US billionaire Donald Trump has finally won his battle against plans for a windfarm near Doonbeg golf course — which he owns — thanks to a little-known freshwater pearl mussel.

AMERICAN billionaire Donald Trump does not seem a natural eco warrior but yesterday’s An Bord Pleanála ruling that brought a four-year battle over a proposed windfarm near his Doonbeg golf resort to an end may cause the Republican presidential hopeful a moment’s pause for thought.

Pre-tax profits at the hotel group that co-owns the luxury five-star Merrion Hotel, in Dublin, increased 9% last year to £2.19m (€3m).

The State’s best known marriage counselling service has put the brakes on plans to redevelop the €70m Garda regional headquarters site on Harcourt Street in Dublin.

A challenge by An Taisce over planning approval for a controversial €65m road widening scheme on the N86 road between Tralee and Dingle has opened before the Commercial Court.

Cork City Council has confirmed it has received a complaint after the northern stand of Páirc Uí Chaoimh was flattened as part of the stadium’s redevelopment. The demolition had not been listed under the project’s planning permission.

A leading greenway promoter has called for more joined-up thinking as plans progress for several such walking and cycling trails around the country.

People living in a rural part of Co Cork which is to be turned into a new town are expected to meet shortly to decide whether to lodge an appeal against the plan with An Bord Pleanála.

Hours of behind-the-scenes talks have prevented plans for a major new town in Co Cork from being scuppered.

Environment Minister Alan Kelly has announced a review of An Bord Pleanála, aimed at ensuring that the planning body is adequately supported to meet future challenges.

An Bord Pleanala, in permitting The Port of Cork to move its container port, in Tivoli, to Ringaskiddy, has overturned its own decision of seven years ago not to grant permission, and has now overruled its own inspector, who had recommended refusal.

Tommy Barker says now that Cork harbour has rediscovered its mojo, so too will properties like Simla.

Three schools in the Wicklow town of Greystones have put on hold plans by McDonald’s to build a new fast food outlet there.

Suneil Sharma is a businessman not known to the wider Limerick public. While Limerick has been very good to Mr Sharma, some, specifically Limerick City and County Council, Limerick Chamber of Commerce and the Limerick Business Association are beginning to question if Mr Sharma will be as good for Limerick.

An “earth sheltered dwelling” at Reenbeg, a prominent headland overlooking Dingle harbour, has been refused planning permission by An Bord Pleanála.

Limerick City planners have been left red-faced over their objection to two neighbours restoring their roofs to their original red slate colour.

Wind turbines may be required to be a minimum of 700 metres from residential dwellings under proposals being considered by Environment Minister Alan Kelly.

The minister driving the €1bn re-invention of Cork Harbour as a tourism, research, and innovation hub says waste firm Indaver faces a “real challenge” to convince him and the public of the merits of an incinerator in the area.

Clare County Council recently voted through the incorporation of the Northern Distributor Road and the re-zoning of lands in south east Clare into the Clare County Development Plan.

Property Industry Ireland (PII) has called for the Vat rate on houses to be cut from 13.5% to 9% for two years in order to address the “acute” lack of supply of affordable owner-occupied, rental, and social housing.