New ballroom at Trump Doonbeg resort won't impact protected snails, plans claim

Gordon Deegan

Plans to construct a new permanent ballroom at Donald Trump’s Trump Doonbeg golf resort in west Clare will have no impact on the tiny protected 2mm snail, the Vertigo Angustior.

That is according to recently lodged planning documents with Clare County Council for the resort's planned ballroom that will have the capacity to accommodate 320 guests.

A report on the Vertigo Angustior - protected under the EU Habitats Directive - lodged with TIGL Ireland Enterprises Ltd's application has concluded that the proposed works “will have no impact on Vertigo Angustior, and no mitigation or further action is required”.

Survey and fieldwork monitoring of the Vertigo Angustior took place in September in preparation for the planning application and a new report has found that the snail’s conservation status at Doonbeg remains unfavourable where it states that the Vertigo Angustior is in terminal decline there.

The report attributes the snail’s decline at the site to marine erosion and habitat succession.

On the plan to replace existing “outdated” temporary events structures, including a marquee, with the new permanent ballroom, planning consultants, Cunnane Stratton Reynolds states that the need for the ballroom “is reinforced by the socio-economic role of Trump International Golf Links and Hotel within west Clare”.

The consultants state that the resort is a major employer and economic anchor, supporting year-round jobs, local supply chains and tourism expenditure within Doonbeg village and the wider region.

The report states that “high-quality event facilities are a critical component of this role, supporting off-peak visitation, business tourism, weddings and conferences that extend the tourism season and diversify the resort’s offering beyond golf alone”.

The planning statement states that the Healy Partners Architects designed proposal “strengthens the resort’s hospitality infrastructure, enhances guest experience, and supports the continued viability of one of the region’s most important tourism assets”.

The planning statement further states that “the development supports the rural economy, enhances an established tourism asset of regional significance, improves recreational infrastructure in a controlled and environmentally sensitive manner”.

The report states that the proposal “to demolish the existing marquee, Doughmore House and associated structures, and replace them with a purpose-built, architect-designed ballroom represents a natural and policy-consistent progression of the resort’s development”.

The 58-page planning report states that the proposal establishes “a coherent, high-quality and enduring addition to the resort’s hospitality offering”.

The consultants also state that the proposal “represents a high quality and environmentally sensitive upgrade to an established tourism destination”.

The planning consultants state that “importantly, the proposed development does not represent an expansion of the resort into new or sensitive lands, nor the introduction of an unrelated use”.

It adds: “Instead, it constitutes a qualitative upgrade and rationalisation of existing event and hospitality infrastructure within the established resort footprint.

“It responds to an identified operational need, improves safety, accessibility and environmental performance, and aligns with the Clare County Development Plan’s recognition of Trump Doonbeg as a location where carefully managed intensification of existing uses is appropriate in light of its strategic importance.”

The new building is to accommodate a main function room, reception and pre-function areas, bar and hospitality spaces, a bridal suite, guest toilets, and comprehensive back-of-house facilities.

The report states that the design “is contemporary yet sympathetic to the architectural character of the existing hotel campus”.

The report also states that by upgrading essential resort infrastructure and improving the quality, safety and integration of the hotel facilities, “the development reinforces the role of this internationally recognised resort as a key economic driver for Doonbeg and west Clare”.

The report states that the design by Healy Partners Architects “has been carefully considered to ensure that the new building integrates seamlessly with the existing hotel campus and its coastal resort setting, while reinforcing the legibility and cohesiveness of the resort core”.

The lodging of the plans with the Council coincides with controversy continuing over President Donald Trump’s plans for a new ballroom for the White House. The new plans also come ahead of Trump Doonbeg hosting the Amgen Irish Open in September of next year.

Closing date for submissions to the Council on the planned Trump Doonbeg ballroom is February 3rd.