Revealed: Fine Gael Councillor is member of coursing club committee

Fine Gael Councillor Eileen Lynch is a member of the Irish Coursing Club “executive committee”, it has emerged.

In an interview on Radio Kerry this week, the Cork County Councillor laughably presented coursing, in which dogs are unleashed to terrorise defenceless hares, as a “professional sport” and an “elite sport”.

She went on to admit that she had shamefully attended a coursing meeting last week.

“I was actually coursing last Wednesday in Mallow and everyone on the field was wearing their mask,” she said, pushing for the activity to be exempted from nationwide Level 5 restrictions.

“For mental health reasons, people need an outlet like this,” she outrageously added.

At past Mallow coursing meetings, hares have been caught and pinned to the ground by greyhounds. Injuries suffered included “broken leg”. Hares have died as a result of the injuries or were euthanised by a vet. It is not yet known if hares were injured or killed at last week’s Mallow meeting.

Councillor Lynch – who works as a solicitor in Cork City and is a Secretary General of the Youth of the European People’s Party – went on to reveal that, before coursers were ordered to stop last week, 30 members of each club were being allowed to attend “to facilitate the meeting”. This means that as many as 170 people or more were congregating in coursing fields to watch hares running for their lives. This at a time when the maximum allowed to attend wedding receptions (indoor or outdoor) and funerals is restricted to just 25.

Cllr Lynch also reminded Radio Kerry listeners about the close ties between hare coursing and greyhound racing, saying “We [the coursers] are answerable to Rasaiocht Con Eireann, formerly Bord na gCon (Greyhound Racing Ireland) – we are under their general control and direction.”

Listen to the full interview at
https://www.radiokerry.ie/constitutes-elite-sport-october-27th-2020

According to the Irish Coursing Club website, Cllr Eileen Lynch became a member of its committee after being proposed by Macroom Coursing Club and seconded by Fermoy & Grange Coursing Club.

At the Macroom coursing meeting last year, three hares were pinned to the ground by greyhounds. One of the hares was “confirmed injured” and was “euthanised by vet”. Hares have also suffered hits and maulings at meets organised by the Fermoy and Grange club.

Cllr Eileen Lynch has previously admitted that she has “been involved in the greyhound industry all my life”. In January of this year, an advert was published in the Castleisland Coursing Club booklet which stated: “Wishing Castleisland Coursing Club every success. Cllr Eileen Lynch”.

In a column in The Corkman in May, she described greyhound racing as “predominantly an outdoor agricultural activity with the greyhound being classified as a farm animal”.

Cllr Lynch, along with Mattie McGrath and Michael Healy Rae, are among a tiny minority of politicians who openly support coursing.

Thankfully, the government has disregarded their calls to allow coursing to continue during COVID19 restrictions. ICABS understands that the National Parks and Wildlife Service has written to the Irish Coursing Club, telling them to release all hares in captivity. The move follows last week’s announcement by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage that hare coursing was to be stopped for six weeks from midnight on Wednesday 21st October, in line with the Level 5 restrictions which state: “No organised outdoor gatherings should take place”.

With a RED C opinion poll showing that 77% of Irish citizens want a long overdue ban on coursing (with just 9% wanting it to continue), pressure is mounting on the government to back a ban.

Please join us now in pushing for a permanent ban on cruel hare coursing and full protection for the Irish Hare.

ACTION ALERT

If you are aware of any coursing taking place in your area, contact the local Gardai and ask them to take action – find contact details at https://www.garda.ie/en/Contact-Us/Station-Directory/

It’s now time for politicians to consign this nasty bloodsport to history. Join us in contacting all TDs and urging them to 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

Urge Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tanaiste Leo Varadkar to respect the wishes of the majority and ban hare coursing and all bloodsports.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: +353 (0)1–618 4350 or +353 (0)21-432 0088
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar
Telephone: +353 (0)1-704 3630 OR +353 (0)1-640 3133
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar

Contact Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Green Party, Sinn Fein and Labour Party TDs and urge them to back a ban on cruel hare coursing.

Fianna Fail TDs

john.mcguinness@oireachtas.ie; niamh.smyth@oireachtas.ie; brendan.smith@oireachtas.ie; aindrias.moynihan@oireachtas.ie; michael.moynihan.td@oireachtas.ie; micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; michael.mcgrath@oireachtas.ie; Charlie.McConalogue@oireachtas.ie; sean.haughey@oireachtas.ie; jim.ocallaghan@oireachtas.ie; darragh.obrien@oireachtas.ie; jack@jackchambers.ie; anne.rabbitte@oireachtas.ie; eamon.ocuiv@oireachtas.ie; james.lawless@oireachtas.ie; sean.ofearghail@oireachtas.ie; sean.fleming@oireachtas.ie; barry.cowen@oireachtas.ie; willie.odea@oireachtas.ie; niall.collins@oireachtas.ie; Robert.Troy@oireachtas.ie; dara.calleary@oireachtas.ie; thomas.byrne@oireachtas.ie; marc.macsharry@oireachtas.ie; jackie.cahill@oireachtas.ie; mary.butler@oireachtas.ie; james.browne@oireachtas.ie; jennifer.murnaneoconnor@oireachtas.ie; cathal.crowe@oireachtas.ie; james.oconnor@oireachtas.ie; padraig.osullivan@oireachtas.ie; christopher.osullivan@oireachtas.ie; paul.mcauliffe@oireachtas.ie; john.lahart@oireachtas.ie; cormac@cormacdevlin.ie; normafoley1@eircom.net; joe.flaherty@oireachtas.ie; Stephen.Donnelly@oireachtas.ie

Fine Gael TDs

JohnPaul.Phelan@oireachtas.ie; Heather.Humphreys@oireachtas.ie; joe.carey@oireachtas.ie; david.stanton@oir.ie; colm.burke@oireachtas.ie; michael.creed@oireachtas.ie; Simon.Coveney@oireachtas.ie; joe.mchugh@oireachtas.ie; richard.bruton@oireachtas.ie; Eoghan.Murphy@oireachtas.ie; Paschal.Donohoe@oireachtas.ie; Alan.Farrell@oireachtas.ie; emer.higgins@oireachtas.ie; neale.richmond@oireachtas.ie; josepha.madigan@oireachtas.ie; colm.brophy@oireachtas.ie; leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; jennifer.carrollmacneill@oireachtas.ie; Ciaran.Cannon@oireachtas.ie; hildegarde.naughton@oireachtas.ie; Brendan.Griffin@oireachtas.ie; bernard.durkan@oireachtas.ie; Martin.Heydon@oireachtas.ie; charles.flanagan@oireachtas.ie; kieran.odonnell@oireachtas.ie; Patrick.O’Donovan@oireachtas.ie; peter.burke@oireachtas.ie; fergus.odowd@oireachtas.ie; alan.dillon@oireachtas.ie; michael.ring@oireachtas.ie; helen.mcentee@oireachtas.ie; damien.english@oireachtas.ie; frank.feighan@oireachtas.ie; paul.kehoe@oireachtas.ie; Simon.Harris@oireachtas.ie

