Hare carried away by greyhound at cruel coursing meet in Thurles

 

A hare was pinned to the ground and carried away in the mouth of a greyhound at a coursing meeting in Tipperary, newly released documents reveal.

Details of the sickening incident are detailed in documents published on the National Parks and Wildlife Service website. They show that at a 2-day coursing meet in Thurles in November, a greyhound caught and pinned a hare to the ground before picking up the animal when its muzzle came undone.

“The hare was subsequently pinned and picked up by the unmuzzled dog,” a National Parks ranger stated in his report. “The dog carried the hare a short distance and put it down. The hare ran a short distance and was picked up again.”

He went on to say that while coursers “restrained the dogs”, the hare “was let go by the dog [and] ran off and entered the escape”.

The ranger stated that it wasn’t until the following day that this hare was identified.

Despite the fact that the hare had suffered “some fur loss on it’s [sic] back” and had been hit, pinned to the ground and caught in the mouth of a dog twice, the assessment was that “it appeared in good health”. The animal was “released with all the hares after the conclusion of coursing”. It is not clear if the hare was examined by a vet or received any treatment.

A total of 34 hares were captured from the wild for the shameful Thurles event.

On Day 1, the coursers claimed that just 1 hare was pinned to the ground by greyhounds and examined by a vet for injuries. This was contradicted by the ranger’s report in which he noted that 2 hares were pinned to the ground and 2 hares were “tipped” by the dogs. The following day, another hare was hit. A week before, during the so-called coursing trials, a hare was pinned by a greyhound and examined by a vet for injuries.

Elsewhere, earlier that month, a NPWS ranger who monitored a coursing meeting in Liscannor in County Clare saw a hare who “appeared unwell” and wasn’t coursed. “It stopped moving on the coursing field and a steward carried it to the enclosure,” she reported. According to the coursers’ veterinary report, no hares were examined for injuries. In her report, the ranger also noted that one hare was “found dead of unknown causes a week after being released [after coursing]”.

This hare may have been a victim of the stress-related condition known as Capture Myopathy which can claim lives in the days, weeks and months after coursing.

The Thurles and Liscannor coursing meetings, and others around the country, were allowed to go ahead, thanks to a licence recklessly issued by Culture and Heritage Minister, Josepha Madigan. She granted the licence despite the presence in Ireland of the deadly and highly contagious RHD2 virus which she herself acknowledged “has the potential to wipe out the hare population completely”. Her National Parks and Wildlife Service department warned that RHD2 could prove “catastrophic” for the Irish Hare which is unique to Ireland.

Regardless, Minister Madigan later lifted a suspension of hare netting and allowed the coursers to go ahead and net thousands of hares for their shameful bloodsport.

At a meeting between Minister Madigan and pro-coursing Fine Gael TDs in September, it was stated that “the presence of the RHD2 virus in Ireland could be catastrophic for the wild hare and rabbit population” and that at that point, “12 out of 13 wild rabbits and hare carcasses, from a range of counties across Ireland, that had been tested for RHD2 virus, have returned positive results.”

It is not currently known how many more hares or rabbits have died as a result of the RHD2 virus.

Find out about more victims of coursing in the latest documents published on the NPWS website https://www.npws.ie/licences/hare-coursing

ACTION ALERT

With a RED C opinion poll confirming that a 77 per cent majority of Irish citizens want hare coursing banned (with just 9 per cent disagreeing with a ban), it is now time for politicians to consign this nasty bloodsport to history. Join us in contacting all the newly elected TDs and demanding that they act to ensure that a ban is urgently introduced. Visit the Oireachtas website for contact details for TDs https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/tds/?term=/ie/oireachtas/house/dail/33

Please contact political party leaders and urge them to ban hare coursing, fox hunting and all bloodsports in Ireland.

