Today and tomorrow, at Powerstown Park, Clonmel, coursers are holding what are called "trials" in advance of the national hare coursing cruelty festival on February 3, 4 and 5.
The purpose of these trials, and trials run by some 75 or so coursing clubs throughout the coursing season, are to assess young greyhounds, to see if they will follow the hare. These trials are money spinners for the coursing clubs, with each owner paying a fee of €25-30 to trial a dog. Trials of young greyhounds are also a regular feature at greyhound tracks.
However, since the National Parks & Wildlife Service has woken up to the existence of these coursing "trials" in 2017, they decided to regulate them and make them part of the hare netting licence conditions. In in a memo from an official in the National Parks to the Assistant Secretary, Department of Arts and Heritage, he stated: "It is understood that the purpose of such trials is apparently to assess the greyhounds", and "in many ways could be viewed as a rehearsal for coursing meetings". However, when the condition about trials was added to the hare netting licence, it read: "Trials should only be run for the express purpose of familiarising hares with the most direct route to the escape and no more than one dog should take part in any trial run".
So, the National Parks, who clearly understand the purpose of trials (assessing young greyhounds) decided that it might be better optics and more acceptable to, in their own minds, define the trials as hare familiarising sessions. However, the National Parks dealt a severe blow to the profits of hare coursing clubs in limiting the trials to a single greyhound, where, before, two greyhounds competed. But they have made an exception in the case of the Irish Coursing Club, and are allowing them to hold a 2-day trial session in Clonmel, so that they can double up on their profits.
The Minister and her officials in the National Parks might believe that it sounds better if they say the trials are for "the express purpose of familiarising hares with the most direct route to the escape", which clearly they know is not the purpose of trials, but words on a page make no difference to the hares, who have to run in terror for their lives, not only on the three days of coursing at Clonmel, but also on the two days of this sick "rehearsal".
ACTION ALERT
Please attend the "Ban Hare Coursing" protest in Clonmel on Sunday February 3rd, 12 - 2pm outside Powerstown Park https://www.facebook.com/events/2140777926174635/
With warnings from wildlife experts that the Irish Hare is in trouble, it is now more clear than ever that the species must be given FULL PROTECTION - no hare coursing, no hare hunting, no hare shooting. Urgently contact Minister Josepha Madigan and the National Parks and Wildlife Service and demand that they revoke the 2018-19 hare coursing licence and end all forms of hare persecution.
Minister Josepha Madigan
Minister for Culture, Heritage & the Gaeltacht
Phone: +353 (0)1 631 3800
Email: josepha.madigan@oireachtas.ie, ministers.office@ahg.gov.ie, wildlifelicence@ahg.gov.ie, john.fitzgerald@ahg.gov.ie, Gerry.Leckey@ahg.gov.ie, nature.conservation@ahg.gov.ie
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Tweet to: @josephamadigan
John Fitzgerald
Director, National Parks and Wildlife Service
Phone: +353 (0)1 888 3242
Email: john.fitzgerald@ahg.gov.ie
SAMPLE LETTER
(If you have time, please compose your own personal letter. Otherwise, feel free to send the short sample letter below)
Dear Minister Madigan,
I am one of the majority who want hare coursing outlawed. I am writing to demand that you revoke the 2018-19 hare netting licence that has shamefully been issued.
In coursing, hares suffer and die at all stages - during the capture, during the time they are kept in captivity and during the coursing meetings where they run for their lives in front of greyhounds. Among the injuries recorded are broken legs, damaged toes and dislocated hips.
I ask you to please act on the wishes of the majority, show compassion and end this cruelty.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
[Name/Location]
Contact An Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar and ask him to ban hare coursing and give permanent protection to hares.
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: @campaignforLeo Tweet to @campaignforLeo
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