Local authorities in Ireland on Thursday "gave the green light" for a company owned by U.S. President Donald Trump to build a 38,000-ton sea wall at its golf course in the west of Ireland that environmental groups warn "could damage protected wildlife habitats," according to Ed Malyon of the London INDEPENDENT. The Trump Int'l Golf Links Doonbeg, owned by the Trump Organization, received permission from Clare County Council for sea barriers of 630m and 260m in length that would "protect sand dunes that were being eroded -- thus damaging the course," according to its submission. Local environmental groups "raised numerous objections to the plan," resulting in a first effort from the Trump Organization being "withdrawn and scaled down." Protest groups including the Irish National Trust (An Taisce), Friends of the Irish Environment and West Coast Surf Club have pledged to "fight the wall." An Taisce's Ian Lumley said, "The scientific consensus is that sea walls are not compatible with sand-dune conservation ... the golf course design simply has to change" (INDEPENDENT, 12/21).
