Golf club’s plan opposed by surfers
Earlier this month, the club lodged plans to place 80,000 tonnes of rock on Doughmore beach to prevent erosion.
Over the past 100 years, the dunes have retreated by up to 45 metres in places, the club has discovered, and the promoters of the course admit that the effects of global warming, if unchecked, threaten the long-term viability of the project.
Irish international surfer Saul Harvey is one of the surfers regularly using Doughmore beach one of the most popular beaches in the country for surfing.
He said yesterday: "The plan is ill-advised and unnecessary. Visually, it will have a terrible impact on one of the most beautiful unspoilt beaches in the west of Ireland." Mr Harvey said the rock barriers would compromise the safety of surfers using the beach at high tide, while the plan also had the potential to affect the wave movements at Doughmore that attract so many surfers to the area.
Mr Harvey's views are supported by the Surf Committee of the Irish Canoe Union (ICU) which, along with a number of other surfers, using the beach have lodged objections to the plan to Clare County Council.
The ICU has told the council that the works should not be approved "as other, more viable options that will maintain the beach and the dune system have not been considered.
"It would be irresponsible to approve these works without first considering the effects the works will have on the beach."
The ICU says the use of a hard barrier as proposed by the club goes against the recommendations of numerous experts in the subject of coastal protection.
A decision is due on the application by Clare County Council early next year.
