Community leaders on the Beara peninsula in west Cork have expressed anger over appeals by the film director Neil Jordan and three other Dublin residents with holiday homes in the area against a tourism and leisure development on the Berehaven channel near Castletownbere.
A petition has now been started asking for support for the development of the former Wheel Inn holiday centre three miles east of the town at Cappaghavuckee.
The campaign has reached the Internet - www.bearainfo.com site hosts an archive of material relating to the dispute.
There is also bitter and open criticism of the interference in local affairs of those with holiday homes. Beara welcomed people into the area; in turn, "it would be nice if these people would respect the locals' views when situations such as this arise," the website says.
The developer, Mr John Burke, from Kilbrittain, west Cork, had applied for planning permission for the construction of 41 houses, a holiday village, a restaurant and bar, swimming pool and facilities. This is the second application granted permission by Cork County Council.
Last year a larger application from Mr Burke including a marina and 58 holiday homes was turned down by An Bord Pleanála on appeal by Mr Jordan and An Taisce.
The board found the site was on a relatively unspoilt stretch of coastline, and would be highly visible and contravene the policy of the council's own development plan.
Mr Jordan's current submission to An Bord Pleanála raises nine points including noise impacts, water supply and claims that the revised development conflicts with Cork County Council's own policy.