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Trump Doonbeg Withdraws Plans For Sea Protection Barrier

Donald Trump’s Doonbeg Golf Resort has scrapped plans for a controversial €10 million sea protection barrier adjacent to the property.

An online petition opposing the plans had attracted 100,000 signatures, but the project had also received significant support from locals in Doonbeg.

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An artists impression of how the initial barrier would have look on Doughmore Beach.

Large portions of the dunes at Doughmore Beach, and the adjacent golf course, had been swept away in recent storms, most notably in 2014, and the Trump organisation have said this threatened the viability of the resort unless protective measures were permitted.

An Bord Pleanala was due to issue a ruling in the coming days on whether the sea protection barrier amounted to strategic infrastructure, but now the plans have been withdrawn altogether.

Instead, it’s understood that a fresh application will be submitted in the near future, with revised plans.

These are expected to propose that covered sheet metal piling be constructed, along with a total of 850 metres of rock armour at both ends.

Trump Doonbeg has yet to make a formal public comment in relation to their decision, but it’s understood the company is eager to proceed with protection works given the damage caused in recent years, and the prospect of further weather-related damage to the now re-modelled course.

The following statement has been issued this afternoon by Trump International Golf Links and Hotel, Doonbeg.

Doonbeg Golf Resort has been part of the Doonbeg community since 2002. Its existence owes much to the foresight and commitment of Doonbeg community leaders. In turn, many of the community of Doonbeg are employed at the resort which contributes c. €6 million to the local economy each year.

• Expansion of the facilities to include additional accommodation, leisure facilities, and banquet hall at the resort are being closely considered. Such expansion would further increase visitor numbers to West Clare and underpin the future economic health of the resort.

• The realisation of these plans, however, is fundamentally dependent on the provision of adequate protection from coastal erosion. Since 2002, an estimated 15m to 20m of dune face has been eroded from the beach front and the golf course. All efforts at soft management of the coastline have failed. All efforts to readjust the course have also been expended.

• Consequently, Doonbeg Golf Resort proposes to seek, at the soonest, planning permission from Clare County Council to place coastal protection at a number of locations on the seaward edge of the golf course at Doughmore Bay. Protection would be afforded to the golf course hole numbers 1, 9 and 18. The works would be wholly within lands owned by the golf course. There would be no material effect upon the adjacent SAC areas.

• The coastal protection would extend to c. 600m at the south and c. 250m at the north of the beach. Metal sheet piles would be inserted into the ground on the golf course. Limestone boulders would be placed at the base of the sheet piles.

• Once completed, the works would not be visible to view, being covered by sand and the cobble bank which backs the beach. Access to the beach for all users as exists today will be maintained.

• Works are estimated to take 10-12 weeks. The coastal protection application made on 10th May 2016 to Clare County Council will be withdrawn. 

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