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 as Bandon GAA club, in association with Bandon Camogie Club & Bandon Ladies Football Club, promotes a track fundraiser at Curraheen Park - a gambling venue where dogs suffer and die - as "a great night out for young & old".

In the past three and a half years at Curraheen Park track, 83 greyhounds suffered injuries and 30 were killed.

Nationwide, in the same period, 1,369 greyhounds suffered injuries, with 438 destroyed.

Bandon GAA is offering free entry to children under 16 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.

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, ICABS 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

Join us in urging the GAA to tell member clubs to reject greyhound racing as a form of fundraising.

Email: queries@gaa.ie
Leave a comment on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/officialgaa
Tweet to @officialgaa

Appeal to Bandon GAA, Bandon Camogie Club & Bandon Ladies Football Club to show compassion for the animals and choose an alternative fundraising venue.

Bandon GAA
Email: pro.bandon.cork@gaa.ie
Tel: 086 467 9884
Leave a comment on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/BandonGaa/
Tweet to @BandonGAA

Bandon Camogie Club
Leave a comment on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Camogieclubbandon/
Tweet to @ClubCamogie

Bandon Ladies Football Club
Leave a comment on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/BandonLGFA/
Tweet to @BandonLGFA

Watch our campaign video
Why you should say NO to greyhound track fundraisers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjRIa0Jc_DA