Green Party TDs

Eamon.Ryan@greenparty.ie; catherine.martin@oireachtas.ie; patrick.costello@oireachtas.ie; francisnoel.duffy@oireachtas.ie; neasa.hourigan@oireachtas.ie; brian.leddin@oireachtas.ie; steven.matthews@oireachtas.ie; malcolm.noonan@oireachtas.ie; joe.obrien@oireachtas.ie; marc.ocathasaigh@oireachtas.ie; roderic.ogorman@oireachtas.ie
ossian.smyth@greenparty.ie

Sinn Fein TDs

john.brady@oireachtas.ie; pat.buckley@oireachtas.ie; Sean.Crowe@oireachtas.ie; david.cullinane@oireachtas.ie; Pearse.Doherty@oireachtas.ie; dessie.ellis@oir.ie; kathleen.funchion@oireachtas.ie; martinkennysf@gmail.com; MaryLou.McDonald@oireachtas.ie; denise.mitchell@oireachtas.ie; imelda.munster@oireachtas.ie; eoin.obroin@oireachtas.ie; donnchadh.olaoghaire@oireachtas.ie; aengus.osnodaigh@oireachtas.ie; louiseoreillysf@gmail.com; maurice.quinlivan@oireachtas.ie; Brian.Stanley@oireachtas.ie; mark.ward@oireachtas.ie; chris.andrews@oireachtas.ie; martin.browne@oireachtas.ie; matt.carthy@oireachtas.ie; sorca.clarke@oireachtas.ie; roseconwaywalsh@eircom.net; reada.cronin@oireachtas.ie; pa.daly@oireachtas.ie; paul.donnelly@oireachtas.ie; mairead.farrell@oireachtas.ie; thomas.gould@oireachtas.ie; johnny.guirke@oireachtas.ie; claire.kerrane@oireachtas.ie; padraig.maclochlainn@oir.ie; johnny.mythen@oireachtas.ie; ruairi.omurchu@oireachtas.ie; darren.orourke@oireachtas.ie; patriciaryan975@gmail.com; pauline.tully@oireachtas.ie; vwynne@gmail.com

Labour Party TDs

sean.sherlock@oireachtas.ie,aodhan.oriordain@oireachtas.ie,duncan.smith@oireachtas.ie,gerald.nash@oireachtas.ie,Alan.Kelly@oireachtas.ie,brendan.howlin@oireachtas.ie

Please sign and share the petitions

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

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

Witness the cruelty of hare coursing in Ireland
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRkXOvbUPNNjMc6LShwiiXBfnDAPbykf-

77% want cruel coursing banned: Support our new nationwide billboard campaign
Donate now at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-fund-ban-greyhound-racing-billboards

More Information: Cllr Eileen Lynch (Fine Gael, Cork County Council)

“Wishing Castleisland Coursing Club every success. Cllr Eileen Lynch). Advert in Castleisland Coursing Club booklet, January 2020.

“I am also involved in the greyhound industry” From Cllr Eileen Lynch’s Facebook profile page.

In a 21 May 2020 column in The Corkman, Cllr Eileen Lynch described greyhound racing as “predominantly an outdoor agricultural activity with the greyhound being classified as a farm animal”. She revealed that she has “been involved in the greyhound industry all my life”.

“Coursing is not about killing, no coursing supporter wants to see a hare killed #wecareforthehare” Tweet to RTE’s Claire Byrne Live, from Eileen Lynch, February 6, 2017.

“6 million extra for horse and greyhound fund each year for three years #Budget2015” Tweet from Eileen Lynch, October 14, 2014.

Find out the views of other Councillors at
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2020/01/08/politicians-and-animal-cruelty-issues/

Greyhound Racing Ireland hiding footage of greyhounds suffering falls at Shelbourne Park

Greyhound Racing Ireland is continuing to hide video footage of greyhounds suffering falls at its tracks

The latest instances of footage being withheld relate to two races at Shelbourne Park stadium in Dublin yesterday.

No footage has been published for Race 8 in which two greyhounds were knocked over. They were Hather Daisy and Scullys Auzzie, both 2-years-old. There is no race time recorded for either greyhound, suggesting they did not cross the finish line.

Also missing is footage for “Race 12 – Rásaíocht Con Éireann A2 525” in which Swithins Bullet was knocked over at the first bend.

Last month, race footage showing a “TERRIBLE FALL” at Shelbourne Park during the “Irish Greyhound Derby” final was also withheld. The unfortunate dog who fell sustained what the Racing Post described as “a serious injury” before he was carried off the track after the race shamefully sponsored by Boylesports.

According to a Racing Post report, “initial suggestions [were] that he had suffered a BAD BREAK”.

Watch the footage the IGB doesn’t want you to see
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYKBx_JcV9c

These are the latest of numerous examples of Greyhound Racing Ireland (formerly the Irish Greyhound Board) hiding footage of races in which dogs fall to the ground.

Previously, 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 2019. 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.

The IGB also 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 report estimated that a total of 17,962 greyhounds were culled in 2013, 2014 and 2015. They were killed for “failure to produce qualifying times”, “failure to produce desired entry level times” and for an “unacceptable decline in performance”. Read the report at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X94XJGXdHtxLvraoya5rP8NE48FkwxqQ/view

ACTION ALERT

STOP THE STATE FUNDING FOR GREYHOUND RACING

Another €19.2 million of scarce public funds has been approved for greyhound racing for 2021. 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 latest 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 Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, the Green Party, Sinn Fein and Labour to stop the funding and back a ban on cruel greyhound racing

Micheál Martin TD
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: 021-432 0088
Leinster House: 01–618 3000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD

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

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

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

Alan Kelly TD
Leader, Labour Party
Tel: 067 34190
Email: alan.kelly@oir.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alankellytd/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alankellylabour

Please sign and share petitions

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

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

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

 

Senator Higgins shocked at continuation of horse and greyhound racing

Senator Alice-Mary Higgins has said she is SHOCKED that horse and greyhound racing have been allowed to continue during Covid19 restrictions.

“The [government’s] priorities seem to be somewhat skewed,” she stated during a 22 October Seanad debate. “I am shocked, frankly, that horse racing and greyhound racing, whose only purpose seems to be to serve the gambling industry, are moving ahead and yet we still have the issue of women not able to have their partner with them during very difficult maternity situations, including miscarriage.” Read her full speech at https://www.kildarestreet.com/sendebates/?id=2020-10-22a.214#g235

In a previous statement in March, Senator Higgins declared that horse and greyhound racing “CANNOT BE TRUSTED”.

In a hard-hitting Seanad Eireann speech – during a debate on the “Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020” – she stated: “In terms of trust, I would say that there are certain areas which have shown that they cannot be simply trusted but must be regulated. We have seen those sectors such as horse racing, greyhound racing and the betting [industry], which had to be shut down, which had to be told to do so.”

