Taoiseach says Donald Trump is ‘interested’ in a visit to Ireland

United States president-elect Donald Trump has expressed an interest in visiting Ireland.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny spoke to Mr Trump hours after his success in the American election.

Speaking to reporters Mr Kenny said the pair discussed the undocumented Irish in America and the possibility of a visit here.

“He said himself he would like to visit Ireland sometime so let us see when the administration takes up office what his schedule might be,” Mr Kenny said.

“I don’t have any indication of his coming at an early date.”

Mr Kenny was one of only nine world leaders to speak to Mr Trump within 24 hours of his election and the only leader of an European Union member state to speak with the Republican the day after his resounding victory.

The Taoiseach said they pair did not discuss the J1 visa, which thousands of Irish students avail of every summer.

Mr Kenny said it is not a case of “wringing hands” but dealing with the reality of the new administration.

He said his conversations were aimed at discussing the cultural, historical and economic links between America and Ireland and the need to maintain them.

Mr Kenny will be in New York from December 1st to the 3rd. The US president-elect lives in Trump Tower in Manhattan, a short walk from the hotel where the Taoiseach is scheduled to stay during his visit.

A spokesman for the Taoiseach told reporters earlier this week there were “no plans at present” to meet and no official request had been made.

The spokesman said on Friday that position had not changed.

However the Taoiseach is understood to have suggested the possibility of a face-to-face meeting.

The next US president is said to have been open to the proposal, depending on his schedule, and the matter was left with their respective staff to arrange.

There was no Irish official listening in the call to take notes because it was hastily arranged the day after Mr Trump’s election and took place late at night in Ireland.