*Photograph: Arthur Ellis.
DOONBEG’s Men’s Shed has emerged as the latest local group to support plans for a new ballroom at US President Donald Trump’s owned Trump Doonbeg golf resort in West Clare.
In a new submission lodged with Clare County Council, the Doonbeg Men’s Shed of Baltard, Doonbeg has told the Council that the proposal will benefit the wider West Clare area in a number of ways , increase employment, support the wider economy of the area and expand the tourist season.
In the submission in support of the 320 person capacity ballroom signed off by chairman, James Griffin, Treasurers, Pat Aherne and Mick Carrick, it states that the ballroom is proposed for an existing car park and has been part of the original built up area of the resort since the construction of The Lodge at Doonbeg.
In a separate submission in support of the application, business owner, Hugh McNally from Main Street, Doonbeg has told the Council that the original development of the golf resort around 2000 “was a catalyst for my own decision to return to Doonbeg full time to take over my grandparents’ bar”.
He said, “I am making this submission in support of the above planning applications from the perspective of someone who lives and works in the community and wants to see the area remain vibrant and sustainable for the next generation”.
Mr McNally states, “The resort at Doonbeg is the largest tourism employer in the locality and has a significant positive ripple effect for many other local businesses and service providers”.
He said that from a local community perspective, the planned developments “represent proportionate, well-located investment that supports employment, encourages population retention and growth, and helps ensure that Doonbeg remains a viable place for families to live, work and raise children into the future”.
However, in a separate submission, Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) has called on the Council to seek a comprehensive statement from the Trump firm on the protected snail the Vertigo Angustior in a request for further information.
In extensive planning documentation lodged with the application, consultants for TIGL Ireland Enterprises Ltd stated that the proposed ballroom will have no impact on the local population of the 2mm Vertigo Angustior.
However, in the FIE submission, Tony Lowes is seeking that the Council in a request for further information request from the Trump firm the current known status and distribution of Vertigo angustior populations inside the Special Area of Conservation and within the golf-course.
Mr Lowes is also seeking that the Council require the Trump firm to provide all monitoring and conservation-management measures undertaken for Vertigo angustior and its habitats on the Doonbeg lands since 2013, including any changes in grazing, sward management, drainage or other relevant practices.
Mr Lowes is also seeking that the Council request the Trump firm details of any investigations or remedial actions initiated in response to evidence of SAC condition decline since 2014.
Mr Lowes is also seeking that the Council require, as a condition of any permission, that the appropriate monitoring regime originally agreed with National Parks and Wildlife Service is continued, or if necessary re-established, informed by the original expert work.
Mr Lowes states that the Council should set out specific conservation-management actions (e.g. grazing regimes, vegetation and hydrology management) to be continued or if necessary re-established, aimed at restoring or improving the snail’s conservation status.
Mr Lowes states that these should include clear, time-bound targets and a mechanism for review and adjustment if monitoring shows continued decline or lack of recovery.
The submission by the Doonbeg Men’s Shed follows a wave of local support for the scheme.
Cllr Rita McInerney (FF) who is also a retailer in Doonbeg has told the council that the proposal “represents positive plan-led development that supports local employment”.
In his role as President of the Local Links Golf Club, Doonbeg, Michael Waters has told the Council that “I believe that this development will bring significant benefits to the local area by enhancing the functionality of the property”.
TIGL Ireland Enterprises Ltd have also lodged a companion application for other upgrade works at the resort and Cllr McInerney states that taken together, these applications represent positive plan-led development that supports local employment and indirect economic activity.
