The Friends of the Irish Environment and An Taisce are to appeal against Clare County Council's decision to allow a golf course, hotel and 80 holiday homes to be built beside White Strand, proposed for designation as a Special Area of Conservation.
The groups say the permission granted on Wednesday for a £12.5 million golf resort at Doonbeg has set the clock back for environmental protection.
The groups believe the 18-hole golf course, 51-bedroom hotel, conference centre and 80 holiday homes will destroy the ecology of a priority conservation area. An FIE spokesman said it would also request "an oral hearing so the public may see exactly how the authorities charged with the protection of the country's natural heritage are dealing it all away".
During the planning process the FIE criticised the decision of the body charged with managing conservation areas, Duchas, to reduce significantly the boundary of the special area at the site. It claimed this was done to facilitate the USbacked Irish National Golf Club Ltd which requested it.
Duchas, however, rejected this claim and said it had not and would not permit the adjustment of any site boundaries, other than for scientific reasons.
Supporting claims that the mile-and-a-half Atlantic coastline site is of conservation value, both An Taisce and the FIE pointed to a Heritage Council report on the dunes at White Strand which concluded that they were "of considerable scientific interest".
Mr Tony Lowes of An Taisce said yesterday: "The fact that the council's decision was taken in spite of the clear evidence produced by the Heritage Council that showed the site is of major scientific importance makes this decision even more bitter."
However, Duchas told the council it would not object to the development as long as the council could ensure that adequate protection would be put in place for the conservation area.
In granting permission the council acceded to Duchas's request, imposing conditions on the developers to ensure that adequate precautions are taken to avoid damage to the conservation area while building and to put a management plan for the site in place.
Responding to the council's 33 conditions, Mr Doug Barton, chief executive of Irish National Golf Club Ltd, said: "We have said from the beginning that it has always been our intention to join with the people of Doonbeg in acting as a good steward of the area and we are pleased that our development will allow the beautiful sand dunes to be preserved."
Anticipating an appeal, Mr Barton said his company would present a clear, well-argued and responsible case for the project, as it had done throughout the planning process so far.
"With the support of the people of Doonbeg we believe that we will be successful with any appeal that might follow the positive decision of Clare County Council," he added.
The Doonbeg Community Development Co Ltd, which represents the interests of the local community, yesterday welcomed the council's decision and said the project - which is to receive a European Regional Development Fund grant of £2.4 million - will give the local economy the kickstart it needs.
A spokesman said: "The community is acutely aware of the need to protect the special environment of the sand dunes, which have been severely damaged over the years, and we believe that Irish National Golf Club Ltd has the necessary background and expertise to carry out this quality development with sensitivity."
Commenting on the appeal to the planning board, the spokesman said it was "aggrieved that a very small number of people in places that are far from west Clare should try to damage the economic and social prospects of the area.
"Objecting to this development is tantamount to telling the young people of Doonbeg that they are not entitled to a job and a future in their own community. We now appeal to them to respect our opinion and our wishes and refrain from any further interference in this project. This is our place and nobody will deny us the right to shape and influence our future."