Describing the COVID-19 crisis as “a time of extraordinary global threat”, the Independent Senator said that it is “a collective challenge” and that “trust is one of the most powerful currencies we have at this time along with that common consideration that flows from it.” Watch the speech at https://www.facebook.com/banbloodsports/posts/2844796188969254

The March statement by Senator Higgins (a daughter of President Michael D Higgins) came three days after horse racing and greyhound racing were initially ordered to shut down. This followed widespread disgust at the “behind closed doors” continuation of horse and greyhound racing up until the point when it was told it must stop.

In the latest Level 3 and Level 5 nationwide restrictions, the government has shamefully allowed both horse racing and greyhound racing to continue.

In an appeal to TDs, the Irish Council Against Blood Sports highlighted multiple breaches of social distancing guidelines at greyhound tracks. Track footage shows staff and greyhound owners ignoring the government’s advice to maintain a 2-metre distance from each other.

Contrary to the evidence on its own website, the IGB has claimed that social distancing “is a critical measure to be observed by all” and that it would be “fully observed at all times” at tracks. However, disturbing video filmed at tracks around the country shows stadium staff standing next to each other and individuals in near-empty stands shoulder-to-shoulder watching dogs running by.

The IGB has attempted to hide footage of the moment greyhound trainers simultaneously rush in to retrieve dogs after races have ended, with the video panning away swiftly before this could be seen. For a small selection of races, it has been possible to briefly see up to six greyhound owners or trainers crowding in together to grab their dogs. There are fears that such behaviour is spreading coronavirus to surrounding counties

In a letter to Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, 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.”

Many are wondering also why horse racing has not been stopped. Horse racing – through its supporters recklessly travelling back and forth to the Cheltenham festival in March – is believed to have been responsible for the spread of coronavirus in Ireland. In an Irish Times report earlier in the year, the continuation of horse racing in Ireland was condemned as “crass” and “tasteless”. The report noted that racing and the gambling industry were putting livelihoods ahead of lives.

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

ACTION ALERT

Contact Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Leo Varadkar and urge them to stop exempting horse and greyhound racing from COVID19 restrictions.

Health Minister, Stephen Donnelly
Tel: (01) 201 7300 or (01) 618 3041
Email: ministersoffice@health.gov.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DonnellyforWicklow
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DonnellyStephen

Micheál Martin, Taoiseach
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: +353 (0)1–618 4350 or +353 (0)21-432 0088
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD

Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste
Telephone: +353 (0)1-704 3630 OR +353 (0)1-640 3133
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: @LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar

Worldwide the clock is ticking for greyhound racing

“Worldwide the clock is ticking for greyhound racing. Reduced commercial sponsorship and falling attendances bode ill for its future in Ireland. Meantime, let’s not wrap the Green Flag around a pursuit that makes life a veritable hell on earth for Man’s Best Friend” – Read John Fitzgerald’s Letter to the Editor in today’s Irish Examiner…

This TD is barking up the wrong tree
Letter, Irish Examiner Oct 28th 2020

In his contribution to the recent Dail Statements on the Level 5 Response to Covid-19, Independent TD Michael McNamara declared his admiration for the greyhound industry and jokingly lamented that “Ireland has never been represented in the Olympics by a greyhound.”

I’m sure Deputy McNamara would not wish any greyhound to suffer at the hands of cruel humans, but that is unfortunately what happens to these dogs and will continue to be their fate until this vile industry has been killed off.

Worldwide the clock is ticking for greyhound racing. Reduced commercial sponsorship and falling attendances bode ill for its future in Ireland.

Meantime, let’s not wrap the Green Flag around a pursuit that makes life a veritable hell on earth for Man’s Best Friend.

John Fitzgerald,
Callan, Co Kilkenny

ACTION ALERT

Contact Health Minister, Stephen Donnelly, Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Leo Varadkar today and urge them to stop exempting greyhound racing from the current COVID19 Level 5 nationwide restrictions.

Health Minister, Stephen Donnelly
Tel: (01) 201 7300 or (01) 618 3041
Email: ministersoffice@health.gov.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DonnellyforWicklow
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DonnellyStephen

Micheál Martin, Taoiseach
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: +353 (0)1–618 4350 or +353 (0)21-432 0088
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD

Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste
Telephone: +353 (0)1-704 3630 OR +353 (0)1-640 3133
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: @LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar

STOP THE STATE FUNDING FOR GREYHOUND RACING

Another €19.2 million of scarce public funds has been approved for greyhound racing for 2021. 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 latest 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 Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, the Green Party, Sinn Fein and Labour to stop the funding and back a ban on cruel greyhound racing

Micheál Martin TD
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: 021-432 0088
Leinster House: 01–618 3000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD

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

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

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

Alan Kelly TD
Leader, Labour Party
Tel: 067 34190
Email: alan.kelly@oir.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alankellytd/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alankellylabour

Please sign and share petitions

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

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

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

Watch RTE’s “Greyhounds Running for their Lives” documentary which exposes the cruelty and killing in greyhound racing

Jackie Cahill TD “lobbied very intensively” for cruel hare coursing

Tipperary Fianna Fail TD Jackie Cahill has revealed that he shamefully “lobbied very intensively” to try and reverse a decision by the government to stop cruel hare coursing for six weeks in line with Level 5 Covid19 restrictions.

Admitting that the bloodsport is a “minority” activity and that “there’s not huge money involved”, Cahill went on to laughably refer to coursing as a “sport” and a “leisure industry”.

In his 23rd October Dail speech, he said that his courser constituents who get their kicks from netting defenceless hares from the wild and using them as live lures for dogs to chase, feel that they are “being discriminated against unfairly”.

He wondered why coursing can’t go ahead, while horse racing and greyhound racing are continuing during the nationwide Level 5 restrictions.

Many are wondering why horse racing and greyhound racing have not been stopped too. Horse racing – through its supporters recklessly travelling back and forth to the Cheltenham festival in March – is believed to have been responsible for the spread of coronavirus in Ireland. In an Irish Times report earlier in the year, the continuation of horse racing in Ireland behind closed doors was condemned as “crass” and “tasteless”. The report noted that racing and the gambling industry were putting livelihoods ahead of lives.

Meanwhile, greyhound racing has yet to be stopped, despite multiple, ongoing breaches of social distancing guidelines at tracks around the country. Over the past few days, individuals have continued to stand side by side at tracks and rush in together to grab dogs at the end of races, thus blatantly disregarding the government’s advice to maintain a 2 metre distance from each other.

Pushing for a reopening of tracks in May, Cahill – a director of Thurles Greyhound Stadium with shares in the stadium (Source: Register of interests of members of Dáil Éireann in respect of the registration period 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019) – stated that “managers of dog tracks throughout the country assure me they can adhere to social distancing”. However, among the social distancing breaches identified by ICABS included a large group of people standing alongside each other at Thurles track at the end of August.

There are fears that these breaches are contributing to the spread of coronavirus in surrounding communities and around the country as dog owners and trainers travel from county to county.

Jackie Cahill – a former president of the Irish Creamery and Milk Suppliers Association – has previously described cruel carted deer hunting as a “humane country activity”. In 2016, he voted against a proposed ban on coursing.

