News Release -
Shannon Development Equates Doonbeg Golf Club Project to Securing a Dell or Intel for West Clare
Welcoming the completion of phase one of the lodge and suites accommodation at the Doonbeg Golf Club, Kevin Thompstone, Shannon Development chief executive said, “This project is the single largest tourism project ever to have been undertaken in the west of Ireland. The Doonbeg project is the equivalent of getting a major international industry such as Intel or Dell to set up in West Clare and Shannon Development is delighted to have played its part in bringing this about. It represents an investment of €150 million in the area, which will generate the same again in additional indirect tourism investment, giving an estimated total tourism investment of up to €300 million along the West Clare coast and surrounding area.”
“The project will generate over 200 direct jobs and has the capacity to generate a further 200 indirect jobs. It will also generate an estimated spend of €20 million per annum, ensuring that it will continue to have resounding benefits for the local West Clare economy into the future,” said Mr. Thompstone.
“Shannon Development has worked hard to secure the project from the very start. When we first initiated the idea of a large scale integrated golf development in Doonbeg in 1995, it was as part of our strategy to develop integrated tourism projects of scale with the potential to have far reaching economic benefits throughout the Shannon Region and the western seaboard,” said Mr. Thompstone.
“We identified the land bank required for the project, and working closely with local community and landowners we secured the 377 acre site. We then undertook an extensive prior consultation process with all relevant bodies which dealt with environmental and planning issues. Following this we initiated an international marketing campaign to find a suitable developer for the project and were delighted to have secured Landmark National and Kiawah Development Partners (KDP) who have done a superb job. KDP have succeeded in achieving an exceptionally high standard and quality facility at the Lodge which gives this area a five star facility which is unique in the country,” added Mr. Thompstone.
Speaking about Shannon Development’s role in the project Charles P “Buddy” Darby III, chairman and CEO of KDP, said “Doonbeg Golf Club would not have gotten off the ground without the expertise, commitment and dedication of Shannon Development. We would like to thank them for their tenacity and insightfulness in coming up with the idea of developing a golf course in this astounding area of West Clare and for bringing the project to us.”
“We were delighted to have secured Kiawah Development Partners as project developers who have succeeded in sensitively developing a links course that is now recognised as one of the world’s greats. We are proud to have played an instrumental part in bringing it about. Our efforts and the efforts of many others who assisted the project including, The Department of Arts, Sport & Tourism; The European Union; Dúchas; Clare County Council and particularly the Doonbeg Community, have been rewarded. We will work with Doonbeg golf club to promote the course into the future,” said Mr. Thompstone.
“I am reminded of a quote from the project launch day back in 1997, ‘The great golf course sites left in the world will be remote. It will be like going to heaven – hard to get there, but it will be worth the journey.’ The journey has been hard, but it is worth it when we now see the West Clare area reaping the benefits into the future,” said Mr. Liam McElligott, chairman, Shannon Development speaking at the official opening of the Lodge at Doonbeg.
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