Donald Trump’s aspirations of adding a pickleball court to his Irish golf enclave have encountered resistance from an unlikely adversary: a diminutive, 2mm whorl snail.
Endangered Species
The scrutiny from Clare County Council regarding the status of the millions of Vertigo angustior snails inhabiting Trump’s coastal resort in the west of Ireland was initially disclosed by the Irish Times and subsequently corroborated by Fortune, following a missive from the council.
The European Union protects these snails, which range from 1.5mm to 2.5mm in length, due to their endangered status. They boast a distinctive “narrow-mouthed” brown shell and serve a crucial ecological role as decomposers.
For Trump’s TIGL Ireland Enterprises to advance its proposed enhancements, such as new pickleball courts, a basketball court, and two soft play areas, his company must carry out a comprehensive survey assessing the impact of these developments on the resort’s snail population.
Not Devoid Of Challenges
Trump’s acquisition of Doonbeg in 2014, which integrated the 400-acre retreat into his broader Trump International portfolio, has not been devoid of challenges. CNBC previously highlighted the snails as an obstacle to Trump’s renovation agenda, which encompassed a scheme to mitigate land erosion and safeguard Doonbeg’s 18th hole.
Reflecting on the snail-related setback in 2014, Trump remarked, “It’s a shame because the microscopic snail is found all over the world. When they did that, they thought 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 a 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.”
Much-Needed Employment Opportunities
As reported by TheJournal, Clare County Council faces pressure to approve the golf resort’s proposals for pickleball courts and other enhancements, with the construction anticipated to generate much-needed employment opportunities in rural west Clare amidst economic challenges.
Trump’s foray into Doonbeg has proved problematic, with financial prosperity eluding the venture. The resort has accumulated €16.7 million ($18.1 million) in losses over the past nine years.
Donald Trump’s involvement in pickleball also stretches to selling paddles on his “Trump Store” website. A “snip” at $180, the paddles feature the name Trump in large capital red and black lettering across its face.
“Smash, squash, and dink your opponent with the TRUMP exclusive pickle ball (sic) paddle. Designed of lightweight, high-performance material and featuring a comfort grip handle, make sure you represent your love for America with your next win, “ says the promotional blurb.
The website also features the Trump Crest Pickleball Paddle for the same price, although it is currently out of stock.
