SECURITY MEASURES:US MILITARY aircraft had yesterday begun arriving at Dublin airport as part of the security operation for US president Barack Obama's visit.
A fleet of vehicles used to transport Mr Obama around has already been in Dublin for some time under armed guard at a city centre hotel. Part of that fleet is a General Motors Cadillac, “The Beast”, that the president and US first lady travel in. The vehicle is bomb, bullet and missile-proof.
The presidential party will arrive at Dublin airport at 10am on Monday on Air Force One. A major security operation involving hundreds of armed and uniformed gardaí, Defence Forces troops and armed US security agents is in place at the airport.
Naval Service vessels are enforcing an exclusion zone on stretches of water the aircraft will fly low over on its approach to Dublin to minimise the risk of any rocket attack from the seas below.
However, all of the close protection around Mr Obama, as he moves around the country by car and helicopter and around visit locations on foot, will be run by the US security services.
After arrival in Dublin he will make a courtesy call on President Mary McAleese at Áras an Uachtaráin in the Phoenix Park before travelling to Farmleigh to meet Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
He is then expected to fly by helicopter, the missile-proof Marine One, to his ancestral home in Moneygall, Co Offaly.
On Monday evening Mr Obama will make a public address on College Green in Dublin. The area will be heavily policed by armed detectives while Army snipers will be deployed on rooftops and the Garda helicopters and fixed-wing surveillance aircraft will monitor the event from the skies.
