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US BUSINESSMAN AND occasional presidential hopeful Donald Trump will be touching down in Shannon in the next few weeks as he arrives in Ireland to check out one of his most recent purchases.
The billionaire — best known in recent years for his role as host of The Apprentice, his ‘birther’ campaign against Barack Obama, and for his role as a Fox News pundit — added the Doonbeg Golf Club & Lodge to his portfolio back in February.
It’s 16th golf club in the Trump Organisation’s portfolio, and his first in Ireland. The 400-acre development is being renamed as Trump International Hotel & Golf Links, Ireland.
Doonbeg’s par four 15th hole (INPHO/Getty Images)
The Greg Norman-designed resort was acquired by investment firm South Street Partners last year, and receivers were appointed in mid-January.
Trump purchased it for a reported €15 million, saying at the time that it would “soon be an unparalleled resort destination with the highest standards of luxury”.
The Lodge at Doonbeg includes 218 hotel suites as well as an expansive spa and several restaurants.
‘The Donald’, as he is popularly known, will be arriving in on Monday week. He’ll be spending around 24 hours at the venue, where he is expected to meet with staff and discuss future plans for the destination.
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I’m amazed animal circuses are still legal in so called civilised countries.
@Sheldon: As long as those uneducated in the cruelty imposed on circus animals continue to pay to attend circuses, these cruel businesses will continue to exist.
Some people are still of the opinion, even in 2018, that attending a circus is a ‘Great day out’.
Further education is needed.
@Sheldon: In a country where traumatising and torturing a bull is a national pastime, I would imagine concern for the welfare of circus animals is non-existent.
@Karen Lord: Bullfighting isn’t even popular over there. It relies on heavy subsidies from the State to stay in business because most Spanish think it is as disgusting as we do? Can we talk though? We round up wild hares and terrorize them every year in hare coursing events.
@Sean: and fox hunting
@Sean: look at the popularity of events like San Fermín. There’s clearly a significant portion of the population that isn’t too concerned about animal welfare.
@Sheldon: my thought exactly!they should be banned.
Why o why is it permitted to have these wonderful animals caged up, it astonishes me that Ivory sales have been banned since 1947 and yet society permits the abuse of these animals in circus’s it’s outrageous, perhaps the EU might consider doing something useful for a change and ban this practice across Europe
This is just desperately sad. A huge trauma for these poor noble creatures in their already miserable existence. Big sigh.
D dead 1 had a lucky escape from captivity.
Sad
We need to ban circuses from using animals. It’s just appalling that a beautiful animal died in such a manner today.
@Catherine Sims: dreadful but at least now he wont have to suffer performing any more
@Mary Oliver: He is dead though. Dead is never a better alternative. He might not be performing but he or she isn’t doing anything anymore.
Their journey was truncated.
@Minom Pnnomm: Man child
Can people like myself who eat meat even complain about this? Look how livestock are treated. Just because it’s elephants probably should not mean that some animals are more equal than others.
@Kevin Kirkpatrick: it’s because we have some weird grading based on how sentient the animal is. In other words if the animal is clever and capable of emotion we show treat it better than we do say chickens. Of course when this so called system was evolving animals like pigs were considered to be very dumb. Recent findings of how intelligent these animals are is just conveniently ignored.
@Catherine Sims: Pigs are at least as smart as dogs. I find it hard to take outrage at incidents like this seriously when people don’t seem to have a problem with how our meat is produced.
@Kevin Kirkpatrick: agreed. I don’t eat meat but I can understand the difference between eating meat for subsidence and just using animals for entertainment. Either way, animals in the meat industry should be treated better and transport of live animals should be barred. Ban Halal meat for a start.
@john Appleseed: I don’t eat meat either but our meat Industry for the most part is not the horror story it is in other countries . Apart from bacon maybe. We are better are looking after our animals produced for food. That not an excuse as I said I don’t eat meat. There is also a huge movement on having wild animals in captivity at all. Animals like elephants should be roaming around d their natural environments in Africa and India. The problem is of course animals are still hunted to extinction and zoos are important for their breeding programs. It’s a huge issue with many layers.
This just makes my blood boil!!. There should be a complete ban on animals in circuses. Don’t even get me started on the way farmers treat their animals. It’s an absolute disgrace and nothing is said about it. From a chicken to an elephant, they should all be given respect.
5 elephants in 1 truck….
By the way I have been a vegetarian for the past 30 years.
have your say