ACTION ALERT

With a RED C opinion poll confirming that a 77 per cent majority want hare coursing banned, it is now time for politicians to consign this nasty bloodsport to history. Join us in contacting all TDs and urging them to 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

Get in touch with Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar and the Irish Government today and demand a permanent end to cruel hare coursing.

Micheál Martin, Taoiseach
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: +353 (0)1–618 4350 or +353 (0)21-432 0088
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD

Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste
Telephone: +353 (0)1-704 3630 OR +353 (0)1-640 3133
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: @LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar

If you are aware of any coursing activity taking place in your area, report it to the local Gardai – find contact details at https://www.garda.ie/en/Contact-Us/Station-Directory/

Contact Minister Darragh O’Brien and demand a permanent withdrawal of the 2020-21 coursing licence and the immediate release of all hares currently in captivity in coursing compounds.

Minister Darragh O’Brien (Fianna Fail, Dublin Fingal)
Tel: (01) 618 3802 OR (086) 251 9893
Email: darragh.obrien@oireachtas.ie; minister@housing.gov.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DarraghOBrienTD
Twitter: http://twitter.com/DarraghOBrienTD

77% want cruel hare coursing banned – Please support our new billboards fundraiser.
Donate now at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-fund-ban-greyhound-racing-billboards

Find out about the views of TDs, Senators, MEPs and Councillors at
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2020/01/08/politicians-and-animal-cruelty-issues/

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
Dáil debates, Level 5 Response to Covid-19: Statements
Friday, 23 October 2020

“The second point I want to make is on a sporting issue and that is on the issue of coursing. Coursing is a rural pastime that is hugely important in my part of the country. They have a very narrow window for their season – it’s three and a half months long. And now they’re told that six weeks of that is going to be prohibited under the Covid-19 restrictions. I had numerous calls yesterday from people who are involved in the ‘industry’. It is a leisure industry. There’s not huge money involved. People who are involved in it do it for the love of the ‘sport’. The fact that six weeks is taken out of the middle of their season – what they can’t comprehend is that other sports, particularly greyhound racing, have been allowed to continue. It is hard to understand how one activity involving greyhounds can be allowed to continue while another one, in the open air, is prohibited. I lobbied, as did other Deputies here, lobbied very intensively yesterday for a bit of common sense to prevail. It would be greyhound activities that would be covered under the regulations and the way the regulations should be interpreted. Unfortunately, that interpretation has not been taken and coursing is to be stopped for the next six weeks. Last year, this sport had serious difficulties in obtaining their licence and the question was posed to me yesterday – would we breed dogs into the future – is there always going to be obstacles put in their way. They feel they are being discriminated against unfairly. With an open air sport, they feel that they could have been treated the same as other sports such as horse racing and greyhound racing. It is a point that is going down very badly in rural Ireland. It [coursing] is a minority sport, but it is hugely important for those involved in it.”

SEE ALSO

“Reckless”, “inexcusable” and “not in the least public spirited”: Horse Racing Ireland has been slammed over its decision to allow racing to continue during the COVID 19 crisis

The Irish horse racing and gambling industry is putting livelihoods ahead of lives – Read Brian O’Connor’s column in the 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

Why were thousands of Irish horse racing fans allowed to travel to the Cheltenham festival this month and what damage has it done in the fight against COVID 19 – Read Mike Burke’s Letter to the Editor in the Sunday Independent.

Health Professional: “Cheltenham will play a role in the COVID-19 cases in many counties”
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2020/04/14/health-professional-cheltenham-will-play-a-role-in-the-covid-19-cases-in-many-counties/

Three TDs shamefully pushing for resumption of cruel hare coursing

The usual suspects defending a cruel bloodsport which should have been outlawed in Ireland decades ago. Shame on Tipperary TDs Jackie Cahill and Mattie McGrath and Kerry TD Michael Healy Rae for pushing for a resumption of hare coursing during COVID19 Level 5 lockdown.

In Dail statements in the past week, Deputy Cahill revealed that he “lobbied very intensively” to try and reverse a decision by the government to stop coursing. Mattie McGrath farcically claimed that cruel coursers “nurture hares and look after them” and that involvement in animal cruelty is “very good for mental health” and “good for the children and the adults”. In another nonsensical speech, Micheal Healy Rae – who has also been pushing for a major cull of protected Irish seals – claimed that coursing should be “exempt under level 5 restrictions”. “What is the difference between this activity [coursing] and, for instance, horse racing?” he asked. “There is no difference whatsoever.”

The trio are among a tiny minority of TDs who openly support cruel coursing.

Thankfully, the government has disregarded their calls. ICABS understands that the National Parks and Wildlife Service has written to the Irish Coursing Club, telling them to release all hares in captivity. The move follows last week’s announcement by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage that hare coursing was to be stopped for six weeks from midnight on Wednesday 21st October, in line with the Level 5 restrictions which state: “No organised outdoor gatherings should take place”.

With opinion polls showing that 77% of Irish citizens want a long overdue ban on coursing (with just 9% wanting it to continue), pressure is mounting on the government to back a ban.

Please join us now in pushing for a permanent ban on cruel hare coursing and full protection for the Irish Hare.

ACTION ALERT

If you are in the Tipperary or Kerry constituencies, contact Deputies Cahill, McGrath and Healy Rae and tell them to end their shameful support of bloodsports.

Jackie Cahill TD
Tel: (01) 618 3725 or 087-2820663
Email: jackie.cahill@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: @jackiecahillff
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jackiecahillff?ref=br_rs

Mattie McGrath TD
Tel: (01) 618 4062 or 086-8184307
Email: mattie.mcgrath@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: @mattiemcgrathtd

Michael Healy-Rae TD
Tel: (01) 618 3363
Email: Michael.HealyRae@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: @MHealyRae

If you are aware of any coursing taking place in your area, contact the local Gardai and ask them to take action – find contact details at https://www.garda.ie/en/Contact-Us/Station-Directory/

With a RED C opinion poll confirming that a 77 per cent majority of Irish citizens want hare coursing banned, it is now time for politicians to consign this nasty bloodsport to history. Join us in contacting all TDs and urging them to 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

Urge Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tanaiste Leo Varadkar to respect the wishes of the majority and ban hare coursing and all bloodsports.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: +353 (0)1–618 4350 or +353 (0)21-432 0088
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar
Telephone: +353 (0)1-704 3630 OR +353 (0)1-640 3133
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar

Contact Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Green Party, Sinn Fein and Labour Party TDs and urge them to back a ban on cruel hare coursing.

