Atualização do abaixo-assinadoBan Blood Sports in Ireland

5-year licences for shooting threatened red-list birds

Irish Council Against Blood SportsMullingar, Ireland

Oct 19, 2026

Heritage Ministers James Browne and Minister of State for Nature and Biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan are being urged to act to stop the killing of amber- and red-listed birds.

The birds of medium and highest conservation concern may be blasted out of the sky all around the country during the open season.

They may also be killed, under licence, at state foreshores and lakes. The National Parks and Wildlife Service is currently inviting hunters to apply for these 1- to 5-year licences.

On the homepage of its website, the NPWS displays a link to a page where wildlife killers can apply for a licence to “hunt protected wild birds on or over state foreshore, inland waters and accretions belonging to the state”.

The licence allows hunters to kill “protected wild birds that are listed on the current Open Seasons Order and found on the foreshore”.

The application form asks applicants – who can be as young as 16 years of age – “where you wish to hunt”, the “proposed method(s) of hunting - from a boat, walking the shore, other”, the “type of decoy to be used” (plastic or wooden floating decoy) and the type of gun that will be used (manual, semi-automatic, pump action).

The licence - which is valid for 1 year for gun clubs and their members and 5 years for individuals - covers shooting at state lakes in 13 counties (Cavan, Clare, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Leitrim, Longford, Mayo, Meath, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary and Westmeath).

It also allows shooters to kill birds on foreshores in 15 counties - Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin (Malahide Estuary), Galway, Kerry, Kilkenny (including Foreshore of River Suir – Grannagh to Lingaun River [Piltown], Foreshore of River Barrow – Great Island to Ferrybridge, Foreshore of River Nore – Tinnaranny [Rosbercon] to Ballingath Quay), Limerick (Shannon Estuary), Louth, Mayo, Meath, Sligo, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow.

One of the conditions of the licence is that “only PROTECTED wild birds that are listed on the current Open Seasons Order and found on the foreshore may be hunted”.

Away from “state foreshores, inland waters and accretions belonging to the state”, shooters don’t require licences to gun down birds during the open season.

Among the “protected” birds that may be shot and killed are red-listed birds Snipe, Red Grouse, Shoveler duck, Golden Plover and Woodcock.

• Snipe is a red-list species of highest conservation concern. As highlighted in the Birdwatch Ireland/RSPB report “Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland 4: 2020–2026”, the conservation status of Snipe has worryingly gone from amber to red, with breeding populations of snipe in Ireland now “IN SEVERE DECLINE”. Shooters are allowed to kill Snipe “throughout the State” during 153 days of the year (1st September – 31st January).
• Red Grouse is a red-list species of highest conservation concern. Shooters are allowed to kill Red Grouse during the month of September.
• The Shoveler duck is a red-list species of highest conservation concern. Shooters are allowed to kill Shoveler ducks during 153 days of the year (1st September – 31st January).
• Golden Plover is a red-list species of highest conservation concern. Shooters are allowed to kill Golden Plovers during 153 days of the year (1st September – 31st January).
• The Woodcock is a red-list species of highest conservation concern. Shooters are allowed to kill woodcocks during 92 days of the year (1 November to 31 January).

Also on the kill list are amber-listed birds of medium conservation concern – Mallard (whose status has gone from green to amber), Teal, Wigeon, Gadwall, Greylag Goose and Tufted Duck.

Other birds that may be shot are Cock Pheasant, Woodpigeon, Red-legged Partridge, Jack Snipe, Ruddy Duck and Canada Goose.

The foreshore and lake licences to destroy birds are available not only to hunters in Ireland but also to those who plan to travel here to kill Irish wildlife. Applicants from outside the State are reminded that they “must include a copy of their current European Firearms Pass or their Country equivalent”.

The 31 state lakes where the shooting of birds may be carried out are listed as

Cavan: Bunerky, Brackley, Gowna, Kinale, Oughter, Sillan, Sheelin, Tacker
Clare: Derg
Donegal: Derg, Esk
Galway: Corrib, Derg
Kerry: Currane
Leitrim: Allen, Belhavel, Boderg (Bofin), Garadice, Gill, Gulladoo, Macnean Upper, Melvin, Rinn, Scannal, Scur
Meath: Sheelin
Longford: Forbes, Gowna, Kinale, Ree
Mayo: Feeag
Roscommon: Allen, Key, Ree
Sligo: Arrow, Gill
Tipperary: Derg
Westmeath: Derravaragh, Ennel, Kinale, Owel, Ree, Sheelin

Applicants are told that “deliberate killing, injuring, capturing or disturbing of protected species, or damage or destruction of their breeding sites or resting places or the deliberate taking or destroying of eggs, is AN OFFENCE” but only if it is done “WITHOUT A LICENCE”.

“There is no justification for allowing any birds – and particularly birds of conservation concern – to be blasted out of the sky, purely to provide entertainment to those who get their kicks from killing,” we have stated in an appeal to Ministers James Browne and Christopher O’Sullivan.

We pleaded with them to “give birds a break and reduce carnage in the countryside”, adding that bird species are depending on them to take positive action.

These beautiful birds are being reduced to bloodied carcasses for the amusement of shooters who consider it fun to destroy our wildlife heritage. Join us in demanding an end to this recreational killing.