Actors who have called for bans on cruel coursing and fur farming were among the big winners at the 2018 Irish Film and Television Academy awards (IFTAs) on 15 February. Congratulations to Gabriel Byrne, Saoirse Ronan, Cillian Murphy and Victoria Smurfit who all received awards at the Mansion House ceremony. Screen legend Gabriel Byrne, who was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by President Michael D Higgins, is one of Ireland's most high-profile opponents of hare coursing. In 2016, Gabriel wrote to Irish politicians urging them to back a ban on coursing. In his letter, he stated: "Coursing is an atrocity that should have no place in modern Ireland, which is why it should be banned. It's hard to imagine anything more barbaric than this so-called 'sport'. From the terrifying chase, during which hares have been known to rupture internal organs fleeing the hounds, to the moment the petrified and exhausted animals are surrounded, every minute of hare coursing reflects the hard-heartedness of the participants." Sadly, politicans ignored appeals for an end to the barbarity and voted against Maureen O'Sullivan TD's Bill to ban coursing. The campaign, supported by a majority of Irish citizens, will continue until coursing is finally ended and hares are free from persecution. Saoirse Ronan and Victoria Smurfit, who also won awards at the IFTAs, have both spoken out against Ireland's cruel fur farming which sees tens of thousands of mink permanently caged and gassed before the fur is pulled from their bodies. Saoirse - winner of the Best Actress Award for her performance in Lady Bird - is one of over 200 members of the film, television and music industries who are urging the government to outlaw fur farming. A "WE ARE ALL CALLING FOR AN IMMEDIATE BAN ON FUR FARMING IN IRELAND" petition , compiled by Fair City/The Clinic actress Rachel Pilkington, was also signed by Victoria Smurfit, who won the Best Supporting Actress IFTA Award for her performance in The Lears. Film and television actor, Cillian Murphy - winner of the "Best Actor: Drama" award for his leading role in Peaky Blinders - is also among those pushing for an end to the appalling fur trade. In March 2015, Cillian wrote a letter to the Minister for Agriculture condemning fur farming as "a shameful, inhumane industry that is simply not compatible with animal welfare". He urged the government to add Ireland "to the growing list of countries – including Austria, Northern Ireland, Switzerland and the United Kingdom – that have banned the cruel practice of fur farming". ACTION ALERT Please join calls for a ban on hare coursing and fur farming in Ireland. Prime Minister, An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar Department of the Taoiseach, Upper Merrion St, Dublin 2 Telephone: +353 (0)1-6194020 Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie, leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie Tweet to: @campaignforLeo Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignforleo/ Michael Creed TD Minister for Agriculture Department of Agriculture Agriculture House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Email: michael.creed@oir.ie Tel: 01-607 2000 or LoCall 1890-200510. Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelcreedtd Tweet to: @creedcnw