Foxes were forced to run for their lives at a shameful hunt in Oldcastle, County Meath.
A report in the Irish Field revealed that the first fox targeted during the Ballymacad Foxhounds hunt was found in Cruxty Bog.
“It was just sheer hunting magic, as [a hound] tracked this fox, who was in no hurry as he knew scent was poor,” the 22 November 2024 report stated, adding that the pack of dogs ”pushed this fox across country” before they “marked him to ground”. This terrorisation of the fox was described as “a classic piece of hound work”.
It is unknown if the fox survived or was torn apart by the hounds. 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.
The dogs went after another fox in the Red Bog - “hounds found again and, after hunting in covert, he was marked to ground”. At the same location, the dogs found a fox and “pushed him on in a circle and marked him in a stone pile in Des Hands”.
Later, “hounds had another [fox] on the run in a wide loop through Charles McMahon’s and James Lynch’s”. This unfortunate fox was also marked to ground.
In another Ballymacad hunt two days later, a “twisting fox” was terrorised at Covey’s Rocks where there was “a real display of hound work with a run of 25 minutes”.
After that, a fox was disturbed in a forest and another was chased from “a derelict house near Nugentstown”. This fox ran for his life during “a nice run” - his fate was not revealed.
Shame on the Irish Government for allowing this bloodsport to continue. 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.
TAKE ACTION
Help get fox hunting banned in Ireland
Contact all your local TDs and urge them to support Deputy Coppinger's Animal Health & Welfare (Ban On Fox Hunting) Bill when it returns to Dail Eireann. Visit the Oireachtas website for email addresses and phone numbers for TDs 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
Watch our campaign video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jG9rMlE3VAQ
Please support our campaign with a donation
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SEE ALSO
Ruth Coppinger's "Ban Fox Hunting" bill progresses despite shameful attempt to block it
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2025/05/29/ruth-coppingers-ban-fox-hunting-bill-progresses-despite-shameful-attempt-to-block-it/
Old excuses for fox hunting won't wash - it's time to outlaw barbaric bloodsport
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2025/05/30/old-excuses-for-fox-hunting-wont-wash-its-time-to-outlaw-barbaric-bloodsport/
Disgust at Sinn Fein’s attempt to block “Ban Fox Hunting” bill
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2025/05/31/disgust-at-sinn-feins-attempt-to-block-ban-fox-hunting-bill/
Máiría Cahill: Rural stance no big surprise, but Sinn Fein vote on fox-hunt ban a sly move
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2025/06/01/mairia-cahill-rural-stance-no-big-surprise-but-sinn-fein-vote-on-fox-hunt-ban-a-sly-move/