An American millionaire has plans for a 125 million euro development in Adare, Co Limerick, including a Jack Nicklaus -designed championship golf course, over 100 acres of private housing and 18 acres of community facilities.
Mr Tom Kane, owner of the Adare Manor Hotel, said yesterday that a planning application for the golf course on the manor grounds, along with 50 golf villas and holiday homes, would be before Limerick County Council in the coming week.
Adare already has a championship golf course designed by Robert Trent.
The New Jersey investment banker and Vietnam war veteran said he planned to donate land to the local community for the provision of a secondary school, community centre, swimming pool and sports pitches.
He added that there was a chronic shortage of affordable housing in the Adare area, and his housing project would enable local people forced to live elsewhere to return to the village.
Mr Kane bought the manor and its lands in 1987 for €2.54 million (£2 million).
Limerick County Council has confirmed that it has received an outline planning application from Adare Partners Ltd for 175 detached houses, 64 semi-detached houses, 40 town houses, a secondary school, community centre and three sports pitches.
At present, second-level pupils from Adare have to travel to school in Limerick city.
