I played European Club two years ago. If I recall it was a good 1 hr drive south of Dublin. It was highly recommended in by James Finigan in his book so we booked it. The owner and host Pat Ruddy wathched us off the first tee and is a character.
The landscape is very dramatic for this part of Ireland and holes I remember as outstanding were holes 7, 8 and 12 through 16 which run right along Brittas Bay. The par 4 7th green was recently featured on the cover of most recent issue of THE GOLFER. 17 was another great hole. 18th hole was a big suprise and disappointment because there is a pond directly in front of the green. You only see it after you've reached the crest of the hill on 18. A pond on a course that is a true links landscape with dunes that rival Cruden Bay, Portrush & County Down! It just put a sour taste in my mouth to finish on such a poor hole.
At that time you could see the potential the European Club had but it will need time to mature. There were some erosion problems with the ocean holes and you could see they were trying to fix the problem. Salt water spray from the ocean was killing the grass. That out to tell you how close you come to the ocean.
Over time I think European Club will hold it own and may one day enter the world top 100. Unlike Old Head that made a big splash and now is fading, The European Club in my opinion will be one course that will get better with age and maturity and maybe Pat Ruddy will get rid of that ugly pond on 18. The jury is still out on TEC and but what I've read about Ruddy he will continue to make improvements and one day it will be amoung Irelands best if it ain't already.
However, it is a long haul from RCD, you may want to wait and play it when you have more time. I say another course just before European Club called Wicklow Golf Club. From what I couse see from highway, it would be worth checking out also it you made that a day trip in summer/spring day light.
Heck, play the short course at RCD instead as I saw some great holes that i would have love to have played plus they feature them it the club magazine you can pick up in the pro shop. Links of Portmarnoch is another option and pretty good.
P.S. Noel, I'm sorry about the round at Dornoch this past June, as I know we were scheduled to play. However, due to that interclub match with Skibo Castle they were having mid afternoon, starter suggested we go off imediately after our moring round as he informed us they would be slow playing in the mid afternoon. We ended up going off about an 1 1/2 earlier. I told started to pass along info to you, don't know that he did.