“For the backdrop to his first official visit to Ireland, President Trump wanted to promote his golf course on the nation’s rocky west coast. The Irish government countered with the grand staging of an ancient castle,” the AP reports.

“In the end, neither side got what they wanted. The compromise location for Trump’s meeting Wednesday with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar was the VIP lounge at Shannon Airport, just down the hallway from the food court and duty-free shop.”

“And the meeting itself was more than just a warm handshake for the cameras, as the two broke sharply on what would be best for Ireland if the United Kingdom were to leave the European Union.”

Irish Times: “The Trump administration had been considering a visit to Ireland between the president’s trips to Britain and France in June. But disagreement has emerged over protocol issues.”

“While the Taoiseach’s preference is to meet Mr. Trump in Co Clare, Irish officials are reluctant to meet the U.S. president in his golf course in Doonbeg. Instead, the Government has pressed for a meeting in another location, preferably Dromoland Castle, located 50km away.”

“One White House source told The Irish Times on Thursday that the president was now favouring a visit to Scotland rather than Ireland during his European trip. But sources in Dublin on Thursday said they believed the Irish visit would still go ahead. … The unique nature of a potential visit – a U.S. president visiting his own private property in Ireland – has thrown up complex issues around protocol, and whether it constitutes a private or official visit.”

President Trump has cancelled his planned visit to Ireland in November, the Irish Times reports.

“The visit, which was expected to attract huge protests, had been announced by the White House at the end of August. At the time it said Mr Trump would visit Ireland as part of his planned trip to Europe in November, when he was due to attend the Armistice commemorations in Paris on November 11th.”

The Independent says the development will “come as a massive relief” to the Irish government.