Yesterday four US Army heavy-lift Chinook helicopters flew into Shannon Airport from Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel. They had arrived there from the UK.

We’ve also recorded eleven US Air Force C-17 Globemasters at the airport over the last 9 days. These are large, military transport aircraft, bringing in a lot of heavy equipment so that Trump and his entourage can spend time at his golf course in Doonbeg.

And we’ve logged several other US Army, Navy and Air Force planes coming in and out of Shannon. These have included C-40’s, which are military transport aircraft based on the Boeing 737, designed to carry high-priority cargo, passengers, or a combination of both.

It seems at this stage that the US military has fully occupied Shannon in preparation for the non-State visit by a US President that has caused untold suffering around the world. This flies in the face of Article 16.6.2 of the Irish Constitution that states "No military or armed force, other than a military or armed force raised or maintained by the Oireachtas, shall be raised or maintained for any purpose whatsoever."

The Irish Independent reports that more than 20 US military aircraft have touched down in Ireland over the past week to transport armoured vehicles and mobile command centres for his visit. And they describe it as “one of the most significant security operations in the history of the State”.

This is already evident around Shannon, and indeed other parts of Clare. Barriers being erected already, and traffic being re-routed, and its still two days out from a possible arrival by Trump.

Possible arrival ... because nobody seems to know if or when he might be where in Clare.

(With thanks to a supporter for the photo)