Leo Varadkar
Leader, Fine Gael
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion St, Dublin 2
Telephone: 01-619 4020
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie; leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
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Micheál Martin
Leader, Fianna Fail
Constituency Office
137 Evergreen Road,
Turner’s Cross, Cork
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie
Phone: 021-432 0088
Leinster House: 01–618 3000
Leave a comment on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD

Mary Lou McDonald TD
Leader, Sinn Fein
Tel: (01) 727 7102
Email: marylou.mcdonald@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryLouMcDonald
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryLouMcDonaldTD

Eamon Ryan
Leader, Green Party
Tel: 01 618 3894
Email: eamon.ryan@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EamonRyanGP/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EamonRyan

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Ban Blood Sports in Ireland Now
https://www.change.org/petitions/ban-blood-sports-in-ireland
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Longford greyhound track permanently shuts down

Longford greyhound track has permanently shut down this week. The last race to be held at the track (“The Final Farewell at Longford”) took place on Monday evening (23 March 2020).

Confirmation that the track was closing down came at the weekend, with a notice posted on Facebook stating: “Sadly on Monday March 23rd Longford Greyhound Stadium will hold it’s [sic] last race meeting. Unfortunately in accordance with IGB guidelines, no public admissions will be allowed.”

However, contrary to government and HSE guidelines, individuals present at the track on Monday could be seen recklessly ignoring COVID-19 social distancing advice. Greyhound owners/trainers were seen rushing in together to retrieve dogs after races https://www.flickr.com/photos/icabs/49696627778/in/dateposted-public/ and despite the fact that the stands were virtually empty, some of the few spectators congregated close together https://www.flickr.com/photos/icabs/49697469402/in/dateposted-public/

A 2019 economic review of greyhound racing, commissioned by the Irish Greyhound Board, recommended the closure of four tracks, including Longford stadium. The track, privately owned by a Scottish businessman, had been receiving annual cash injections of over €40,000 from the taxpayer-funded IGB.

Many dogs have suffered and died at Longford stadium. Sickening Irish Greyhound Board statistics confirm that over the past five years alone, at least 61 greyhounds suffered injuries there and 24 were killed by a track vet. In the same period, at tracks around Ireland, at least 1,813 greyhounds suffered injuries and 592 were killed.

The Irish Council Against Blood Sports is calling on the government to stop all funding for greyhound racing which to-date has received more than a quarter of a billion euros, including €16.8 million for 2020.

ACTION ALERT

STOP THE STATE FUNDING FOR GREYHOUND RACING

Another €16.8 million of scarce public funds has been approved for greyhound racing for 2020. Since 2001, greyhound racing has received more than a quarter of a billion euros of taxpayers’ money. Please contact your local TDs and demand that they vote against this funding. Visit the Oireachtas website for contact details for TDs https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/tds/?term=/ie/oireachtas/house/dail/33

Urge the leaders of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail (who back the grants every year) to stop the funding and redirect the money to the many worthy causes crying out for funding.

Leo Varadkar
Leader, Fine Gael
Telephone: 01-619 4020
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie; leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar

Micheál Martin
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie
Phone: 021-432 0088
Leave a comment on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD

Please sign and share petitions

Irish Government: Stop Giving Millions of Euro to Cruel Greyhound Industry
https://www.change.org/p/irish-government-stop-giving-millions-of-euro-to-cruel-greyhound-industry

Stop supporting the cruel greyhound industry
https://www.change.org/p/stop-supporting-the-cruel-greyhound-industry

Ban Blood Sports in Ireland Now
https://www.change.org/petitions/ban-blood-sports-in-ireland

Ireland – Ban cruel hare coursing
http://www.change.org/p/ireland-ban-cruel-hare-coursing

GAA: Stop club fundraisers at greyhound tracks
https://www.change.org/p/gaa-stop-club-fundraisers-at-greyhound-tracks

Tell Gain Pet Nutrition to Stop Sponsoring Greyhound Racing
https://www.change.org/p/jimtracy-glanbia-ie-tell-gain-pet-nutrition-to-stop-sponsoring-greyhound-racing

CRASS: Horse racing putting livelihoods ahead of lives

The Irish horse racing and gambling industry is putting livelihoods ahead of lives – Read Brian O’Connor’s column in today’s Irish Times in which Horse Racing Ireland’s decision to continue racing is condemned as “crass” and “tasteless” https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/racing/irish-racing-and-gambling-industry-putting-livelihoods-ahead-of-lives-1.4209780

URGENT ACTION ALERT

Tell Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Health Minister Simon Harris to immediately stop all horse racing and greyhound racing in the interests of public safety and doing everything possible to slow the spread of COVID 19. Doctors are required to be at racecourses to examine jockeys who fall from horses. What a disgrace that horse racing continues when doctors are desperately needed at hospitals to help save lives. Urge Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Health Minister Simon Harris and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe to act NOW.

