Ireland has Don good

>> Doonbeg visit to discuss sand dunes >> Porn actress trial woes delayed return

- LOUISE BURNE, FERGHAL BLANEY and CILLIAN SHERLOCK 

FORMER US President Donald Trump said he has "been treated well" in Ireland as he started the first day of his whistle-stop trip to Clare.

The 76-year-old, who is facing 34 felony charges over alleged hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels, will return to the US this evening following a 24-hour stop-off.

Trump reportedly had to cancel an earlier trip last month because he was indicted by a New York court over the payments to Ms Daniels.

The main piece of business on yesterday's agenda was a meeting with locals concerned about sand dunes on the resort being decimated by storm damage if anti-erosion sea walls are not urgently installed.

The Doughmore Coastal Protection Group pleaded with the ex-POTUS to help save the resort dunes from extreme storms and climate change.

Planning authorities have refused permission for the sea walls and last night Liam Ryan, one of the group's spokespeople, called on the Government to "wake up" and allow planning. When he arrived at the hotel after 8pm, Mr Trump was asked by reporters about Ireland's lucrative corporate tax rates luring American busi7 nesses away from the US.

He said that, like himself, US businesses have always been treated well in Ireland and had been "lured" to the county.

He was asked by reporters if he would prefer to see that tax paid in the US. Trump said: "I won't answer that question in your country, a lot of people would say yes. But Ireland has done a good job, you've lured a lot of companies in. They love it here, they really love it here.

"They've been treated well just like I've been treated well.

"This has been a great success".