Please join calls on Heritage Minister James Browne and Minister of State for Nature and Biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan to REFUSE 2026-27 licences for cruel hare coursing.
In a submission to the Ministers, we:
- Highlighted the hares who were hit, injured and killed in coursing last season and the fact that all of the thousands of hares captured by coursers suffer fear and stress.
– Noted the uncertainty over the number of hares in the country and the dramatic 46% fall in hare captures since 2013 (a worrying indication that hares are becoming more scarce).
– Questioned the Irish Hare’s “favourable” status presented by the Department of Heritage.
– Reminded them that just 1 coursed hare was found alive at the end of a NPWS-commissioned survival study.
– Warned that the threat of the deadly, highly infectious RHD2 virus remains
We told the Ministers that a refusal of the licences would be widely welcomed. A RED C opinion poll found that a 77% majority want the government to ban hare coursing (with just 9% disagreeing with a ban). The cruel activity is already banned in all our neighbouring jurisdictions.
Support for an end to coursing was very evident in the public’s response to the Citizens Assembly on Biodiversity Loss, with many of those who made submissions calling for a ban.
In the midst of the government-declared Climate and Biodiversity emergency, there are growing pressures on the Irish Hare. It is imperative that this species is given every protection to help safeguard its future on this island. This must include a refusal of 2026-27 coursing licences and a removal of the species from the Open Season Order.
Please join us in urgently contacting Ministers Browne and O’Sullivan and demanding a refusal of coursing licences. The Irish Hare should not have to suffer another season of this shameful abuse.
URGENT ACTION ALERT
HELP THE HARES: Tell Heritage Minister James Browne and Minister of State for Nature and Biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan to give full protection to the Irish Hare and stop licensing cruel coursing.
Minister James Browne (Fianna Fail, Wexford)
Tel: (01) 618 3094
Email: minister@housing.gov.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/james.browne.enniscorthy
Twitter: 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: mos@housing.gov.ie; christopher.osullivan@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christopher.osullivan.716
Twitter: https://twitter.com/COSullivanTD
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christopher_o_sullivan_td
SAMPLE LETTER
(If you have time, please compose your own personal letter)
Dear Ministers Browne and O’Sullivan,
Please REFUSE 2026-27 hare coursing licences.
The Irish Hare, an icon of Ireland’s biodiversity, has suffered for far too long in this shameful bloodsport.
Past licences have allowed coursers to net thousands of hares from the countryside, hold them in captivity for weeks/months and eventually force them to run for their lives in front of greyhounds.
All the hares suffer fear and stress and, despite the muzzling of the dogs, hares are injured and killed every coursing season when they are caught and mauled. Among the injuries documented are broken back, spinal injury, broken legs, damaged toes and dislocated hips.
With the suffering, stress, injury and death caused to hares at coursing meetings, there should be no hesitation in finally ending this cruel activity by refusing 2026-27 licences. This would be widely welcomed by the vast majority who want coursing banned.
Ireland is in the middle of a government-declared biodiversity emergency. Now is the time to give full protection to the Irish Hare and allow these magnificent animals to live free from persecution.
Please do the right thing and stop licensing hare coursing.
Yours sincerely,
[Name/Address]
It is time for politicians to consign coursing and hunting to history. Join us in contacting TDs and urging them to act to ensure that a ban on hare coursing is urgently introduced. Find contact details on the Oireachtas website https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/tds/?term=/ie/oireachtas/house/dail/34
Get in touch with the leaders of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Sinn Fein and tell them that you want 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
Contact Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Sinn Fein and urge them to support a ban on hare coursing.