An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion St, Dublin 2
Telephone: +353 (0)1-6194020
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie, leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie
Tweet to: @LeoVaradkar
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar

Simon Harris, TD
Minister for Health
Phone: 01-6354000
Email: simon.harris@oir.ie
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeputySimonHarris
Tweet: https://twitter.com/SimonHarrisTD

Greyhounds knocked over at Shelbourne Park: Video withheld from IGB website

The Irish Greyhound Board is continuing to hide video footage of greyhounds suffering bad falls at tracks around the country.

The latest attempt by the IGB to keep footage from the public relates to a race at Shelbourne Park stadium on Saturday, 21 March.

During Race 6, greyhounds Highview Audi and Nitro Jen were knocked over at the first bend. Video footage capturing the moment the two dogs were knocked over has been withheld.

In November, Agriculture Minister Michael Creed was questioned about the withholding of race footage by the Irish Greyhound Board.

Then TD, Maureen O’Sullivan, asked Minister Creed “if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Irish Greyhound Board is attempting to hide incidents involving dogs falling and suffering injuries by withholding race footage from its website [and] if he will direct it to publish the footage”.

Responding, Minister Creed stated: “Bord na gCon [Irish Greyhound Board] have informed the Department that, although it broadcasts all races at Bord na gCon licensed stadia, there is no regulatory or legislative requirement on Bord na gCon to make all racing footage available on its website.” https://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2019-11-26a.945

Previously, the IGB attempted to hide a damning report which revealed that around 6,000 greyhounds are killed every year in Ireland because they are not fast enough to win races. The report’s contents were featured on the “RTE Investigates: Greyhounds Running for Their Lives” documentary, which can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYTb2qBjlMM

The IGB also tried to hide the fact that a greyhound (Ballymac Syd) collapsed from a heart attack and died at Shelbourne Park in August. The death was revealed by the Greyhound Star website which reported: “The poor dog was having a heart attack. We managed to get him to the van and I started compressions but the tongue had already gone blue. He died shortly afterwards.” There was no mention on the IGB website of the heart attack or the dog dying. Incredibly, in a notice posted on the IGB website three days after Ballymac Syd died, the dog was listed among three dogs “withdrawn from the second round of the Boylesports Derby”. “In Heat 3, Ballymac Syd will be a non-runner from trap four,” the IGB website stated.

Among the footage unavailable on the IGB website:

Race 6 – Shelbourne Park, 21 March 2020 – Greyhounds Highview Audi and Nitro Jen were knocked over at the first bend

Race 6 – Curraheen Park, 21 February 2020 – Greyhound Delighted stumbled and “did not finish”

Race 7 – Tralee stadium, 16 February 2020 – Greyhound Manhattan Field fell at the third bend and “did not finish”

Race 2 at Enniscorthy track, 16 January 2020 – Greyhound Rathbally Rory “did not finish” the race

Race 5 at Enniscorthy track, 16 January 2020 – Jovial Bob and Harriestown Star Were knocked over at the first bend

Race 8 at Shelbourne Park, 21 December 2019 – Greyhound Knocknarea Run was impeded and “did not finish” the race

Race 9 at Shelbourne Park, 21 December 2019 – Greyhounds Spots Trend, Knight Rocker and Boyhero were knocked over at the first bend

Race 5 at Shelbourne Park, 7 December 2019 – Greyhound Mags Angel “did not finish” the race.

Race 12 at Shelbourne Park, 7 December 2019 – greyhound Catunda Logan was knocked over at the first bend and “did not finish” the race.

Race 6 at Limerick stadium, 5 December – greyhound Gurtnacrehy Leah did not finish the race.

Race 9 at Limerick stadium, 5 December – greyhound Clounanna Gilt was knocked over at the first bend and did not finish the race.

Race 4 at Limerick stadium, 5 December – greyhound Rockalong Xpress was knocked over at the first bend and did not finish the race.

