A shop owner in Doonbeg, County Clare expressed a lack of concern about the legal troubles associated with the Trump organisation. The matter was raised in relation to the recent ruling in New York City, where Donald Trump was found guilty of doctoring business records in a ‘hush money’ trial. Rita McInerney, a councillor for Fianna Fáil on the Clare County Council, echoed the sentiment, pointing out that her constituents weren’t dwelling on the matter in their conversations.
The main concern she reports among locals is the potential impact on the Trump-owned golf resort that has been operational in Doonbeg since February 2014. Over the years, Trump’s company has invested more than €40 million in the establishment, which includes the initial purchasing cost. Trump himself has visited the resort no fewer than seven times, his visit in June 2019 marking the only time he came down to Ireland while serving as the US President.
While campaigning for her place in the new council, Ms. McInerney stated that the trial hasn’t stirred much chatter among the locals. Instead, their focus and discussion has been centred around the fortunes of the golf club for the upcoming season. They aim to uphold their existing relationship with the Trump organisation, and the resort’s performance matters more than its owner’s politics.
Accounts of the resort confirm its significant influence over the economy of west Clare, as it reportedly shelled out €6.6 million for salaries and wages in 2022 alone.
Two other locals were reticent when the topic of Trump’s conviction was broached. Cllr McInerney said that for them, the priority lies in ensuring that the resort is operative all year round, and in guarding their coast and dunes from the threat of coastal erosion.
Speaking on the same lines, Father Ger Kenny, co-parish priest for Doonbeg and other Clare parishes, made it clear when asked for his opinion, stating “I don’t have a view on the politics of all of this – none whatsoever.”
He stated, “The Trump resort is consistently evaluated from an economic perspective, assessing its impact on the locale.”
Seóirse Comerford, a local pub owner, was cautious when questioned about the trial outcome, displaying limited knowledge and expressing a reluctance to pass judgment. “I’m not adequately informed and it wouldn’t be just for me to offer my opinion,” he remarked.
When queried about the level of local interest during the trial’s progression, Comerford responded, “I couldn’t say – generally, those of us in West Clare aren’t overly concerned with broader global events.”
Comerford explained he assumed control of the pub from his relatives following the Covid pandemic, suggesting its survival largely depended on the nearby hotel. “If it wasn’t for the hotel, the establishment could have shut down.”
With the 25th Doonbeg International Jazz Festival coming up this weekend, Comerford emphasised the hotel’s importance in ensuring the village’s vitality. “Without the hotel, Doonbeg would mirror other West Clare villages – slowly fading away. The hotel acts as a unifier and expands the active seasons to March to October every year instead of only starting the first weekend in June,” he asserted.