of large social
protests,” he added.
Garda chiefs are working
side by side with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to address any
policing or security issues that may arise before, during and after the summit.
Up to 4,500 PSNI officers
will be on patrol during the gathering of the heads of the world’s eight
richest economies, including Mr Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Plans have also been drawn
up for special courts and extra detention cells at locations in the Irish
Republic, including Donegal and Monaghan, should disorder break out.
Gardai said that, as with
any high-profile event attended by world leaders, there is a heightened threat
and risk, but maintained that appropriate resources are in place to ensure the
security and well-being of the delegates and the community of the north west of
Ireland.
They plan to minimise any
disruption to local communities and keep roads open, but have already started
vehicle security checkpoints on roads leading to the Lough Erne Resort in Co
Fermanagh and where delegates are staying.
“In the event of any
protest, our focus will be to facilitate peaceful protest and ensure the safety
of all concerned,” gardai said.
Gardai have warned of
traffic disruptions across Dublin when the First Lady arrives.
A Garda spokesman said there
will be a security operation and a traffic management plan in place in and
around the Dublin 2 area on Monday and Tuesday, including rolling road
closures.
Commuters and students are
advised to give themselves extra time to travel around the city and use public
transport where possible.
“Our aim is to ensure that
any restrictions on traffic are kept to a minimum with the least amount of disruption
possible,” he added.
“We are particularly mindful
of second and third level exams taking place in schools and colleges in Dublin
city centre and we have liaised with local colleges and schools in the area.”
Kildare Street will be
closed to through traffic from tomorrow evening until Tuesday evening, but
access to local premises – including the Dail – will be facilitated.
Parking restrictions will be
in place around St Stephen’s Green.