Fianna Fail TDs

john.mcguinness@oireachtas.ie; niamh.smyth@oireachtas.ie; brendan.smith@oireachtas.ie; aindrias.moynihan@oireachtas.ie; michael.moynihan.td@oireachtas.ie; micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; michael.mcgrath@oireachtas.ie; Charlie.McConalogue@oireachtas.ie; sean.haughey@oireachtas.ie; jim.ocallaghan@oireachtas.ie; darragh.obrien@oireachtas.ie; jack@jackchambers.ie; anne.rabbitte@oireachtas.ie; eamon.ocuiv@oireachtas.ie; james.lawless@oireachtas.ie; sean.ofearghail@oireachtas.ie; sean.fleming@oireachtas.ie; barry.cowen@oireachtas.ie; willie.odea@oireachtas.ie; niall.collins@oireachtas.ie; Robert.Troy@oireachtas.ie; dara.calleary@oireachtas.ie; thomas.byrne@oireachtas.ie; marc.macsharry@oireachtas.ie; jackie.cahill@oireachtas.ie; mary.butler@oireachtas.ie; james.browne@oireachtas.ie; jennifer.murnaneoconnor@oireachtas.ie; cathal.crowe@oireachtas.ie; james.oconnor@oireachtas.ie; padraig.osullivan@oireachtas.ie; christopher.osullivan@oireachtas.ie; paul.mcauliffe@oireachtas.ie; john.lahart@oireachtas.ie; cormac@cormacdevlin.ie; normafoley1@eircom.net; joe.flaherty@oireachtas.ie; Stephen.Donnelly@oireachtas.ie

Fine Gael TDs

JohnPaul.Phelan@oireachtas.ie; Heather.Humphreys@oireachtas.ie; joe.carey@oireachtas.ie; david.stanton@oir.ie; colm.burke@oireachtas.ie; michael.creed@oireachtas.ie; Simon.Coveney@oireachtas.ie; joe.mchugh@oireachtas.ie; richard.bruton@oireachtas.ie; Eoghan.Murphy@oireachtas.ie; Paschal.Donohoe@oireachtas.ie; Alan.Farrell@oireachtas.ie; emer.higgins@oireachtas.ie; neale.richmond@oireachtas.ie; josepha.madigan@oireachtas.ie; colm.brophy@oireachtas.ie; leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; jennifer.carrollmacneill@oireachtas.ie; Ciaran.Cannon@oireachtas.ie; hildegarde.naughton@oireachtas.ie; Brendan.Griffin@oireachtas.ie; bernard.durkan@oireachtas.ie; Martin.Heydon@oireachtas.ie; charles.flanagan@oireachtas.ie; kieran.odonnell@oireachtas.ie; Patrick.O’Donovan@oireachtas.ie; peter.burke@oireachtas.ie; fergus.odowd@oireachtas.ie; alan.dillon@oireachtas.ie; michael.ring@oireachtas.ie; helen.mcentee@oireachtas.ie; damien.english@oireachtas.ie; frank.feighan@oireachtas.ie; paul.kehoe@oireachtas.ie; Simon.Harris@oireachtas.ie

Green Party TDs

Eamon.Ryan@greenparty.ie; catherine.martin@oireachtas.ie; patrick.costello@oireachtas.ie; francisnoel.duffy@oireachtas.ie; neasa.hourigan@oireachtas.ie; brian.leddin@oireachtas.ie; steven.matthews@oireachtas.ie; malcolm.noonan@oireachtas.ie; joe.obrien@oireachtas.ie; marc.ocathasaigh@oireachtas.ie; roderic.ogorman@oireachtas.ie
ossian.smyth@greenparty.ie

Sinn Fein TDs

john.brady@oireachtas.ie; pat.buckley@oireachtas.ie; Sean.Crowe@oireachtas.ie; david.cullinane@oireachtas.ie; Pearse.Doherty@oireachtas.ie; dessie.ellis@oir.ie; kathleen.funchion@oireachtas.ie; martinkennysf@gmail.com; MaryLou.McDonald@oireachtas.ie; denise.mitchell@oireachtas.ie; imelda.munster@oireachtas.ie; eoin.obroin@oireachtas.ie; donnchadh.olaoghaire@oireachtas.ie; aengus.osnodaigh@oireachtas.ie; louiseoreillysf@gmail.com; maurice.quinlivan@oireachtas.ie; Brian.Stanley@oireachtas.ie; mark.ward@oireachtas.ie; chris.andrews@oireachtas.ie; martin.browne@oireachtas.ie; matt.carthy@oireachtas.ie; sorca.clarke@oireachtas.ie; roseconwaywalsh@eircom.net; reada.cronin@oireachtas.ie; pa.daly@oireachtas.ie; paul.donnelly@oireachtas.ie; mairead.farrell@oireachtas.ie; thomas.gould@oireachtas.ie; johnny.guirke@oireachtas.ie; claire.kerrane@oireachtas.ie; padraig.maclochlainn@oir.ie; johnny.mythen@oireachtas.ie; ruairi.omurchu@oireachtas.ie; darren.orourke@oireachtas.ie; patriciaryan975@gmail.com; pauline.tully@oireachtas.ie; vwynne@gmail.com

Labour Party TDs

sean.sherlock@oireachtas.ie,aodhan.oriordain@oireachtas.ie,duncan.smith@oireachtas.ie,gerald.nash@oireachtas.ie,Alan.Kelly@oireachtas.ie,brendan.howlin@oireachtas.ie

Please sign and share the petitions

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

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

Witness the cruelty of hare coursing in Ireland

77% want cruel coursing banned: Support our new nationwide billboard campaign
Donate now at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-fund-ban-greyhound-racing-billboards

NPWS tells coursers to release all captive hares

BREAKING NEWS: ICABS understands that the National Parks and Wildlife Service has written to the Irish Coursing Club, telling them to release all hares in captivity.

Thank you to everyone who responded to our “Free the Hares” action alert and contacted Heritage Minister Darragh O’Brien.

The move follows last week’s announcement by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage that hare coursing was to be stopped for six weeks from midnight on Wednesday 21st October, in line with COVID19 Level 5 restrictions which state: “No organised outdoor gatherings should take place”.

The Department tweeted: “Following discussions with the NPWS [National Parks and Wildlife Service], hare coursing licences have been suspended with effect from midnight last night.”

Please join us now in pushing for a permanent ban on cruel hare coursing and full protection for the Irish Hare.

ACTION ALERT

If you are aware of any coursing taking place in your area, contact the local Gardai and ask them to take action – find contact details at https://www.garda.ie/en/Contact-Us/Station-Directory/

With a RED C opinion poll confirming that a 77 per cent majority of Irish citizens want hare coursing banned, it is now time for politicians to consign this nasty bloodsport to history. Join us in contacting all TDs and urging them to 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

Urge Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tanaiste Leo Varadkar to respect the wishes of the majority and ban hare coursing and all bloodsports.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: +353 (0)1–618 4350 or +353 (0)21-432 0088
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar
Telephone: +353 (0)1-704 3630 OR +353 (0)1-640 3133
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar

Contact Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Green Party, Sinn Fein and Labour Party TDs and urge them to back a ban on cruel hare coursing.

