Donald Trump’s plans to build a pickleball court on his Irish golf resort held up over concerns about its impact on a protected snail

Fortune· Mike Stobe—Getty Images
Ryan Hogg
2 min read
425

Donald Trump’s hopes of padding out his Irish golf course with new amenities including a pickleball court have met opposition from one of the former President’s older, smaller rivals: a 2mm whorl snail.

The Republican U.S. Presidential candidate has faced a challenge from Clare County Council to confirm the status of the millions of Vertigo Angustior snails that roam Trump’s resort on the west coast of Ireland, the Irish Times reports.

The endangered snails, ranging in length between 1.5mm and 2.5mm and exhibiting a “narrow-mouthed” brown shell, are protected by the European Union. They play a vital role in protecting the ecosystem as decomposers.

In order to proceed with his plans, which the Times reports include new pickleball courts, a basketball court, and a soft play area, Trump’s TIGL Ireland must carry out a thorough survey taking into account the impact of those developments on the resort’s snails.

Trump’s snail problem

Trump bought Doonbeg in 2014 and enveloped the 400-acre retreat into his wider Trump International brand.

In that time, Trump has come to blows with the resort’s bustling snail population more than once.

In 2014, CNBC reported that the snails were one obstacle in Trump’s redevelopment plans, which included a land erosion prevention scheme to save Doonbeg’s 18th hole.

“It’s a shame because the microscopic snail is found all over the world. When they did that, they though it was endemic to that site but it is found all over the world,” Trump said in 2014.

“If the environmentalists kick up, I am not concerned. If we build one of the great courses of the world, that’s a great thing for Ireland and great thing for tourism.

“If a microscopic snail that’s all over the world can hold that up, I would think Ireland would not be happy about that and I would think they would be on my side.”

The snails appeared to be the main reason that Trump was blocked from building a sea wall on the resort in 2016, the New York Times reported.

Instead, Trump’s team built two smaller barriers to avoid interfering too much with the snail-occupied dune lands.

In the latest case, the Irish Times reports that Clare County Council has asked for seven separate issues to be addressed before planning permission is approved.

He has at least got the support of locals, many of whom have reportedly written to the council urging them to approve the plans.

Clare County Council and TIGL Ireland didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump’s venture into Doonbeg hasn’t proved much of a financial success, with the resort racking up a total of €16.7 million ($18.1 million) in losses in the nine years since he acquired the resort acquiring the resort in 2014.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

Advertisement

Recommended Stories

  • China’s $170bn gold rush triggers Taiwan invasion fears

    China has built up a $170bn (£135bn) stockpile of gold after a record buying spree, in a move that has raised fears Beijing is preparing its economy for a possible conflict over Taiwan.

  • It's going to be a massive week for the stock market

    There are five major events to watch for this week, highlighted by a Fed meeting and the April jobs report.

  • Quagmire anyone? Fed watchers try to divine a confusing state of play

    The Federal Reserve's benchmark overnight interest rate has not budged from the 5.25%-5.50% range since July and won't be touched at a two-day policy meeting that concludes on Wednesday. Inflation has gone sideways since late last year - with some policymakers seeing a risk that progress is stalling - and the outlook for interest rate cuts has shifted steadily outwards with some doubt now about whether they will fall this year at all. How to describe where the Fed stands right now?

  • China’s Top Leaders Hint at Property Support, Interest Rate Cuts

    (Bloomberg) -- China’s ruling Communist Party vowed to explore new measures to tackle a protracted housing crisis, which remains the biggest drag on the nation’s economy, and hinted at possible rate cuts ahead.Most Read from BloombergTesla Soars on Tentative China Approval for Driving SystemHSBC CEO Quinn Unexpectedly Steps Down After Almost 5 YearsStocks Trade for 390 Minutes a Day. Increasingly, Only 10 MatterBinance and CZ’s Fortunes Are Set to Grow, Jail or no JailUS Warns ICC Action on Isra

  • DJT Stock Is Soaring, but Trump Media’s Truth Social Platform Isn’t Growing

    Trump Media & Technology Group stock was rising despite signs activity at Truth Social media platform might be falling. Trump Media shares were up 12% at $ 46.38 after gaining 7.9% on Friday. Former President Donald Trump’s nearly 115 million shares in the company were valued at around $4.8 billion at Friday’s closing price.

  • Livable wages mean more expensive burgers as California fast-food chains hike menu prices

    Fast food workers are finally earning livable pay, but consumers are facing the costs

  • Fed's balance sheet plans could take center stage this week

    An announcement from the Federal Reserve to kick off the end game for its balance sheet runoff could come as early as this week's policy meeting, a number of economists say, though an uncertain outlook for interest rates amid sticky inflation could push a "tapering" declaration back to June. Tapering involves slowing the pace of the Fed's quantitative tightening program, under which it has been allowing up to $95 billion a month of Treasuries and mortgage bonds to mature from the central bank's portfolio and not be replaced. Fed officials have been signaling they would soon like to slow QT, noting that by downshifting the pace they can reduce the risk of market stress and perhaps shrink its holdings by a greater degree.

  • Anglo Spinoffs Will ‘Very Likely’ Need South Africa Approval

    (Bloomberg) -- BHP Group Ltd.’s proposal for Anglo American Plc to spin off platinum and iron ore units before a takeover would likely require approval from South African regulators, according to a government agency.Most Read from BloombergTesla Soars on Tentative China Approval for Driving SystemHSBC CEO Quinn Unexpectedly Steps Down After Almost 5 YearsStocks Trade for 390 Minutes a Day. Increasingly, Only 10 MatterBinance and CZ’s Fortunes Are Set to Grow, Jail or no JailUS Warns ICC Action o

  • US Lifts Quarterly Borrowing Above Forecasts to $243 Billion

    (Bloomberg) -- The US Treasury ramped up its estimate for federal borrowing for the current quarter to $243 billion, more than most dealers had anticipated, in a move that largely reflected weaker cash receipts than officials had expected.Most Read from BloombergTesla Soars on Tentative China Approval for Driving SystemStocks Trade for 390 Minutes a Day. Increasingly, Only 10 MatterHSBC CEO Quinn Unexpectedly Steps Down After Almost 5 YearsUS Warns ICC Action on Israel Would Hurt Cease-Fire Chan

  • Why economists who originally expected multiple deep rate cuts in 2024 now say a hike is possible

    "We expect, in any case, that the Fed's communications after the FOMC meeting this week will have a uniformly hawkish tone," Macquarie said.