A County Cork GAA club and children's school are being urged to show compassion for the dogs who suffer and die in greyhound racing and choose an alternative venue for their fundraiser next month.
Newtownshandrum GAA club and Shandrum primary school have announced a fundraiser at Curraheen Park track in Cork city.
In a tweet, Newtownshandrum GAA club states: "Great night assured."
But it won't be so great for the dogs.
There is much suffering at Curraheen Park - for example, in the past three and a half years at the track, 83 greyhounds suffered injuries and 30 were killed. Nationwide, in the same period at tracks around Ireland, 1,369 greyhounds suffered injuries, with 438 destroyed.
Given recent revelations about gambling addiction problems among GAA players, it is also inappropriate for GAA clubs to choose a gambling venue as a 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.
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.
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Appeal to Newtownshandrum GAA Club and Shandrum School to show compassion for the animals and choose an alternative fundraising venue.
Newtownshandrum GAA Club
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Ms Carmel Walmsley
Principal, Shandrum School
Newtownshandrum,
Charleville, Co Cork
Email: shandrumsec@gmail.com
Tel: 063-70236