Race 4 at Mullingar stadium, 1 December 2019 – greyhound Lingrawn Pearl “did not finish” the race.

Race 6 at Shelbourne Park on 15 November 2019 – greyhound Oakview Brae reportedly broke a hock. She has not been raced since.

Race 8 at Shelbourne Park, 12 November 2019 – Greyhound Nebula was knocked over and did not finish the race. She has not been raced since.

Race 12 at Shelbourne Park on 16 November 2019 – greyhound Droopys Oomph was knocked over at the first bend and “did not finish” the race. He has not been raced since.

Race 2 at Newbridge stadium on 11 October 2019 – greyhound Blacksmith Cardi knocked over and did not finish the race. She has not been raced since.

Race 7 at Shelbourne Park on 31 August 2019 – Three greyhounds were knocked over at the first bend during a Boylesports-sponsored race – one of them, LAUGHIL JOSH, “did not finish”.

Race 4 at Enniscorthy track, 30 September 2019 – Greyhound Likeable Quiff was knocked over and “did not finish” the race. The 2-year-old greyhound has not been raced since. A week after the fall, she was run in a trial at Shelbourne Park and again, she “did not finish”

Race 1 at Enniscorthy track, 21 December 2018 – Gortin Shift was knocked over at the first bend and “did not finish” the race. He has not been raced since.

ACTION ALERT

Say NO to the cruel greyhound industry – don’t attend greyhound races or fundraisers/hen parties/office parties held at greyhound tracks.

STOP THE STATE FUNDING FOR GREYHOUND RACING

Another €16.8 million of scarce public funds has been approved for greyhound racing for 2020. Since 2001, greyhound racing has received more than a quarter of a billion euros of taxpayers’ money. Please contact your local TDs and demand that they vote against this funding. Visit the Oireachtas website for contact details for TDs https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/tds/?term=/ie/oireachtas/house/dail/33

Urge the leaders of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail (who back the grants every year) to stop the funding.

Leo Varadkar
Leader, Fine Gael
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion St, Dublin 2
Telephone: 01-619 4020
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie; leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar

Micheál Martin
Leader, Fianna Fail
Constituency Office
137 Evergreen Road,
Turner’s Cross, Cork
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie
Phone: 021-432 0088
Leinster House: 01–618 3000
Leave a comment on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD
Please sign and share petitions

Irish Government: Stop Giving Millions of Euro to Cruel Greyhound Industry
https://www.change.org/p/irish-government-stop-giving-millions-of-euro-to-cruel-greyhound-industry

Stop supporting the cruel greyhound industry
https://www.change.org/p/stop-supporting-the-cruel-greyhound-industry

Ban Blood Sports in Ireland Now
https://www.change.org/petitions/ban-blood-sports-in-ireland

Ireland – Ban cruel hare coursing
http://www.change.org/p/ireland-ban-cruel-hare-coursing

GAA: Stop club fundraisers at greyhound tracks
https://www.change.org/p/gaa-stop-club-fundraisers-at-greyhound-tracks

Tell Gain Pet Nutrition to Stop Sponsoring Greyhound Racing
https://www.change.org/p/jimtracy-glanbia-ie-tell-gain-pet-nutrition-to-stop-sponsoring-greyhound-racing

Sinn Fein: Support a ban on cruel hare coursing
https://www.change.org/p/sinn-fein-support-a-ban-on-cruel-hare-coursing

“Inexcusable. Reckless. Not in the least public spirited”: Horse Racing Ireland slammed over shameful races during COVID 19 crisis

Horse Racing Ireland [HRI] has been slammed over its decision to allow racing to continue during the COVID 19 crisis.

In a series of Letters in today’s Irish Times (see below), the decision has been condemned as “reckless”, “inexcusable” and “not in the least public spirited”.

“My understanding is that Turf Club doctors are required to be present at these [horse racing] meetings,” one letter writer stated. “Surely they would be much better employed in a hospital setting to assist in the current emergency.”

