ERIC TRUMP, SON of US President Donald, has thanked locals for their support of the plan to build a new sea wall by the family’s golf course and hotel resort in Doonbeg.
Speaking to ClareFM, Trump expressed frustration that the wall has been delayed for so long but said he was confident that it would get a green light from Clare County Council in the near future.
A wall has long been mooted to be built at the beach by the west Clare resort to protect its grounds and golf course, but these plans have also been the subject of opposition from groups such as An Taisce and Friends of the Irish Environment.
“We’re the type of people to like to have everything done yesterday,” Trump said.
At the same time, we do understand process and we’ve gone through that process. I think the process will yield a really positive, great result.
“Everybody wants to see the golf course at Doonbeg remain incredibly vibrant. No one wants to see the sea wash it away. Without a golf course, you don’t have a hotel. That’s the draw.”
Trump was speaking after attending a meeting of around 350-400 local people who expressed their support for the latest plans.
In December, Trump’s firm withdrew plans to build a €10 million rock barrier along his Clare golf course – but said they would immediately submit a new application for a smaller wall.
In a statement, Trump International Golf Links and Hotel said that since 2002, an estimated 15 – 20metres have been eroded from the beach front and the golf course.
All efforts to manage the erosion and readjust the golf course have failed, they say.
They scaled their plans for a 2.8km rock barrier to a new “coastal protection” application will stretch from around 600m to the south and 250m north of the beach, according to their statement.
Writing in the Clare Champion in January, four international experts were critical of the new plan, warning it would be bad for the environment. They said: “We believe that the public may not be aware that, in effect, the proposed work at Doonbeg Golf course project hasn’t really changed and still involves beach-destroying seawalls.”
This application is still under consideration from Clare County Council.
Chairman at Doughmore Coastal Protection Group, Liam Ryan, told ClareFM that jobs at the resort were vital for Doonbeg and the wider Clare region.
He said: “We have a business in west Clare. We have beautiful scenery We want to protect it. We want to protect the jobs.”
He added that tourism was essential for the region, and it was vital that this be maintained.
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