A proposal to build 58 holiday homes and 40 apartments and turn a ruined castle into a hotel on a wooded lakeside in one of Co Donegal's most scenic areas is alarming locals.
The scale of the development on the shores of Lough Eske, about four miles from Donegal town, has outraged locals who favour the reopening of Brooke Castle as a hotel, but say such a large number of holiday homes would transform the character of the area and do permanent damage to the landscape.
A number of leading developers are involved in Lough Eske Development Co Ltd, which is behind the project, and a decision on the planning application is expected from Donegal County Council within weeks.
The land was formerly owned by Coillte and makes up part of the old Brooke estate. It is an area of mature woodland and lakeside walks with some historical sites in the vicinity, including the ruins of a castle built by the O'Donnells and a replica Celtic high cross.
It runs alongside a narrow strip of lakeshore designed as a National Heritage Area, and is widely used for walking by locals and tourists.
A local action committee to oppose the development was formed late last year after a meeting attended by more than 200 people. A member of the committee, Mr Tim Coughlan, said it was initially promoted as an "Ashford Castle-style" development and they only became aware of the plan to build so many holiday homes when they studied the documents in the planning office in Lifford.
A spokesman for Donegal County Council said about 100 people had lodged objections to the planning application.
An objection lodged on behalf of the Lough Eske Community Development Association argues that the proposed development would be unsustainable. A six-kilometre sewer would have to be put in place, linking the site to Donegal town, and local roads are narrow and winding.
It is argued that such a large development would have a huge and detrimental impact on existing tourism in the area "which relies on the natural beauty and serenity of the area, the tranquillity of the lake, the scenic drives on a narrow road network and the low-density development in the surrounding area".
The hotel and holiday home complex, if fully occupied and with a staff of up to 100, would have a total of some 500 people on site, while the population around all of Lough Eske is now 380.
A local postman, Mr Michael McAnaw, said it would be highly unjust, when locals have to pay at least £35,000 for a site near the lake, that land sold by Coillte for about £90,000 could be used by a developer for close to 100 units of accommodation.
The London property developer, Mr Pat Doherty, who is a native of Co Donegal, is one of the directors of Lough Eske Development Co Ltd, as is Mr Pat O'Mahony, formerly of AIB, who is also a director of Active Ireland Ltd.
A spokesman for Lough Eske Development Co Ltd, Mr James Sammon, said the development would be an asset to the county.
"Our view is that this is a spectacular location, and the building itself [Brooke Castle] could be a spectacular building, but it is decaying into nothing."
He said their plans would bring the castle "back to its former glory", but the hotel in itself would not be sustainable without the holiday homes and apartments.
He said they had employed architects with special expertise who were "very sensitive to this type of project" and the plans respected the unique character of the castle and outbuildings. Some of the 40 apartments would be incorporated into the existing courtyard buildings.
All 58 holiday homes would initially be rented, Mr Sammon said, and there was no plan to sell them "at this stage, but that may change". The complex would aim to cater for the higher end of the market, such as Europeans who would come to Ireland at any time of the year for walking, fishing and golf.
The proposed development also includes a conference centre, leisure centre, spa, boathouse, moorings and jetty. Given that the development includes these facilities, and also involves restoring a historical building, it is likely to be eligible for grant aid.
It is also feared by locals that if planning permission is now granted even more holiday homes could be built in the future as the original plans earmarked two adjoining plots for "possible future phase three and four".
Mr Kieran Clarke, who bought the second half of the Brooke estate from Coillte and who runs a guesthouse on the property, believes the development would damage tourism in the area.
"Unlike hotel-owners, we sit down and talk to our guests. They come here for peace and tranquillity, and for the landscape, and the landscape is the one thing we cannot do without.
"They don't want to see rows of houses all around the lake. They have that at home in England and Germany."
Since he bought his property, Mr Clarke has renovated old buildings and restored the gardens, which are now open to the public. He said he understood at the time that the property would not be sold to him unless he allowed public access.
He said at the time Coillte was selling the land in the early 1990s locals were also given the impression that certain restrictions would be applied.
However, a spokeswoman for Coillte said this week that she did not believe any restrictions were imposed.
In the recently published draft County Development Plan, the area around Lough Eske is classified as Category 2, as opposed to Category 3 areas, where such developments would not be allowed.
Ms Gay Moynihan, the senior executive planner with Donegal County Council, said a clause in the draft plan allowed for holiday home developments in Category 2 areas provided they were "resource-related" and that the resource would be developed to provide a range of activities and improve the overall tourism product.
She said no objections had been lodged in relation to that clause of the plan.