Fr. Joe Haugh passed away in 2020, but before then, he gave the president “a very special blessing that we all cherish very much,” according to a letter Trump sent his family
Donald Trump spent time with the local priest in the village of Doonbeg(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
An Irish priest promised Donald Trump a place in heaven during his son’s 2019 visit to Co. Clare.
Father Joe Haugh, a local priest in Doonbeg, where Trump’s golf resort is located, met with the now-president’s sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, several years back. The two eldest Trump sons had paid a visit to their family’s resort and ventured into the local village to visit pubs. There, they were greeted by Fr. Haugh, who presented them with a framed photograph of Doonbeg Castle.
The priest, who had formerly said that he would save Trump a place in heaven, promised his sons that the whole Trump family’s space in the afterlife is secure.
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Fr. Haugh explained his desire to thank the Trump family, saying to the Press Association, “I wanted to give them a gift to thank them very much for all they do for the area.
“They provide around 300 jobs here; no one else is doing that for us. Students work there in the summer and are going back to university with thousands in their pocket.”
“The vegetables they use, the meat, the fish for the restaurant, that all comes from local suppliers, the area needs the Trump hotel.”
Fr Joe Haugh passed away in 2020 and his family received a letter from Trump(Image: www.killaloediocese.ie)
Fr. Haugh has met with various members of the Trump family over the years, but told the press that he has never seen any of them attending mass.
“No no, I don’t ever see them at mass, but that’s OK, they do enough for us,” he said. “Look at the crowds that came out to the streets and the pubs to welcome them to the village; they were so happy to see them and have them back in Clare.”
“They’re very welcome here,” he added.
The photograph that Don Jr. and Eric graciously accepted is one that is often found in gift shops and shows the remains of the famous castle, which dates back to the 16th century. It overlooks the Doonbeg River and is a popular tourist draw.
Donald Trump bought the hotel and golf resort in 2014
Fr. Haugh passed away on April 4, 2020, and Trump sent a message of condolence to his family, saying, “As you know, Father Joe meant a lot to me, my sons and the entire community.”
Trump also noted that during the 2016 reopening of the golf resort, Fr. Haugh had provided a blessing, writing in the address to his brother Tommy, “Your brother provided a very special blessing that we all cherish very much.”
“Father Joe’s loss will be felt deeply amongst all of us, and we are so grateful to have had the opportunity to know him and spend time with him,” Trump added.
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