"I hope that the incoming government, whatever its political make-up or orientation, will have the guts to tackle hare coursing and put an end to the shameful abuse of this animal" - Read John Fitzgerald's Letter in this week's Kilkenny Observer

It's hare today: Gone tomorrow?
Kilkenny Observer (Feb 21st 2020)

The three-day National Hare Coursing festival has again focused attention on this blood sport that is banned in the rest of Europe apart from Iberia.

The animal welfare case against hare coursing is well known. Despite muzzling of greyhounds, hares continue to be mauled and suffer other injuries, apart from the stress and terror of a contrived chase within the confines of a park.

But there’s another reason why this cruel relic of the Dark Ages should end immediately.

The Irish Hare, a sub-species of the Mountain Hare that is unique to Ireland, has been in decline for the past fifty years, mainly owing to loss of habitat resulting from urbanisation and the unintended effects of modern agriculture.

That, in itself; would suggest that any form of hunting of this wild creature should be halted, to avoid further unnecessary pressure on the species and its habitat.

But since last August the very survival of the Irish Hare has been under grave threat from the RHD2 Virus, which is fatal to hares and rabbits and highly contagious.

Following confirmation that the disease had arrived in Ireland- rabbits and hares had tested positive in several counties- the Heritage minister imposed a ban on the netting of hares for coursing, which had been identified by scientists at the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) as a risk factor in the spread of the disease.

Then, a few weeks later, the ban on hare capture was lifted, not because the threat from the RHD2 Virus had receded, but in response to intense pressure brought to bear on the government by backbench Fine Gael TDs in a handful of rural constituencies where hare coursing clubs had demanded the “right” to resume netting of hares for their fixtures.

Ecological catastrophe

These politicians were prepared to put the interests of coursing clubs before the future of our native Irish Hare, which could very quickly be wiped out completely if the disease becomes rampant across the island.

The disappearance of this species would represent an ecological catastrophe. Gone forever would be a much-loved iconic creature feted in Irish song and folklore, a Jewel in the Crown of our wildlife heritage.

I hope that the incoming government, whatever its political make-up or orientation, will have the guts to tackle hare coursing and put an end to the shameful abuse of this animal.

It’s no longer just a matter of opposing one of the world’s worst forms of animal cruelty. This issue must be addressed in the context of the wider biodiversity crisis facing Ireland.

The Irish Hare is known to have survived the last Ice Age of 10,000 years ago. Will it now be sacrificed… just to keep a few gamblers cheering and marking their cards on a coursing field?

Yours etc,

John Fitzgerald
(Campaign for the Abolition
of Cruel Sports)

ACTION ALERT

With a RED C opinion poll confirming that a 77 per cent majority want hare coursing banned (with just 9 per cent disagreeing with a ban), it is now time for politicians to consign this nasty bloodsport to history. Contact all the newly elected TDs and demand that they act to ensure that a ban is urgently introduced. Visit the Oireachtas website for contact details for TDs https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/tds/?term=/ie/oireachtas/house/dail/33

Contact the leaders of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein and the Green Party to tell them that you want coursing, and all bloodsports, banned.

Leo Varadkar
Leader, Fine Gael
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion St, Dublin 2
Telephone: 01-619 4020
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie; leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Leave a comment on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar

Micheál Martin
Leader, Fianna Fail
Constituency Office
137 Evergreen Road,
Turner’s Cross, Cork
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie
Phone: 021-432 0088
Leinster House: 01–618 3000
Leave a comment on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD

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

Eamon Ryan
Leader, Green Party
Tel: 01 618 3894
Email: eamon.ryan@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EamonRyanGP/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EamonRyan

Sign and share the petitions

“Ban blood sports in Ireland”
https://www.change.org/p/ban-blood-sports-in-ireland

Irish Government: Stop Giving Millions of Euro to Cruel Greyhound Industry
https://www.change.org/p/irish-government-stop-giving-millions-of-euro-to-cruel-greyhound-industry

Irish clergy: Stop participating in cruel hare coursing
https://www.change.org/p/irish-clergy-stop-participating-in-cruel-hare-coursing

Limerick Racecourse: Stop hosting cruel hare coursing
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/limerick-racecourse-stop-hosting-cruel-hare-coursing

SEE ALSO

A RED C poll, commissioned by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports, reveals that a massive 77% agree that the government should BAN HARE COURSING https://www.facebook.com/banbloodsports/posts/2513861852062691