Fianna Fail TDs
john.mcguinness@oireachtas.ie; peterchap.cleere@oireachtas.ie; jennifer.murnaneoconnor@oireachtas.ie; brendan.smith@oireachtas.ie; niamh.smyth@oireachtas.ie; cathal.crowe@oireachtas.ie; timmy.dooley@oireachtas.ie; james.oconnor@oireachtas.ie; padraig.osullivan@oireachtas.ie; michael.moynihan@oireachtas.ie; aindrias.moynihan@oireachtas.ie; seamus.mcgrath@oireachtas.ie; micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; christopher.osullivan@oireachtas.ie; patthecope.gallagher@oireachtas.ie; Charlie.McConalogue@oireachtas.ie; tom.brabazon@oireachtas.ie; jim.ocallaghan@oireachtas.ie; darragh.obrien@oireachtas.ie; shane.moynihan@oireachtas.ie; paul.mcauliffe@oireachtas.ie; shay.brennan@oireachtas.ie; catherine.ardagh@oireachtas.ie; john.lahart@oireachtas.ie; jack.chambers@oireachtas.ie; Minister@per.gov.ie; cormac@cormacdevlin.ie; albert.dolan@oireachtas.ie; john.connolly@oireachtas.ie; michael.cahill@oireachtas.ie; norma.foley@oireachtas.ie; minister@dcde.gov.ie; naoise.ocearuil@oireachtas.ie; james.lawless@oireachtas.ie; sean.ofearghail@oireachtas.ie; sean.fleming@oireachtas.ie; willie.odea@oireachtas.ie; niall.collins@oireachtas.ie; Robert.Troy@oireachtas.ie; erin.mcgreehan@oireachtas.ie; dara.calleary@oireachtas.ie; ministerdrcd@drcd.gov.ie; thomas.byrne@oireachtas.ie; aisling.dempsey@oireachtas.ie; tony.mccormack@oireachtas.ie; martin.daly@oireachtas.ie; eamon.scanlon@oireachtas.ie; ryan.omeara@oireachtas.ie; mary.butler@oireachtas.ie; james.browne@oireachtas.ie; minister@housing.gov.ie; malcolm.byrne@oireachtas.ie
Fine Gael TDs
catherine.callaghan@oireachtas.ie; david.maxwell@oireachtas.ie; joe.cooney@oireachtas.ie; colm.burke@oireachtas.ie; johnpaul.oshea@oireachtas.ie; jerry.buttimer@oireachtas.ie; naoise.omuiri@oireachtas.ie; james.geoghegan@oireachtas.ie; Paschal.Donohoe@oireachtas.ie; grace.boland@oireachtas.ie; emer.higgins@oireachtas.ie; maeve.oconnell@oireachtas.ie; neale.richmond@oireachtas.ie; colm.brophy@oireachtas.ie; emer.currie@oireachtas.ie; barry.ward@oireachtas.ie; jennifer.carrollmacneill@oireachtas.ie; peter.roche@oireachtas.ie; hildegarde.naughton@oireachtas.ie; joe.neville@oireachtas.ie; Martin.Heydon@oireachtas.ie; william.aird@oireachtas.ie; kieran.odonnell@oireachtas.ie; Patrick.O'Donovan@oireachtas.ie; peter.burke@oireachtas.ie; micheal.carrigy@oireachtas.ie; paula.butterly@oireachtas.ie; alan.dillon@oireachtas.ie; keira.keogh@oireachtas.ie; helen.mcentee@oireachtas.ie; john.clendennen@oireachtas.ie; frank.feighan@oireachtas.ie; michael.murphy@oireachtas.ie; john.cummins@oireachtas.ie; Simon.Harris@oireachtas.ie; edward.timmins@oireachtas.ie; brian.brennan@oireachtas.ie; noel.mccarthy@oireachtas.ie
Sinn Fein TDs
natasha.newsomedrennan@oireachtas.ie; cathy.bennett@oireachtas.ie; matt.carthy@oireachtas.ie; donna.mcgettigan@oireachtas.ie; pat.buckley@oireachtas.ie; thomas.gould@oireachtas.ie; donnchadh.olaoghaire@oireachtas.ie; Pearse.Doherty@oireachtas.ie; padraig.maclochlainn@oireachtas.ie; denise.mitchell@oireachtas.ie; MaryLou.McDonald@oireachtas.ie; louise.oreilly@oireachtas.ie; eoin.obroin@oireachtas.ie; mark.ward@oireachtas.ie; dessie.ellis@oireachtas.ie; maire.devine@oireachtas.ie; aengus.osnodaigh@oireachtas.ie; Sean.Crowe@oireachtas.ie; paul.donnelly@oireachtas.ie; louis.ohara@oireachtas.ie; mairead.farrell@oireachtas.ie; pa.daly@oireachtas.ie; maurice.quinlivan@oireachtas.ie; sorca.clarke@oireachtas.ie; joanna.byrne@oireachtas.ie; ruairi.omurchu@oireachtas.ie; rose.conwaywalsh@oireachtas.ie; darren.orourke@oireachtas.ie; johnny.guirke@oireachtas.ie; claire.kerrane@oireachtas.ie; martin.kenny@oireachtas.ie; david.cullinane@oireachtas.ie; conor.mcguinness@oireachtas.ie; johnny.mythen@oireachtas.ie; john.brady@oireachtas.ie; fionntan.osuilleabhain@oireachtas.ie
Watch our campaign videos
The suffering of hares during 2025-26 coursing season
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jN3OMM7_UY
Bill to ban hare coursing shamefully rejected - 24 in favour, 125 against
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMSh_T5l6i0
Debate on “Ban on Hare Coursing” Bill
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QE6Wt_i644
Thank you to the 24 TDs who voted in favour of the "Ban on Hare Coursing" bill
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/s_M1UOMoFR4
Please support our campaign with a donation
https://www.paypal.me/banbloodsports