These racecourse doctors are effectively funded by Irish taxpayers. Since 2001, Horse Racing Ireland has received more than 1 BILLION EUROS of taxpayers’ money, including €67.2 million for 2020 (that’s €1.29 million for every week of the year). As reported previously by ICABS, HRI also channels some of the massive funding it receives into paying for doctors to attend point-to-point races organised by foxhunters. In a past statement, it promised that “HRI will meet the cost of providing appropriately qualified medical officers at every point-to-point which was previously borne by the point-to-point organisers – these doctors will be provided by the Turf Club / Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee.”

The government must IMMEDIATELY withdraw all funding for horse racing and insist on doctors being relocated away from racecourses and into hospitals where they are desperately needed.

Urge Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Health Minister Simon Harris and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe to act now.

An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion St, Dublin 2
Telephone: +353 (0)1-6194020
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie, leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie
Tweet to: @LeoVaradkar
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar

Simon Harris, TD
Minister for Health
Phone: 01-6354000
Email: simon.harris@oir.ie
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeputySimonHarris
Tweet: https://twitter.com/SimonHarrisTD

Paschal Donohoe TD
Minister for Finance
Email: paschal.donohoe@oireachtas.ie, minister@per.gov.ie
Phone: +353 (0)1 6045810
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaschalDonohoe/
Tweet to @Paschald

SEE ALSO:

€84 million for horse and greyhound racing

Foxhunters are receiving massive grants – and the services of medical doctors – from taxpayer-funded Horse Racing Ireland, it has emerged

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
IRISH TIMES, 20 MARCH 2020

Horse Racing Ireland and race meetings

Sir, – The decision by Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) to continue holding race meetings behind “closed doors” may be evidence that Irish racing takes place on another planet – one that does not sustain intelligent life.

In the light of the Taoiseach’s comments and predictions in his speech, this decision appears to be reckless and not in the least public spirited.

Intriguingly, its decision to tell the industry to work on was taken by the HRI board in the safety of a virtual meeting, held by telephone. Is there one set of guidelines for the industry’s elite and a lesser set for the people who do the work?

All other racing authorities in Europe have suspended racing. HRI asserts that its decision “is motivated by the need to maintain employment and incomes for people working in the industry”. This is not convincing, since the Government has initiated enhanced, fast-tracked social protection payments for anyone who is laid off work because of the Covid-19 emergency. It smacks more of a desire to cosset breeders, owners and trainers.

The HRI press release states that, “We have consulted with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine throughout this process”. I find it extraordinary that a government department would acquiesce in a decision by a State body that subverts the spirit, if not the letter, of the Government’s fight against Covid-19. Meanwhile, the Government will fork out €67 million of taxpayers’ money to fund HRI this year! – Yours, etc,

LIAM CAHILL,
Drumree, Co Meath.
Sir, – Horse Racing Ireland is continuing racing behind “closed doors”. This betrays the true purpose of racing, namely off-course gambling, which causes untold financial hardship to many families. – Yours, etc,

Dr PAUL McCORMACK,
Swatragh, Co Derry.
Sir, – In these unprecedented times the decision of Horse Racing Ireland to continue with horse racing is inexcusable. My understanding is that Turf Club doctors are required to be present at these meetings. Surely they would be much better employed in a hospital setting to assist in the current emergency. – Yours, etc,

TADHG McCARTHY,
Bray, Co Wicklow.
Sir, – Is Horse Racing Ireland the only sporting body that could make the FAI look good? – Yours, etc,

STEWART KENNY,
Dublin 4.

https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/letters/horse-racing-ireland-and-race-meetings-1.4207240

Government urged to stop greyhound racing as COVID19 advice being ignored at tracks

The Irish Council Against Blood Sports is calling on the government to immediately stop greyhound racing. The call is in response to shocking video footage posted on the Irish Greyhound Board [IGB] website showing track staff and greyhound owners ignoring government advice to maintain a 2 metre distance from each other during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.

The IGB announced that a “racing behind closed doors policy” has been put into effect and that there will be “no public admissions other than ‘one person, one dog’ admissions”. However, disturbing video filmed over the past few days at tracks around the country shows stadium staff standing next to each other and individuals in near-empty stands shoulder-to-shoulder as dogs run by.

