European Election candidate and former jockey Nina Carberry (Fine Gael – Midlands North West): It emerged in 2010 that she was an "active member" of the cruel Ward Union deer hunt. Described as a "progeny" of the hunt, she was "very upset" at the government's support for a ban on deer hunting. She attended a rally in support the hunt. Find out more below. On election day, Friday 7th June, please reject candidates who support hunting or other bloodsports...

Nina Carberry (Fine Gael – Midlands North West)

“You can tell from where someone is sitting in the saddle when they ride over fences or hurdles whether they have a background in hunting; it gives you the skills to understand where to be and what to do if you do hit a fence, and to get yourself out” – from “Nina Carberry”, The Field magazine, November 2021.

Nina Carberry is a sister of pro-hunt jockey Paul Carberry who called on the government not to ban the cruel Ward Union deer hunt. As revealed in Horse and Hound magazine (Hunting is vital, says jockey Paul Carberry, 18 December 2009), Paul Carberry wrote a letter to then Taoiseach Brian Cowen to tell him that a ban would let down hunters. “My brother Philip, sister NINA, and myself are all very upset at your support for John Gormley [Green Party leader] on his plan to end staghunting,” he stated in the letter.

“The Ward Union Hunt has been in existence for 155 years, which makes it 30 years older than the GAA. People like Paul Carberry, Philip Carberry, NINA CARBERRY, Peter John Carberry, Ross Geraghty, Barry Geraghty, Robbie Power, Adrian Maguire and Norman Williamson, who are household names in this country, are AMONG THE PROGENY OF THE WARD UNION HUNT.” – The late Meath East / Fine Gael TD Shane McEntee (father of current Justice Minister Helen McEntee) in a December 2009 Dail Eireann speech.

In 2009, Nina Carberry shamefully attended a pro-hunting rally in Trim. The Meath Chronicle reported that at the meeting organised by the Hunting Association of Ireland in support of the Ward Union Hunt, “speaker after speaker representing various hunting, shooting, fishing and gun clubs, as well as the Irish Farmers Association from across the county and country, spoke in support of hunts, and the attendance included a large number of well-known jockeys including Paul Carberry, Robert Power, Ross Geraghty, Michael Kinane, NINA CARBERRY, Norman Williamson and many other well-known faces from the racing industry.” Meath Chronicle, 16 December 2009.

It emerged in 2010 that Nina Carberry was a member of the cruel, Ward Union carted deer hunt which was later banned from terrorising captive-bred deer with packs of hounds (although the hunt continues due to a loophole in the legislation). In a 2010 Dail speech, Mary Wallace TD revealed that Nina Carberry was an “active member” of the Ward Union hunt and that Nina said that “the ban on stag hunting would undermine their capacity to practice and develop their riding skills”.

“The Ward Union hunt has for a long time been a nurturing ground for many of Ireland’s top jockeys. These jockeys live in my parish. Current active members of the Ward Union hunt include Grand National winning jockeys Paul Carberry, Robert Power, Barry Geraghty, Ross Geraghty, Grand National winning trainer Gordon Elliott and champion lady rider NINA CARBERRY. Distinguished flat jockey, Kevin Manning, also grew up hunting with the Ward Union hunt. They all developed their riding skills on hunts with the Ward Union hunt. Ruby Walsh has also been involved. Paul Carberry, Barry Geraghty and NINA CARBERRY are all outstanding sports people who have SAID THAT THE BAN ON STAG HUNTING WOULD UNDERMINE THEIR CAPACITY TO PRACTICE AND DEVELOP THEIR RIDING SKILLS. As the history of the Ward Union hunt has demonstrated, today’s young riders are the great jockeys of horse racing tomorrow. The Ward Union hunt has played and continues to play a significant role in the success of the horse racing industry.” – Mary Wallace TD, Dail Eireann speech, 24 June 2010. https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2010-06-24/10/

“We are backing Nina. Vote for Nina on Dancing with the Stars” – Facebook post from the Ward Union deer hunt, 9 January 2022.

Nina Carberry did not respond to a text message asking her where she stands on the issue of fox hunting and hare coursing – bloodsports which most people in Ireland want outlawed.

SEE ALSO
EU election candidates and animal cruelty issues
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2024/05/06/2024-european-parliament-election-candidates-and-animal-cruelty-issues/

Local election candidates and animal cruelty issues
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2019/08/28/councillors-and-animal-cruelty-issues/

Mayor of Limerick election candidates and animal cruelty issues
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2024/04/05/mayor-of-limerick-election-candidates/

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