Donald Trump’s plans to expand his golf resort in Doonbeg, Ireland, have encountered unexpected resistance centered on the presence of a tiny endangered snail species. The U.S. president, who acquired the southwest coastal golf course in 2014, has proposed constructing a “spectacular” ballroom, a project now facing environmental concerns and local opposition due to the delicate habitat of the Vertigo angustior, commonly known as the narrow-mouthed whorl snail.

The snail, measuring just 2 millimeters long, is protected under the European Union’s Habitats Directive. Its population, once the largest in Ireland, has reportedly declined significantly since Trump’s ownership, according to Tony Lowes, a director of Friends of the Irish Environment. Lowes criticized the golf course management for activities such as drainage and lawn maintenance, which have degraded the snail’s grazing environment.

This environmental challenge is not new to Trump at Doonbeg. Earlier proposals, including a rock wall intended to prevent erosion, were blocked due to concerns over the snail’s habitat. Now, the proposed year-round ballroom, which is being promoted by Trump’s son Eric Trump as potentially the finest in the country, has reignited debates over development and conservation.

Local residents have voiced mixed views on the issue. Eamonn Vaughan, who owns Morrissey’s pub in the nearby village of 279 inhabitants, acknowledged that such a venue could stimulate the local economy by increasing business. He expressed optimism that, given proper environmental safeguards, authorities might approve the project. However, activists like Liam Madden have raised additional environmental concerns, notably the risk posed to local bat populations by helicopter traffic, including the flights expected to transport Trump to the resort.

The situation highlights a broader tension in Ireland between fostering economic ties with influential U.S. figures and multinational companies and protecting its natural environment. With Trump visiting the country to attend the Irish Open at Doonbeg, the small snail’s unexpected role in shaping development plans underscores the complexities of balancing growth, tourism, and conservation in a community known for its pristine coastal dunes.