Judgment was reserved yesterday in a High Court action taken by the Irish Wildbird Conservancy and the State to stop Clonakilty Golf and Country Club from carrying out drainage work on marsh land at Clogheen Strand in Co Cork.
During the three day hearing, the IWC argued the area was of international significance because it held 1 per cent of the black tailed gedwit, a migratory waterfowl species. The area qualified for protection under an EU birds directive.
The golf company, which bought the land in 1992, claimed it did not need planning permission to carry out drainage work on the 170 acres involved.