Preservation

Built in harmony with its surroundings, the Doonbeg estate is extremely environmentally sensitive, taking great measures to preserve particular areas of sand dunes and ensure that local flora and fauna remain undisturbed. Two significant elements that have been meticulously protected are the Grey Dunes and an endangered snail known as the Vertigo Angustior.

Grey Dunes
The Grey Dunes at Doonbeg are designated as a candidate for a Special Area of Conservation by Dúchas, the Irish Heritage Service. Under a management agreement between Doonbeg Golf Club and Dúchas, 51 acres of Grey Dunes are fenced off permanently for preservation, and the playable areas of the golf course were actually routed around this important natural preserve. The remainder of the Doonbeg site, including the course, is designated as a proposed Natural Heritage Area, thanks in large part to these preservation efforts.

Vertigo Angustior
The Vertigo Angustior, a microscopic snail measuring just 2 mm high and 1 mm wide, was discovered on the site during the developer’s environmental impact assessment. As with the Grey Dunes, it is listed for protection under the European Union Habitats directive. Subsequent to analysis by the leading Irish expert on Vertigo Angustior, it was concluded that the snail can coexist both in the dunes and on the course. Special efforts were made to ensure that the snail’s habitat was unharmed throughout construction of the course.