Hare coursers from Dungannon in Northern Ireland (where coursing is illegal) came to Cavan to take part in a coursing meeting, newly released documents reveal.
The documents published on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service – which disgracefully licenses the bloodsport on behalf of Heritage Minister James Browne - show that 46 hares were netted from the wild for used as live bait for dogs to chase at the 3-day Cavan / Dungannon / Westport animal cruelty event on 14/15/16 November 2025.
A report from a ranger, who was only present on Days 2 and 3, reveals that 5 hares were hit by the dogs and 1 of them was caught and mauled into the ground.
While the ranger reported that 4 hares were “examined for injuries by vet”, the veterinary report shows that just 1 hare was examined over the three days.
This hare (with tag number 20) was pinned by dogs on Day 2 but, according to the vet’s report, this animal was not examined until the following day. The vet wrote: “Alamycin spray applied to small graze on back”.
“It reflects extremely badly on the Republic of Ireland that this bloodsport has not only continued years after it was outlawed in all our neighbouring jurisdictions but that coursers from Northern Ireland can circumvent the ban there by simply coming to Cavan,” the Irish Council Against Blood Sports stated in an email to Heritage Minister James Browne and Nature Minister Christopher O’Sullivan this week. “We implore you to show compassion for this persecuted icon of Irish biodiversity and finally put in place complete protection for the Irish Hare.”
ACTION ALERT
HELP THE HARES: Tell Heritage Minister James Browne and Minister of State for Nature Christopher O’Sullivan to give full protection to the Irish Hare and stop licensing hare coursing.
James Browne (Fianna Fail, Wexford)
Heritage Minister
Tel: (01) 618 3094
Email: minister@housing.gov.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/james.browne.enniscorthy
X: https://x.com/jamesbrownetd
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesbrownetd/
Christopher O’Sullivan TD (Fianna Fail, Cork South West)
Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity
Tel: (01) 618 3095 or 023 88 11011
Email: christopher.osullivan@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christopher.osullivan.716
X: https://twitter.com/COSullivanTD
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christopher_o_sullivan_td
Urge Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon to remove exemptions for hare coursing and fox hunting from the Animal Health and Welfare Act.
Martin Heydon TD
Minister for Agriculture
Tel: 01-618 3017
Email: minister@agriculture.gov.ie; martin.heydon@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/martinheydonfg
X: http://www.twitter.com/martinheydonfg
Please get in touch with all your local TDs and urge them to pledge support for a long overdue ban on cruel hare coursing in Ireland. 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 and Sinn Fein. Tell them that you want hare coursing, fox hunting 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/
X: 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
X: https://twitter.com/MaryLouMcDonald
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryLouMcDonaldTD