The Irish Council Against Blood Sports is renewing its call to the GAA to put an end to club fundraisers at greyhound tracks. The latest appeal comes after Wexford GAA club announced another fundraiser at a greyhound track.
According to a report in the Enniscorthy Guardian (24 July 2018), "Wexford Manager Davy Fitzgerald and senior hurlers Diarmuid O’Keeffe and Aidan Nolan took some time out from preparations for their All-Ireland quarter final against Clare last week to officially launch the annual Wexford Supporters Race Night at Enniscorthy Dog Track."
The GAA has been told that greyhounds suffer injuries and die at Enniscorthy track. In the past three and a half years at the track, 49 dogs suffered injuries and 15 were killed by a vet. Nationwide, 1,369 greyhounds have suffered injuries, with 438 destroyed.
On its website, Wexford GAA is promoting the "greyhound race night" as "a great night out for the whole family" and even offering free entry to children under 14 years of age but it is entirely inappropriate to bring children to a venue where they may very well see dogs falling, writhing on the ground in agony and crying out in pain. http://www.wexfordgaa.ie/2018/07/cairde-loch-garman-race-night-takes-place-thursday-16th-august-enniscorthy-dog-track/
Given recent revelations about gambling addiction problems among GAA players, it is also inappropriate for GAA clubs to choose gambling venues as fundraising locations.
In an email to the GAA, we stated: "The GAA has a duty to protect its players and this must include prohibiting club fundraisers at greyhound tracks. Allowing GAA clubs to expose children to a gambling environment is at odds with the GAA's stated concerns about the growing problem of gambling in Ireland and it undermines efforts to educate players about gambling addiction.
Last year, the GAA promised to address the issue of children attending fundraisers at tracks, saying "we have guidelines in place for clubs in relation to juvenile club members attending events in public houses/licensed premises."
Fundraisers at greyhound tracks are helping to keep the cruel greyhound industry afloat - the track takes a 30-40 per cent commission from ticket sales and also profits from gambling and food/drink sales on the night.
Greyhound racing is also sustaining the cruel bloodsport of hare coursing - all greyhounds used in track racing are registered with the Irish Coursing Club and the registration fees help fund coursing activities. In coursing, thousands of hares are snatched from the wild every year for use as live bait for greyhounds at coursing meetings. Hares are terrorised while desperately running for their lives and there are injuries and deaths due to maulings.
ACTION ALERT
Appeal to Wexford GAA to show compassion for the animals and choose an alternative fundraising venue.
Wexford County Board
Clonard Road,
Wexford
Email from: http://www.wexfordgaa.ie/contact-us/
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Join us in urging the GAA to tell member clubs to reject greyhound racing as a form of fundraising.
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