The narrow-mouthed whorl snail, also known as the Vertigo angustior, is a near-threatened species almost invisible to the human eye. They’re often found in undisturbed marshy grasslands and have “teeth” outgrowths to protect themselves from nearby predators. Oh, they also have Irish environmentalists to protect themselves from Donald Trump.
The U.S. President and his family are planning to build a 320-seat ballroom at the remote Trump International Golf Links & Hotel in Doonbeg, Ireland, but have been drastically slowed down by conservationists worried about the “in terminal decline” narrow-mouthed whorl snails. The golf club and hotel applied to build the ballroom back in December, and it’s finally been granted permission, as long as the submission comes with “a plan for helping to conserve and monitor the snails before commencing any work.”
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Courtesy of Steve Carr/The Trump Organization
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Previous Next Pause Play false Public Trump International Golf Links: Doonbeg Doonbeg, Co. Clare, Ireland
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Doonbeg was an international sensation in 2002 as it was one of the first 18-hole Irish links to open in a generation. The site was magnificent, a mile and a half-long pocket of imposing dunes stretched out over the Atlantic Ocean beaches. It was also problematic since the dunes were full of environmentally protected snails, limiting where the golf course could be built.
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The aptly named Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) has been pushing for the “maintenance or improving” of the rare snail’s status, and it looks like their persistence has paid off. At least for the moment.
“Donald Trump called me in 2014 when he bought the golf course, because he was concerned about a wind farm that might be seen from his new property,” FIE director Tony Lowes told Newsweek. “We were also concerned, but for failures in construction plans, not wind energy. While we refused his help, he told me then that he was a friend of the environment and would defend the snail. Hey, Donald—remember that call?”
Eric Trump has claimed that this will be “the nicest ballroom in the country” and “the best you’ve ever seen.” The team will have to move fast, though, as Trump International Doonbeg is set to host the Irish Open this September, and the plan calls for bulldozing the hotel’s existing events building, adding new roads and parking, a partially-covered terrace, a bridal suite, multiple bars and “champagne and tea stations.”
Trump stayed at the hotel back in 2019 and even teed off at the course back in 2023.
This is one of many times the Trumps have faced off against Irish snails. Back in 2016, Donald Trump attempted to build a two-mile Irish beach wall for extra coastal protection at Doughmore beach. His team started construction without permission but was eventually rejected due to environmentalist and local opposition. We’re betting that it won’t be long before the next round of Donald Trump vs. narrow-mouthed whorl snails.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