Fianna Fail TDs

john.mcguinness@oireachtas.ie; niamh.smyth@oireachtas.ie; brendan.smith@oireachtas.ie; aindrias.moynihan@oireachtas.ie; michael.moynihan.td@oireachtas.ie; micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; michael.mcgrath@oireachtas.ie; Charlie.McConalogue@oireachtas.ie; sean.haughey@oireachtas.ie; jim.ocallaghan@oireachtas.ie; darragh.obrien@oireachtas.ie; jack@jackchambers.ie; anne.rabbitte@oireachtas.ie; eamon.ocuiv@oireachtas.ie; james.lawless@oireachtas.ie; sean.ofearghail@oireachtas.ie; sean.fleming@oireachtas.ie; barry.cowen@oireachtas.ie; willie.odea@oireachtas.ie; niall.collins@oireachtas.ie; Robert.Troy@oireachtas.ie; dara.calleary@oireachtas.ie; thomas.byrne@oireachtas.ie; marc.macsharry@oireachtas.ie; jackie.cahill@oireachtas.ie; mary.butler@oireachtas.ie; james.browne@oireachtas.ie; jennifer.murnaneoconnor@oireachtas.ie; cathal.crowe@oireachtas.ie; james.oconnor@oireachtas.ie; padraig.osullivan@oireachtas.ie; christopher.osullivan@oireachtas.ie; paul.mcauliffe@oireachtas.ie; john.lahart@oireachtas.ie; cormac@cormacdevlin.ie; normafoley1@eircom.net; joe.flaherty@oireachtas.ie; Stephen.Donnelly@oireachtas.ie

Fine Gael TDs

JohnPaul.Phelan@oireachtas.ie; Heather.Humphreys@oireachtas.ie; joe.carey@oireachtas.ie; david.stanton@oir.ie; colm.burke@oireachtas.ie; michael.creed@oireachtas.ie; Simon.Coveney@oireachtas.ie; joe.mchugh@oireachtas.ie; richard.bruton@oireachtas.ie; Eoghan.Murphy@oireachtas.ie; Paschal.Donohoe@oireachtas.ie; Alan.Farrell@oireachtas.ie; emer.higgins@oireachtas.ie; neale.richmond@oireachtas.ie; josepha.madigan@oireachtas.ie; colm.brophy@oireachtas.ie; leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; jennifer.carrollmacneill@oireachtas.ie; Ciaran.Cannon@oireachtas.ie; hildegarde.naughton@oireachtas.ie; Brendan.Griffin@oireachtas.ie; bernard.durkan@oireachtas.ie; Martin.Heydon@oireachtas.ie; charles.flanagan@oireachtas.ie; kieran.odonnell@oireachtas.ie; Patrick.O’Donovan@oireachtas.ie; peter.burke@oireachtas.ie; fergus.odowd@oireachtas.ie; alan.dillon@oireachtas.ie; michael.ring@oireachtas.ie; helen.mcentee@oireachtas.ie; damien.english@oireachtas.ie; frank.feighan@oireachtas.ie; paul.kehoe@oireachtas.ie; Simon.Harris@oireachtas.ie

Green Party TDs

Eamon.Ryan@greenparty.ie; catherine.martin@oireachtas.ie; patrick.costello@oireachtas.ie; francisnoel.duffy@oireachtas.ie; neasa.hourigan@oireachtas.ie; brian.leddin@oireachtas.ie; steven.matthews@oireachtas.ie; malcolm.noonan@oireachtas.ie; joe.obrien@oireachtas.ie; marc.ocathasaigh@oireachtas.ie; roderic.ogorman@oireachtas.ie
ossian.smyth@greenparty.ie

Sinn Fein TDs

john.brady@oireachtas.ie; pat.buckley@oireachtas.ie; Sean.Crowe@oireachtas.ie; david.cullinane@oireachtas.ie; Pearse.Doherty@oireachtas.ie; dessie.ellis@oir.ie; kathleen.funchion@oireachtas.ie; martinkennysf@gmail.com; MaryLou.McDonald@oireachtas.ie; denise.mitchell@oireachtas.ie; imelda.munster@oireachtas.ie; eoin.obroin@oireachtas.ie; donnchadh.olaoghaire@oireachtas.ie; aengus.osnodaigh@oireachtas.ie; louiseoreillysf@gmail.com; maurice.quinlivan@oireachtas.ie; Brian.Stanley@oireachtas.ie; mark.ward@oireachtas.ie; chris.andrews@oireachtas.ie; martin.browne@oireachtas.ie; matt.carthy@oireachtas.ie; sorca.clarke@oireachtas.ie; roseconwaywalsh@eircom.net; reada.cronin@oireachtas.ie; pa.daly@oireachtas.ie; paul.donnelly@oireachtas.ie; mairead.farrell@oireachtas.ie; thomas.gould@oireachtas.ie; johnny.guirke@oireachtas.ie; claire.kerrane@oireachtas.ie; padraig.maclochlainn@oir.ie; johnny.mythen@oireachtas.ie; ruairi.omurchu@oireachtas.ie; darren.orourke@oireachtas.ie; patriciaryan975@gmail.com; pauline.tully@oireachtas.ie; vwynne@gmail.com

Labour Party TDs

sean.sherlock@oireachtas.ie,aodhan.oriordain@oireachtas.ie,duncan.smith@oireachtas.ie,gerald.nash@oireachtas.ie,Alan.Kelly@oireachtas.ie,brendan.howlin@oireachtas.ie

Please sign and share the petitions

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

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

Witness the cruelty of hare coursing in Ireland

77% want cruel coursing banned: Support our new nationwide billboard campaign
Donate now at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-fund-ban-greyhound-racing-billboards

Free the hares from coursing compounds

The Irish Council Against Blood Sports is again calling on Minister Darragh O’Brien to act to ensure that all hares in coursing compounds around the country are immediately released back to the wild.

With a licence from Minister O’Brien, the coursers had netted numerous hares for using as live lures in their shameful bloodsport.

Last week, it was confirmed by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage that hare coursing was to be stopped for six weeks from midnight on Wednesday 21st October, in line with COVID19 Level 5 restrictions which state: “No organised outdoor gatherings should take place”.

The Department tweeted: “Following discussions with the NPWS [National Parks and Wildlife Service], hare coursing licences have been suspended with effect from midnight last night.”

There are now growing concerns about the fate of hares held captive in coursing compounds around the country.

“Keeping dozens of hares, normally solitary creatures, in captivity is completely unnatural and should never be permitted,” ICABS stated in an email to Minister O’Brien. “There is also the very worrying issue of RHD2, the highly contagious virus that can spread easily between hares and which, it has previously been confirmed by former Arts and Heritage Minister Josepha Madigan, could wipe out the Irish Hare species. Hares affected by the virus suffer the most horrendous death, with swollen eyelids, partial paralysis and bleeding from the eyes and mouth.”

Minister O’Brien has been asked to not only order the release of the hares but to ensure that it is done by, or at least under the supervision of, National Parks and Wildlife Service rangers.

The government is once against being urged to announce a full and permanent ban on coursing – a bloodsport which a 77% majority of Irish citizens want banned (just 9% want it to continue, according to a RED C poll). This historic move for Irish wildlife would be widely welcomed in Ireland and around the world.

URGENT ACTION ALERT

Please contact Minister Darragh O’Brien and demand a permanent withdrawal of the 2020-21 coursing licence and the immediate release of all hares currently in captivity in coursing compounds.

