A new golf course of international championship standards, costing in excess of €20 million, is to be developed over a 95-hectare stretch of former woodlands near Castleblayney, Co Monaghan.
This is as a result of a decision taken by Monaghan County Council yesterday for the material contravention of the local County Development Plan, to facilitate the project.
The new course, which includes a clubhouse and other facilities designed to attract major international golfing events to the region, was designed by golfers Christy O'Connor snr and his nephew, Christy jnr.
A Fine Gael councillor, Mr Gary Carville, withdrew from the debate at the council meeting before the members decided unanimously to give the green light to the project on the grounds that he had a personal interest as a shareholder in the project.
The application for planning permission was lodged with the council by Concra Wood Golf and Country Club Plc, a consortium formed by local community groups, golfers and business people.
A commercial forest where the golf course is being developed has been felled, and the property was recently acquired by the consortium from Coillte, the Forestry Board. The golf course site is alongside Lough Muckno.
The new application, approved by the council yesterday, was lodged with the Co Monaghan planning authority on May 13th.
The mayor of Monaghan, Cllr Owen Bannigan of Fine Gael, said yesterday: "This is a huge project which will have far-reaching implications for the whole county and it will enable major golfing events to be staged in Co Monaghan. This is a real flagship for future tourism in the region."
A Fianna Fáil councillor, Mr Séamus Coyle, added: "This new golf course will have enormous benefits for the whole north-east of the country. It will prove an immense boost for the local economy."