Donald Trump pulls plans for wall next to Irish golf course

The billionaire had sought permission to build a 200,000 tonne, 2.8km (two mile) sea defence in erosion-hit dunes beside his Doonbeg golf links in Co Clare, overlooking the ocean.

But the local authority revealed plans for the revetment on Doughmore beach were withdrawn on Monday.

"Clare County Council had looked for further information at the end of June. They had until the end of the month to reply," a spokesman said.

The shelved project had been planned for the edge of the golf links where severe winter storms have wiped out metres of beach and dune in recent years.

Mr Trump has said he is not a great believer in man-made climate change but cited global warming and rising seas as a reason for needing the wall.

It faced opposition from environmentalists keen to ensure the survival of the microscopic narrow-mouth whorl snail, or vertigo angustior, which has survived since the Ice Age.

The 10 million euro (£8.5m) limestone wall was expected to be up to nearly four metres high (13ft) but surfers and other water sports enthusiasts, who have a right of way through the golf course, expressed worry that it would completely alter the dynamics of the waves and make it dangerous to be in the water at high tide.

About one third of the 100-plus submissions made on the original planning application opposed the works.

It is understood an information evening was held in west Clare after the original plans were pulled and an alternative protection system has been outlined to local people, employees at Doonbeg and other interested parties.

Mr Trump paid about 15 million euro (£11.6 million) for Doonbeg and vowed to invest up to 45 million euro (£35 million).

The environmental campaign group, Save the Waves, which sponsored a petition opposing the original plan, described the shelving of the proposal as a milestone.

Director of programmes Nick Mucha said: "It demonstrates the power of the international community to protect our coasts."

Friends of the Irish Environment director Tony Lowes said: "There is no doubt the original proposal would have stopped the development of the dune system and scoured the beach, leading to a loss of one of the finest amenities on the west coast."