Foxes were terrorised by hunters and a pack of dogs at a shameful hunt in County Limerick.
A report in the Irish Field (30 January 2026), focusing on a joint Laois Foxhounds / Stonehall Harriers hunt, outlined that the hunt was hosted by Dr Pat Meehan - described as “a dedicated foxhunter” and “a senior physics research fellow” at Limerick University. He provided a ”hunting breakfast” before they moved off to find foxes to target.
The dogs were brought to “their first draw at the Castle of Dromore” where they “spoke almost immediately and the field and foot-followers were treated to some marvellous woodland hunting”.
“Reynard was halloaed away by the ever-vigilant Mark Siney [and] hounds hunted on towards Bleach Lough before crossing the road back into Meehan’s,” the report stated.
This fox was “marked to ground just as hounds neared Cartown”. It is unknown if this 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.
Later, the pack of dogs “drew on through the many good coverts with which Cartown abounds”.
According to the report, “so dense are the Cartown coverts that they could not dislodge Reynard”.
Among those participating in the hunt were:
Portlaoise solicitor Billy White [W.X. White Solicitors]
“Kevin Brennan who works with the Dept of Agriculture”
“Dr Jane, one of Limerick’s leading clinicians”
Huntsman Stephen Daly - “an electrician by trade, he works with one of Ireland’s major electrical firms”
Shame on the Irish Government for allowing this bloodsport to continue. The latest Ireland Thinks opinion poll (conducted in November 2025) shows that 87% are opposed to the hunting of animals for sport. 81% of respondents to the poll who expressed an opinion, agree that fox hunting as a sport should be banned in Ireland. The poll found that just 13% of people in Ireland are in favour of hunting animals for sport, including a mere 3% "strongly in favour".
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 in 2024. The Stonehall Harriers hunt has received €291,800, including €54,950 in 2024.
ACTION ALERT
Help get fox hunting banned in Ireland
Please get in touch with all your local TDs and urge them to pledge support for a ban on cruel fox hunting 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 and Fine Gael. 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/
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
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 Uplift’s “Ban Fox Hunting” petition
https://my.uplift.ie/petitions/petition-to-ban-fox-hunting-in-ireland
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Tx5_T2TL_g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5Rf3Cv58x0
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