This article is from page 14 of the 2006-10-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
DOONBEG Golf Club confirmed yesterday that it had secured €41 million through the sales of luxury suites at the ‘Lodge’, its €150 million golf resort at Doonbeg.
Accounts for the venture returned to the Companies Office show that in 2005, the club recorded a loss of €1.2 million, with a spokesman ascribing the loss “to the development and preparation costs associated with entered 32 sales contracts totaling the pending opening of the five star €27.6 million for these properties. lodging, golf, and hospitality faciliThe remaining 15 suites totaling ties”. €13.4 million were sold during the
The accounts also show that the early part of 2006. US investors behind the project have injected €48 million into the golf by next month,” he said. resort, while there were 270 people employed at the golf club over the mained at about the same levels as summer months in 2006. 2004, but with the opening of the
A spokesman said yesterday, “DurLodge, the spokesman said, “golf ing 2005, The Lodge at Doonbeg rounds have dramatically increased
“Almost all sales will have closed Last year, golf rounds for 2005 reTHE west Clare peninsula is in danger of losing its only remaining post office, with the people of Carrigaholt accusing An Post of using underhand means to close down the service vital to the small village and rural community.
An Post maintains however that it wants to keep the service in the small village and is hoping someone will apply for the contract. It said it is offering the same terms as other offices by 40 per cent for the current year to over 20,000 rounds”.
With green fees pitched at €185 during week days and €195 at weekends, the golf club has accumulated €3.7 million in green fees last year.
The spokesman said, “Club membership sales continue to be strong with 2005 being 39 per cent ahead of the sales levels achieved in 2004. That trend has continued in 2006 with membership sales levels beare working under – that the salary is directly related to the volume of business.
“We want to have an office there but it is dependent on someone coming forward to run it as a singular business or as part of a retail business,” a spokesperson said.
But, local people believe they are loosing their post office by stealth. Concerned parish priest Fr Patrick Culligan said that no one could be expected to work a six-day week for the sum offered. He said the person ing another 44 per cent ahead of the 2005 levels.
“There are now 430 Irish and international members. Approximately 40 per cent of members are Irish.
“Doonbeg Golf Course has now moved from number 58 in Golf World rankings in 2005 to number 47.
“Making this a banner year, the course was voted the IGTOA (Irish Golf Tour Operators Association) Golf Course of the Year in 2005.” would have to provide a premises if they were to take on the job.
Fr Culligan said that the loss of the post office dimished the social and business life of the village and affected tourists and visitors to the famous Irish College, Coláiste Uí Chomhraidhe.
General Election Candidate, Cllr Madeleine Taylor Quinn (FG) said, “Older people should not be forced to travel long distances to do their banking, not to speak of pensions and social assistance payments. Local businesses will be adversely affected.”
For almost seven months the people of Carrigaholt and the peninsula have been without the services of the local post office. Postmistress Mary Ginnane retired last July following an illness. She had hoped the position in the automated office would be filled. Four other post offices have already closed on the peninsula – Kilbaha, Cross, Doonaha and Querrin. The nearest post office is now in Kilkee, over 10 km away.
This Sunday RTÉ’s new regional and community affairs programme, Pobal will feature the plight in Carrigaholt at 5.25pm.