CLARE COUNTY Council has given the green light to US President Donald Trump’s golf resort at Doonbeg for new upgrade works.
In a decision issued on Wednesday, the Council has granted planning permission to TIGL Ireland Enterprises after concluding that the works would not seriously injure the amenities of the property in the vicinity. The Council made its decision, with 13 conditions attached, taking into account the established onsite tourism and recreation uses.
The Council has given the project the green light after eco-experts for the resort stated that the works will not have any impact on the protected snail, the Vertigo Angustior.
The application lodged in February of last year proposed the change of use of Doughmore House at the resort from office/ administration use to leisure/recreation use and the scheme included the construction of pickle ball courts, a basketball court and two soft play areas at Doughmore House.
However, in the revised plans lodged with the Council last November, a planning report stated that no works are proposed at Doughmore House and “this adjustment reduces the project’s potential impact on the surrounding area, including sensitive environmental areas”.
There are tens of millions of the tiny whorl snail at the course and at Shannon airport in 2014 shortly after purchasing the resort, Mr Trump told reporters that he would be a friend to the Vertigo Angustior at the site.
The Council stalled the project last April due to the impact the project could have on the Vertigo Angustior and other planning issues.
In a report prepared by planning consultant, Conor Healy of Cunnane Stratton Reynolds for TIGL
Ireland Enterprises, he stated that the proposed works at O’Dea’s Barn and Healy House at the resort will not affect Vertigo Angustior within the Carrowmore Dunes Special Area of Conservation.
Highlighting the painstaking work to determine the conserva- tion status of the Vertigo Angustior, survey and monitoring of Vertigo angustior at Doonbeg
was carried out on 6th and 7th May last year.
The report stated that the 200 subsamples – approximately 20kg in total – were flown to the UK and at a lab, each subsample was laid out in an aluminium tray, and dried for several weeks.
The grant of planning permission follows the US President’s sons, Donald Trump Jnr and Eric Trump stating in their directors’ report for their Trump Resort company accounts lodged last month that they are in the process of upgrading various facilities at the Trump International Hotel and Golf Club. They state that “it is expected that this will enhance the customer experience and have a positive impact on the group’s and company’s trading results”.
The Trump Organisation has ploughed more than €40m, including the purchase price, into the resort since it came under the ownership of the Trump Organisation in February 2014.
The 2023 accounts filed last month show that operating profits at the Co Clare luxury golf resort more than doubled to €2.06m in 2023 in a record year for the business. This followed revenues rising by 12pc from €14.36m to €16.12m.
General Manager of Trump Doonbeg, Joe Russell said today: “We are pleased with the planning permission as it will now assist us with the ongoing growth of our business and operations.”
Commenting on the 2023 performance, Russell said last month: “Trump Ireland, Doonbeg continued on its upward trajectory of business growth and profitability, having its most successful year in 2023, since opening in 2002, and since the Trump Organisation acquired the resort in 2014.”
Mr Russell said that “average rates for rooms and golf performed at record levels, where the lead price for an Ocean View suite during high season in 2024 set one back €2,720 per night and green fee rates peaking at €450 per person, which are now rising to €525 per person in 2025, testament to the ongoing demand for our hotel and golf course, the product and service levels provided at Trump Doonbeg”.
