An inspector from the National Parks and Wildlife Service has criticised the trial for temporary chestnut fencing at Doughmore Beach near Trump’s luxury hotel in Doonbeg as inadequate, and says it is important to work with the resort and local residents to solve erosion issues.
He says the focus should be on encouraging visitor behaviour change rather than relying solely on physical barriers. The inspector cautioned that fencing might trap sand yet fail to support the dunes, potentially pushing visitors to shifting locations.
Golfers mourn the loss of the great par-three 14th in Doonbeg to a storm, and erosion remains a major issue at the course.
The email shared: “A part time warden or education officer at peak times can help people to use the beach in a more sustainable way. The important message is to encourage people to walk and sit on the beach, rather than in or near the fore dunes, and to bring their own beach shelters if they need them. If people have developed a habit of accessing specific locations, they are likely to find a way to continue their normal activities in spite of the fencing … or they might move on to another spot, so the impact is simply diverted.
“The foot traffic in this area seems pretty consistent, and it could be that the erosion was exacerbated by the loss of the foredune due to trampling. A plan was developed which involves the temporary seasonal erection of chestnut fencing at two locations of concern along the beach.”
