Trump's Doonbeg Visit Divides Irish Village as Snail Dispute Delays Ballroom
Trump's weekend at his Doonbeg golf resort brought economic praise, protests and a pending planning row over protected snails.
US President Donald Trump spent much of the weekend at his golf resort in Doonbeg, County Clare, where the visit drew both gratitude for the jobs and attention it has brought to the remote Atlantic village and a fresh round of protests.
The Trump Organization bought the then-struggling resort in 2014, and many locals say it has since become an economic anchor for west Clare. Martin Kelly, who runs a local construction firm, described the resort as a source of "a massive amount of employment" and said the area was fortunate to have it.
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin told Trump in Dublin on Saturday that the Doonbeg course is a "valuable asset to the area" and illustrates the strength of the economic relationship between the two countries.
Not everyone shares that view. Dozens of demonstrators stood on Doonbeg's main street on Sunday carrying Palestinian flags and placards, protesting Trump's support for the Gaza war and his policies on immigration and the environment. The turnout was far smaller than the thousands who marched in Dublin a day earlier.
Organizer Sarah Clancy said protesters feared the Irish government would seek to appease Trump because of the importance of foreign direct investment. Others, like local radio worker Lily De Sylva, said rural coastal areas depend on tourism and that while she would not welcome Trump, she could not stop him.
The visit also revived a long-running planning dispute. Environmentalists have tried to block construction of a 320-capacity ballroom at the resort, arguing it would harm tiny narrow-mouthed whorl snails protected under European Union rules. Clare County Council approved the ballroom in February on condition that Trump's Irish company draw up a plan to monitor and manage the snails.
The company, which says construction will not harm the mollusks, is seeking to change those conditions, while a single objector with a record of blocking developments has filed a new appeal. A final decision is pending.
Many local organizations backed the planning application, and some residents view the environmental complaint as opportunistic. Local councillor Rita McInerney said much of the objection came from people who simply wanted to oppose Trump.
The visit brought road closures, hundreds of police officers and scores of protesters to the area, about 280 kilometers west of Dublin. Paul O'Loughlin, who traveled from Wicklow for the Irish Open, said some friends refused to attend a Trump-owned course, though he doubted any boycott would matter. He said he respected the protesters but felt their message was falling on deaf ears.