The IGB appears to be trying to hide footage of the moment greyhound trainers simultaneously rush in to retrieve dogs after races have ended. In most cases, the video unusually pans away swiftly before this can be seen. But for a small selection of races, up to six greyhound owners or trainers can be seen crowding in together to grab the dogs.

In a statement on Monday, the IGB claimed that “social distancing [would] be fully observed at all times”, adding that “this is a critical measure to be observed by all”. From the evidence on its own website, this is clearly not being observed.

The IGB claims that “our approach at this time is to continue to support the greyhound community whilst managing risks in accordance with the latest guidance from Government/HSE”.

Official Government/HSE guidance clearly states: “Avoid close contact with people – keep a distance of 2 metres (6.5 feet) between you and others”

In an letter to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Agriculture Minister Michael Creed, ICABS stated: “This cannot be allowed to continue. In the interests of public safety and doing everything possible to slow the spread of COVID 19, it is imperative for you to shut down greyhound racing today.”

Find out more about Coronavirus (COVID-19) and how you can protect yourself
https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/

ACTION ALERT

Join us in urging the government to immediately close greyhound tracks around Ireland.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion St, Dublin 2
Telephone: 01-619 4020
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie; leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Leave a comment on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar

Michael Creed TD
Minister for Agriculture
Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Email: michael.creed@oir.ie
Tel: +353 (0)1-607 2000 or LoCall 1890-200510.
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelcreedtd
Tweet to: @creedcnw

STOP THE STATE FUNDING FOR GREYHOUND RACING

Another €16.8 million of scarce public funds has been approved for greyhound racing for 2020. Since 2001, greyhound racing has received more than a quarter of a billion euros of taxpayers’ money. Please contact your local TDs and demand that they vote against this funding. Visit the Oireachtas website for contact details for TDs https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/tds/?term=/ie/oireachtas/house/dail/33

Urge the leaders of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail (who back the grants every year) to stop the funding and redirect the money to the many worthy causes crying out for funding.

Leo Varadkar
Leader, Fine Gael
Telephone: 01-619 4020
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie; leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar

Micheál Martin
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie
Phone: 021-432 0088
Leave a comment on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD

Please sign and share petitions

Irish Government: Stop Giving Millions of Euro to Cruel Greyhound Industry
https://www.change.org/p/irish-government-stop-giving-millions-of-euro-to-cruel-greyhound-industry

Stop supporting the cruel greyhound industry
https://www.change.org/p/stop-supporting-the-cruel-greyhound-industry

Ban Blood Sports in Ireland Now
https://www.change.org/petitions/ban-blood-sports-in-ireland

Ireland – Ban cruel hare coursing
http://www.change.org/p/ireland-ban-cruel-hare-coursing

GAA: Stop club fundraisers at greyhound tracks
https://www.change.org/p/gaa-stop-club-fundraisers-at-greyhound-tracks

Tell Gain Pet Nutrition to Stop Sponsoring Greyhound Racing
https://www.change.org/p/jimtracy-glanbia-ie-tell-gain-pet-nutrition-to-stop-sponsoring-greyhound-racing

Two hotels in County Laois “regularly host meets” of the Laois Foxhounds hunt, it has emerged.

According to a foxhunt report in the Irish Field, “the hospitality industry was well represented [at a recent hunt] with Seosamh Murphy of the Castle Arms Durrow and Alex and April Kent of the nearby Abbeyleix Manor Hotel, all mounted and going well.”

The reported added that “both hotels regularly host meets of the hunt and these meets are looked on as the high point of the season.”

In the past, the Castle Arms Hotel has hosted a Laois Hunt Christmas Fair and posted a video on its Facebook page showing the hunt setting out from the hotel – https://www.facebook.com/CastleArmsHotel/videos/996919973698867/

Abbeyleix Manor hotel, meanwhile, has hosted the Laois Hunt ball and a fox hunt table quiz as well as publicising foxhunt meets on its Facebook page (“LAOIS HUNT OPENING MEET NOW!!”).

The latest Irish Field report detailed how a pack of hounds was released to chase foxes during the hunt which started from Clogh in North Kilkenny.

The dogs “crossed the road and found [a fox] in some forestry almost immediately” and they “hunted on with the field [of riders] popping some steel forestry barriers at speed and hounds giving fantastic music”. The hounds “hunted up and down the almost endless plantations near Crutt” and later chased another fox through a farm.