Minister Darragh O’Brien (Fianna Fail, Dublin Fingal)
Tel: (01) 618 3802 OR (086) 251 9893
Email: darragh.obrien@oireachtas.ie; minister@housing.gov.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DarraghOBrienTD
Twitter: http://twitter.com/DarraghOBrienTD

If you are aware of any coursing activities taking place in your area, contact the local Gardai and ask them to take action – find contact details at https://www.garda.ie/en/Contact-Us/Station-Directory/

With a RED C opinion poll confirming that a 77 per cent majority of Irish citizens want hare coursing banned, it is now time for politicians to consign this nasty bloodsport to history. Join us in contacting all TDs and urging them to 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

Urge Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tanaiste Leo Varadkar to respect the wishes of the majority and ban hare coursing and all bloodsports.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: +353 (0)1–618 4350 or +353 (0)21-432 0088
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar
Telephone: +353 (0)1-704 3630 OR +353 (0)1-640 3133
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar

Contact Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Green Party, Sinn Fein and Labour Party TDs and urge them to back a ban on cruel hare coursing.

Fianna Fail TDs

john.mcguinness@oireachtas.ie; niamh.smyth@oireachtas.ie; brendan.smith@oireachtas.ie; aindrias.moynihan@oireachtas.ie; michael.moynihan.td@oireachtas.ie; micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; michael.mcgrath@oireachtas.ie; Charlie.McConalogue@oireachtas.ie; sean.haughey@oireachtas.ie; jim.ocallaghan@oireachtas.ie; darragh.obrien@oireachtas.ie; jack@jackchambers.ie; anne.rabbitte@oireachtas.ie; eamon.ocuiv@oireachtas.ie; james.lawless@oireachtas.ie; sean.ofearghail@oireachtas.ie; sean.fleming@oireachtas.ie; barry.cowen@oireachtas.ie; willie.odea@oireachtas.ie; niall.collins@oireachtas.ie; Robert.Troy@oireachtas.ie; dara.calleary@oireachtas.ie; thomas.byrne@oireachtas.ie; marc.macsharry@oireachtas.ie; jackie.cahill@oireachtas.ie; mary.butler@oireachtas.ie; james.browne@oireachtas.ie; jennifer.murnaneoconnor@oireachtas.ie; cathal.crowe@oireachtas.ie; james.oconnor@oireachtas.ie; padraig.osullivan@oireachtas.ie; christopher.osullivan@oireachtas.ie; paul.mcauliffe@oireachtas.ie; john.lahart@oireachtas.ie; cormac@cormacdevlin.ie; normafoley1@eircom.net; joe.flaherty@oireachtas.ie; Stephen.Donnelly@oireachtas.ie

Fine Gael TDs

JohnPaul.Phelan@oireachtas.ie; Heather.Humphreys@oireachtas.ie; joe.carey@oireachtas.ie; david.stanton@oir.ie; colm.burke@oireachtas.ie; michael.creed@oireachtas.ie; Simon.Coveney@oireachtas.ie; joe.mchugh@oireachtas.ie; richard.bruton@oireachtas.ie; Eoghan.Murphy@oireachtas.ie; Paschal.Donohoe@oireachtas.ie; Alan.Farrell@oireachtas.ie; emer.higgins@oireachtas.ie; neale.richmond@oireachtas.ie; josepha.madigan@oireachtas.ie; colm.brophy@oireachtas.ie; leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; jennifer.carrollmacneill@oireachtas.ie; Ciaran.Cannon@oireachtas.ie; hildegarde.naughton@oireachtas.ie; Brendan.Griffin@oireachtas.ie; bernard.durkan@oireachtas.ie; Martin.Heydon@oireachtas.ie; charles.flanagan@oireachtas.ie; kieran.odonnell@oireachtas.ie; Patrick.O’Donovan@oireachtas.ie; peter.burke@oireachtas.ie; fergus.odowd@oireachtas.ie; alan.dillon@oireachtas.ie; michael.ring@oireachtas.ie; helen.mcentee@oireachtas.ie; damien.english@oireachtas.ie; frank.feighan@oireachtas.ie; paul.kehoe@oireachtas.ie; Simon.Harris@oireachtas.ie

Green Party TDs

Eamon.Ryan@greenparty.ie; catherine.martin@oireachtas.ie; patrick.costello@oireachtas.ie; francisnoel.duffy@oireachtas.ie; neasa.hourigan@oireachtas.ie; brian.leddin@oireachtas.ie; steven.matthews@oireachtas.ie; malcolm.noonan@oireachtas.ie; joe.obrien@oireachtas.ie; marc.ocathasaigh@oireachtas.ie; roderic.ogorman@oireachtas.ie
ossian.smyth@greenparty.ie

Sinn Fein TDs

john.brady@oireachtas.ie; pat.buckley@oireachtas.ie; Sean.Crowe@oireachtas.ie; david.cullinane@oireachtas.ie; Pearse.Doherty@oireachtas.ie; dessie.ellis@oir.ie; kathleen.funchion@oireachtas.ie; martinkennysf@gmail.com; MaryLou.McDonald@oireachtas.ie; denise.mitchell@oireachtas.ie; imelda.munster@oireachtas.ie; eoin.obroin@oireachtas.ie; donnchadh.olaoghaire@oireachtas.ie; aengus.osnodaigh@oireachtas.ie; louiseoreillysf@gmail.com; maurice.quinlivan@oireachtas.ie; Brian.Stanley@oireachtas.ie; mark.ward@oireachtas.ie; chris.andrews@oireachtas.ie; martin.browne@oireachtas.ie; matt.carthy@oireachtas.ie; sorca.clarke@oireachtas.ie; roseconwaywalsh@eircom.net; reada.cronin@oireachtas.ie; pa.daly@oireachtas.ie; paul.donnelly@oireachtas.ie; mairead.farrell@oireachtas.ie; thomas.gould@oireachtas.ie; johnny.guirke@oireachtas.ie; claire.kerrane@oireachtas.ie; padraig.maclochlainn@oir.ie; johnny.mythen@oireachtas.ie; ruairi.omurchu@oireachtas.ie; darren.orourke@oireachtas.ie; patriciaryan975@gmail.com; pauline.tully@oireachtas.ie; vwynne@gmail.com

Labour Party TDs

sean.sherlock@oireachtas.ie,aodhan.oriordain@oireachtas.ie,duncan.smith@oireachtas.ie,gerald.nash@oireachtas.ie,Alan.Kelly@oireachtas.ie,brendan.howlin@oireachtas.ie

Please sign and share the petitions

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

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

Witness the cruelty of hare coursing in Ireland
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRkXOvbUPNNjMc6LShwiiXBfnDAPbykf-

77% want cruel coursing banned: Support our new nationwide billboard campaign
Donate now at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-fund-ban-greyhound-racing-billboards

Christmas Gift Ideas 2020

A selection of Christmas gift ideas. For Christmas cards, please check with your local animal rescue groups for fundraising cards…

