Posted on 09/02/2019 7:59:24 PM PDT by Ennis85
US VICE PRESIDENT Mike Pence has touched down in Ireland this afternoon.
Air Force Two, the plane which carries the vice president and the second lady landed in Shannon Airport at around 4.30pm this afternoon.
Pence will meet with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar tomorrow as well as President Michael D Higgins during his visit.
The meeting with Varadkar for lunch and talks will take place in Farmleigh House with Varadkar saying today that his parents and partner Matt Barrett will also be present.
Pence is arriving in Shannon early this evening and will stay overnight in Trump Doonbeg – the Co Clare golf resort owned by the president where Trump himself visited earlier this year.
Varadkar and his partner Matt Barrett met with Pence during the Taoiseach’s St Patrick’s Day visit to the US earlier this year.
The Taoiseach extended an invitation to Pence, who has strong ancestral roots in Ireland, at that engagement in the Vice President’s Washington home.
Tomorrow’s visit is expected to be met with protests in Dublin – including one organised by Amnesty Ireland at the gates of the Dáil.
The NGO is hosting a ‘Disco at the Dáil’ to mark the presence of Pence, who has long been criticised for his positions on LGBT rights and abortion.
Protester
But not everyone was happy to see the vice president.
Clare poet Sarah Clancy was stopped by gardaí at Shannon Airport this afternoon as she tried to make her way towards the terminal carrying two placards.
Bellharbour-based Clancy was told by gardaí that they were concerned that US vice-president Mike Pence might be offended by the language on her signs.
Speaking at Shannon this afternoon, Clancy said: “That’s what I was hoping for but they (gardaí) asked me to move away from the area which I did.”
“Mike Pence should not be honoured. I very much fear that in years to come people will wish they stood up against this regime. Ireland we live in one of the most frees countries in the world. I can protest Mike Pence’s visit, his inhumanity, racism and homophobia without fear of persecution or retribution. All I face is ridicule from people who maybe don’t understand the crossroads we are at in the world at the moment. If we don’t speak out here when there is no risk to ourselves then who will?” Clancy added.
After moving away from the security checkpoint at Shannon, she was again approached by Gardaí and asked to move further along the road. Ms Clancy obliged and was met by a second protestor. The placards read: “No filter for fascists” and “Queers against Pence”.
“One of Mike Pence’s election campaigns was based around opposing the idea of recognising that LGBTQ+ people like me needed specific protections under the law. This is not the same as a crank on the internet being homophobic. Mike Pence brings the stature and power of his office as Vice President of the United States to a type of unnecessary toxic hate. In doing so he legitimises attacks, abuse and the politics of loathing,” Clancy said.
“He brings his thoughts and prayers and support for the NRA to any mass shooting that happens in the US. Pence never suggests that laws should be changed or even the most ridiculous war level weapons banned,” she added.
As part of the security operation, which is expected to cost up to €5m, additional fencing has also been erected along a section of the main approach road to the airport in anticipation of any possible protest against the visit.
However, while it’s understood that no such protest is expected, the Garda public order unit will remain on standby in Shannon.
Pence has his work cut out for him. Very evil place this Ireland has become — abortion and satan all around him.
checking on john roberts “family”??
The land of my ancestors birth. I so glad they left.
Sarah Clancy, gob shitte.
I think Pence is an honorable man.
He may not agree with you, but I don’t think he’s the type to totally rip you. He’ll explain his position. He should.
There are moral issues, and he has every right to come down with the moral approach.
If those who disagree wish to have a conversation about it, simply make your comments in the press. It will be covered.
You don’t need to demonize Pence. I don’t think he’s the type to demonize them.
Somethings are right. Some things are wrong.
Disagreements are bound to happen. That’s healthy if addressed in a healthy manner.
Yes, they expelled Jesus from the Emerald Isle years ago.
So now we have foreign countries trying to make laws for our country. God grief, don’t they have enough of their own problems to keep them busy?
... and brought back the snakes.
Soros has been very active in Ireland. We see the results of his pure evil against Christianity and all it stands for.
ping!
What an ignorant statement.
These people chose a perverted lifestyle that threatens our culture...and demand to be celebrated & "protected" to spread their perverted evil to others?
life is not about kowtowing to queers.
It is ok to tell a queer to shut up an just go to hell
Leo Varadakar: nothing says “Ireland” like a gay Indian head of state.
/sarc>
CC
OK so he’s staying at Doonbeg and flying to meetings in Dublin because...?
I think the activists are trying to trash Pence for his moral beliefs. I may have missed it, but I don’t believe the government is focused on Pence’s beliefs related to homosexuality or LGBT issues.
It’s interesting how much time and mud are lost and slung at Conservatives on these issues.
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