The report went on to say that the “hounds hunted really well and the field were treated to some smashing bank jumping” and that the huntsman “blew for home” when the hounds marked. In hunting terminology, marking refers to the pack of hounds catching up with the fox and baying loudly at the entrance to an earth or drain where the cowering creature is trying to find refuge. Sadly, this often translates as death for unfortunate foxes if they are flushed out with terriers or dug out by hunt terriermen.

During the Laois hunt, the hounds continued on towards “Paddy Hennessey’s farm where a warm welcome is assured as he is brother to hunting padre, Fr Willie Hennessey”. Fr Hennessey is, according to the Irish Field, “a regular with the Laois [hunt] though missing on the day as he was on ecclesiastical duty.”

The hunt report revealed that others present at the hunt included:

– “Grainne Kavanagh who practises as a veterinary surgeon in Rathdowney”
– Emily, the wife of huntsman Dermot Hannify, who “works as a pediatric nurse in Portlaoise”
– Marcus McLoughlin “who owns and runs a supermarket in Portarlington”
– Hunt secretary Frances McEvoy – “she works as a hairdresser in one of Portlaoise’s smarter saloons”
– Mounted games rider Mark Deviit who was “out on his bay getting him fit for their upcoming trip to Gothenberg for the international mounted games.”

Foxhunting is completely unacceptable in modern Ireland and a majority want it stopped. A RED C opinion poll, commissioned by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports, has found that a massive 77% agree that the Irish Government should BAN FOXHUNTING. The opinion poll, carried out in September, found that just 12% disagree with a ban. Please respond to our action alert below and join calls for a long overdue ban on foxhunting.

ACTION ALERT

Boycott businesses that support foxhunting.

Complain to hotel management.

Abbeyleix Manor Hotel
Abbeyleix, Co. Laois
Phone: +353 (0)57 8730311
Email: info@abbeyleixmanorhotel.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Abbeyleix-Manor/124639480944167

Castle Arms Hotel
Durrow, Co. Laois
Phone: +353 57 8736117
Email: info@castlearmshotel.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CastleArmsHotel/

Please join us in telling the Irish Government that it is now time to ban foxhunting. Contact all your local TDs and urge them to push for a ban on this bloodsport. Visit the Oireachtas website for names of TDs and their email addresses http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=33&disp=mem

Contact the leaders of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein and the Green Party to tell them that you want fox hunting, and all bloodsports, banned.

Leo Varadkar
Leader, Fine Gael
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion St, Dublin 2
Telephone: 01-619 4020
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie; leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Leave a comment on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar

Micheál Martin
Leader, Fianna Fail
Constituency Office
137 Evergreen Road,
Turner’s Cross, Cork
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie
Phone: 021-432 0088
Leinster House: 01–618 3000
Leave a comment on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD

Mary Lou McDonald TD
Leader, Sinn Fein
Tel: (01) 727 7102
Email: marylou.mcdonald@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryLouMcDonald
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryLouMcDonaldTD

Eamon Ryan
Leader, Green Party
Tel: 01 618 3894
Email: eamon.ryan@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EamonRyanGP/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EamonRyan
Keep hunters off your land

If you are a landowner, make your land off-limits to hunters. Find out more about how to do this on our Farmers/Landowners Page – http://www.banbloodsports.com/farmers.htm Encourage all land-owning friends and family members in the countryside to show compassion and make their land a haven for wildlife.

Sign and share our “Ban Blood Sports in Ireland” petition
https://www.change.org/petitions/ban-blood-sports-in-ireland

Witness the cruelty of foxhunting and find out more about the “Ban Foxhunting” campaign at
http://www.banbloodsports.com/camp-fh.htm
SEE ALSO

A RED C poll, commissioned by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports, has revealed that a massive 77% agree that the government should BAN FOXHUNTING. The opinion poll, carried out in September, found that just 12% disagree with a ban, while 11% said they don’t know. Of those stating an opinion, 87% of these agree that the Irish Government should ban foxhunting while 13% disagree with this. https://www.facebook.com/banbloodsports/posts/2622019234580285