Time to Stop Running
by John Fitzgerald

“In writing this novel, I hope to highlight the plight of the Irish Hare, an animal renowned in song, literature, and folklore whose survival is now threatened on many fronts”: Kilkenny author John Fitzgerald on “Time to Stop Running”, his book about a psychic hare’s struggle for survival. The novel highlights the cruelty of hare coursing and the suffering it causes to defencless wildlife.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Time-Stop-Running-John-Fitzgerald/dp/1731369123

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The Lay of the Land
by Fiona O’Connell

For over seven years, Fiona O’Connell’s Lay of the Land column in the Sunday Independent has been serving up a unique slice of Irish life to savour. With a core focus on rural Ireland, Fiona O’Connell writes with insight and lyrical wit on a wide range of thought-provoking topics that embrace history, folklore, biography and the natural world. This charming collection of the best of Lay of the Land is poignant and provocative, humorous but sometimes haunting, progressive but passionately connected to the riches of our past. Contains several articles about animal rights issues.
https://www.omahonys.ie/the-lay-of-the-land-p-10433741.html

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The Great Big Book Of Irish Wildlife
by Juanita Browne

A beautifully illustrated book that guides the reader through the seasons in Ireland. Explore nature in your back garden as well as in mountains, rivers, forests and sea. Learn about weird and wonderful natural phenomena, such as the metamorphosis from tadpole to frog; the red deer rut in autumn; or a starling flock in winter. Introduces Irish birds, mammals, plants, insects, and amphibians. Overflowing with stunning photographs and engaging, child-friendly cartoons accompanied by clear accessible text.
https://www.easons.com/the-great-big-book-of-irish-wildlife-juanita-browne-9781847179159

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Whittled Away: Ireland’s Vanishing Nature
by Pádraic Fogarty

Padraic Fogarty authoritatively charts how the failure to manage our natural resources has impoverished our country. But he also reveals the possibilities for the future.
https://www.kennys.ie/politics/whittled-away-ireland-s-vanishing-nature.htm

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Seed Bombs

‘Throw & Grow’ Native Irish Seed Bombs: Includes Native Irish Wildflower Species, many of which are in decline, some are endangered, some classed as extinct! All are selected with care and purpose, to FEED the native wildlife of Ireland and create environmental biodiversity and balance. Free Shipping within Ireland.
https://www.seedbomb.ie/wildflower-seed-bomb-shop/

My First Book of Irish Wildlife
(O’Brien Press)

Squirrel, Frog, Eagle, Dolphin: it’s all in My First Book of Irish Animals. Discover creatures big and small with this fun and engaging baby board book. My First Book of Irish Animals is filled with different kinds of wildlife from the hedgerows and woodlands to skies and seas. Babies will learn to recognise native Irish animals with this compact book. With simple text and pictures, this bright and colourful book is perfect for babies learning how to understand the world around them. https://www.obrien.ie/my-first-book-of-irish-wildlife

Galway SPCA 2021 Calendar

Purchase from the GSPCA shop on St Augustine St or at various locations in Galway. National and international postage also available. https://www.facebook.com/GalwaySPCA/photos/a.417269266254/10158991290296255/

2021 Greyhound Freedom Calendar

Grey2K Worldwide’s 2021 Greyhound Freedom Calendar features beautiful photos of greyhounds from around the world. https://www.grey2kusa.org/calendar/

Outfoxed Again: Winning for Animals
by Mike Huskisson

Mike Huskisson’s, Outfoxed Again, is an important read for anyone interested in the animal rights movement between 1984 and 2005 – a radical period in terms of campaigning and investigative strategies. It was Huskisson’s work (with others) on numerous front lines which, via printed media, photographs and film, brought the nightmare realities of hunting with hounds and other bloodsports especially to the attention of an animal loving nation. The resulting shock, horror and public roars of disapproval pushed forward, then achieved, real social, political and animal welfare changes during these years.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Outfoxed-Again-Winning-Mike-Huskisson/dp/0993382215

Mini Hanging Bird Bath
Small And Lightweight Allowing You To Hang From Any Location In Your Garden.
https://www.woodies.ie/lawn-garden/pets-birdcare/wild-bird-care/gardman-mini-hanging-bird-bath-1167773

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While You Were Sleeping By Caroline Kidd
€15 + €2.50 P&P In Ireland

A new children’s book raising money for the North Wexford Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The book is set in the NWSPCA animal welfare centre in Gorey, Co. Wexford, and aims to engage children with the work of the charity and spread a message of the value of being kind to animals. Available to order via the NWSPCA Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/northwexfordspca

Political Focus: Alan Farrell TD (Fine Gael, Dublin Fingal)

Political Focus: Alan Farrell TD (Fine Gael, Dublin Fingal) – Voted against proposed bans on foxhunting, hare coursing and badger culling and in the past four years has voted in favour of €328 million of taxpayers’ money being channelled into horse racing and greyhound racing…

In March 2013, Alan Farrell voted against amendments to the Animal Health and Welfare Bill which sought to secure a ban on some of Ireland’s worst acts of cruelty to animals – foxhunting, hare coursing, digging out, terrierwork, ferreting, badger culling, fur farming and the use of animals in circuses.

In June 2016, Alan Farrell abstained/was not present in the vote on Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan’s bill which sought to ban cruel hare coursing. The bill was defeated by 114 votes to 20 (with the remaining 24 TDs abstaining/not voting).

In 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, he voted in favour of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations which granted €80 million/€80 million/€84 million/€84 million of taxpayers’ money to horse and greyhound racing.

“Pleased to see, as reported in the ST, that the Irish Greyhound Board agree that it is no longer acceptable to put down health[y] dogs and that government will move to ensure only vets may do so in future. Essential that IGB implement meaningful traceability system…[The traceability system] should be paid for by breeders of greyhounds. IGB can’t afford very much without disposing of some of their tracks, as inferred at PAC, under my questioning” Tweet from Alan Farrell TD, October 2019.

“What is the optimal number of greyhounds to breed annually? I have read various charges that in excess of 1,000% more than are required are bred. Given the number of pups or animals that are put down each year because they are not quick enough, I suspect that the figure of 1,000% is a little bit high. Perhaps Mr. Dollard will give us a figure. What is the optimal number?” Alan Farrell TD, Public Accounts Committee, Bord na gCon Financial Statement 2017, 19 September 2019.

“To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding tax and other incentives given to the greyhound racing and breeding industry” Dail Question from Alan Farrell TD, 6 June 2012.

ACTION ALERT

Urge Alan Farrell TD to reconsider his stance on animal cruelty issues.

Telephone: 01-618 4008.
Email: Alan.Farrell@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/alanfarrelltd
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlanFarrell

Contact Fine Gael and party leader Leo Varadkar and urge them to respect the wishes of the majority of Irish citizens who want hare coursing and foxhunting banned and funding to cruel greyhound racing stopped.

Fine Gael Headquarters
51 Upper Mount Street
Dublin 2
Tel: 01-619 8444
Email: finegael@finegael.ie

Leo Varadkar TD
Leader, Fine Gael
Telephone: +353 (0)1-704 3630 OR +353 (0)1-640 3133
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie
Tweet to: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar

Sign and share our petitions

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

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

Please support our campaign with a donation
https://www.paypal.me/banbloodsports