US President Donald Trump is to visit Ireland on 5 June, the White House has confirmed.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Mr Trump will hold a bilateral meeting in Shannon when he arrives.

According to a statement issued this evening, Mr Trump and the US First Lady, Melania Trump, have accepted the invitation of Mr Varadkar to visit Ireland while they are in Europe for a state visit to the United Kingdom and for events in the UK and France to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

Speculation had been mounting in recent weeks that a visit would take place.

At the weekend, the Irish Embassy in Washington denied US media reports that a standoff had arisen over the location of a possible meeting between President Trump and the Taoiseach.

This evening’s statement from the White House does not give details of where Mr Trump will stay while in Ireland but it is expected that he will be based at his golf resort in Doonbeg, Co Clare.

It is understood he will spend at least two nights at Doonbeg before returning to the US on 7 June.

Tonight a spokeswoman for the Irish Embassy in Washington welcomed the announcement.

"Detailed arrangements around the visit will be made public in due course," she said.