Foxes were terrorised by a pack of 21 dogs during a shameful hunt in County Carlow.
A Carlow Farmers Foxhounds report in the Irish Field (7 Feb 2025) outlined that the first fox targeted during the hunt - which started from from Corries Cross - was disturbed in a wood.
“There was great burst of sustained hound music,” the report stated. “What followed was quality woodland hunting before [the fox] left along the river bank and crossed it”, with the hounds in pursuit.
Another fox was chased by the hunters and hounds in a bog, “but after circular runs, he went to ground”.
Later, in Ballinree Wood, three foxes ran for their lives. They went in different directions, according to the report, and the pack of hounds “settled on one going in the direction of Killoughternane with some challenging country to negotiate, with the five Foley lads enjoying the challenge until hounds marked to ground.”
The fate of this fox was not revealed but in fox hunting terminology, “marked to ground” refers to the point when the pack of hounds chase the fox into an earth or drain. This is typically followed by the arrival of the hunt’s terriermen who cruelly catch the fox using shovels, spades and terriers before the doomed animal is pulled out and brutally killed.
Yet another fox was terrorised at Knockullard where the pack of dogs “were hunting hard from Ashmore’s Wood”. This fox “ran right by the river and on over James and Mary Doyle’s and to ground”.
Shame on the Irish Government for allowing this bloodsport to continue in 2025. A RED C opinion poll, commissioned by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports, shows that a 77% majority (in both urban and rural areas) agree that the government should ban fox hunting. The poll found that just 12 per cent disagree with a ban.
DID YOU KNOW? Irish taxpayer-funded Horse Racing Ireland has handed out €13,796,550 to hunts since 2014 (in the form of point to point racing grants), including over €1.7 million for 2024. The Carlow Farmers Foxhounds hunt has received €297,100 in that period, including €34,600 for 2024.
SEE ALSO
€1.7 million more in HRI grants to hunts
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2025/05/07/e1-7-million-more-in-hri-grants-to-hunts/
HRI’s shameful €12 million in funding to cruel fox hunts
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2024/06/04/hris-shameful-e12-million-in-funding-to-cruel-fox-hunts/
Ruth Coppinger TD launches draft of bill to ban cruel fox hunting
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2025/05/09/ruth-coppinger-td-launches-draft-of-bill-to-ban-cruel-fox-hunting/
TAKE ACTION
Help get fox hunting banned in Ireland
Please get in touch with all your local TDs and urge them to support Ruth Coppinger TD’s Animal Health & Welfare (Ban On Fox Hunting) Bill when it returns to Dail Eireann. Visit the Oireachtas website for contact details https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/tds/?term=/ie/oireachtas/house/dail/34
Contact the leaders of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Sinn Fein and the Labour Party. Tell them that you want fox hunting, hare coursing and all bloodsports banned.
Micheál Martin TD
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Tel: 01 619 4000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD
Simon Harris TD
Leader, Fine Gael
Telephone: 01 281 3727
Email: simon.harris@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
X: http://www.twitter.com/SimonHarrisTD
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DeputySimonHarris
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
Ivana Bacik TD
Leader, The Labour Party
Tel: (01) 6183136
Email: ivana.bacik@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ivanabacik
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bacikivana/
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
Sign and share our “Ban Blood Sports in Ireland” petition
https://www.change.org/petitions/ban-blood-sports-in-ireland
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