Thank you to Cork County Councillor Holly Cairns for standing up for the greyhounds and refusing to support a motion calling on the government to postpone the closure of a local track where dogs suffer and die.
“Today my fellow councillors called on Cork County Council to write to the Minister for Agriculture to put on hold the decision to close the greyhound stadium in Youghal,” Cllr Cairns tweeted yesterday. “I didn’t support their stance.”
A recently released Indecon report recommended the closure of four tracks, including the loss-making Youghal track, saying it had the lowest attendance of any venue in the west and south-west.
In a Facebook post, Councillor Cairns (Social Democrats) added: “Given that attendance fell by 55% between 2008 and 2018 and that the combined loss for tracks between now and 2022 is predicted to be €30 million - not to mention the fact that almost 6,000 greyhounds were killed for not racing fast enough in 2017 - I am not in favour of the council taking any steps to prop up the industry.”
“As part of my contribution, I stated that I am aware of course that this is not how everyone in the industry treats their greyhounds, but that because of the overarching appalling standards of care and the loss-making nature of the industry revealed by RTÉ documentary “Running for their lives” I couldn’t support it.”
Councillor Cairns was the only member to object so there wasn’t a vote taken and her objection was just “noted”.
Her stance has been welcomed by many on Facebook, with comments including “What a wonderful and principled politician”, “You absolutely made the right vote” and “Thanks Holly Cairns. It’s a horrible & cruel industry. Well done you” https://www.facebook.com/HolllyMcKeeverCairns/posts/491533398135403
As reported by the Cork Echo, Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Independent councillors defended the cruel greyhound industry.
Among them was Fianna Fáil’s Frank O'Flynn who said: “We need to fight this decision. It is an absolute disgrace.” Fellow Fianna Fail councillor, James O’Connor claimed that the RTÉ Investigates documentary 'Running for Their Lives' was not an accurate reflection of the owners in East Cork and that the plan to close the greyhound track was “a concerning move”.
Fine Gael’s Michael Hegarty “disputed the economic report that said the stadium did not make a profit last year and emphasized the social aspect of the sport”. Fine Gael Councillor John O’Sullivan said that the people he knows “treat greyhounds better than children.”
Meanwhile, Independent Councillor, Mary Linehan Foley, maintained that despite the report finding that Youghal track has very low attendance, “she can watch the dogs from her garden so she is well aware of how popular the events are” and that “people come from all over the country to Youghal to go to the greyhound track.”
“I don’t get where this is coming from, this is an absolute shock,” she declared. “Youghal is solely dependent on tourism, between the Ironman, the boardwalk, the greenway and the greyhound track compliments that. It can’t happen.”
In a message to the Councillor, ICABS highlighted the cruelty and killing in greyhound racing and the fact that a majority want the government to stop the massive grants that are keeping the cruel activity afloat. Youghal greyhound stadium is bad for the image of the town and should be shut down, we added.
ACTION ALERT
Say NO to the cruel greyhound industry - don't attend greyhound races or fundraisers/hen parties/Christmas office parties held at greyhound tracks
STOP THE STATE FUNDING FOR GREYHOUND RACING
Another €16.8 million of scarce public funds has been approved for greyhound racing for 2020. Since 2001, greyhound racing has received more than a quarter of a billion euros of taxpayers' money. Please contact your local TDs and demand that they vote against this funding. Visit the Oireachtas website for contact details for TDs https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/tds/?term=/ie/oireachtas/house/dail/32
Contact Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe now and demand an end to state funding to greyhound racing.
An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion St, Dublin 2
Telephone: +353 (0)1-6194020
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie; leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: @LeoVaradkar
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar
Paschal Donohoe TD
Minister for Finance
Email: paschal.donohoe@oireachtas.ie; minister@per.gov.ie
Phone: +353 (0)1 6045810
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaschalDonohoe/
Tweet to @Paschald
Email “I support an end to all state funding to the cruel greyhound industry and a ban on hare coursing” to all Fine Gael TDs
maria.bailey@oireachtas.ie; sean.barrett@oireachtas.ie; pat.breen@oireachtas.ie; colm.brophy@oireachtas.ie; richard.bruton@oireachtas.ie; peter.burke@oireachtas.ie; catherine.byrne@oireachtas.ie; Ciaran.Cannon@oireachtas.ie; joe.carey@oireachtas.ie; corcorankennedy@eircom.net; Simon.Coveney@oireachtas.ie; michael.creed@oireachtas.ie; michael.darcy@oireachtas.ie; Jim.Daly@oireachtas.ie; john.deasy@oireachtas.ie; Pat.Deering@oireachtas.ie; Regina.Doherty@oireachtas.ie; Paschal.Donohoe@oireachtas.ie; andrew.doyle@oireachtas.ie; bernard.durkan@oireachtas.ie; damien.english@oireachtas.ie; Alan.Farrell@oireachtas.ie; frances.fitzgerald@oir.ie; peterm.fitzpatrick@oireachtas.ie; charles.flanagan@oireachtas.ie; Brendan.Griffin@oireachtas.ie; Simon.Harris@oireachtas.ie; Martin.Heydon@oireachtas.ie; Heather.Humphreys@oireachtas.ie; paul.kehoe@oireachtas.ie; enda.kenny@oireachtas.ie; Sean.Kyne@oireachtas.ie; josepha.madigan@oireachtas.ie; helen.mcentee@oireachtas.ie; joe.mchugh@oireachtas.ie; Tony.McLoughlin@oireachtas.ie; Mary.MitchellOConnor@oireachtas.ie; Dara.Murphy@oireachtas.ie; Eoghan.Murphy@oireachtas.ie; hildegarde.naughton@oireachtas.ie; tom.neville@limerick.ie; michael.noonan@oireachtas.ie; kate.oconnell@oireachtas.ie; Patrick.O'Donovan@oireachtas.ie; fergus.odowd@oireachtas.ie; JohnPaul.Phelan@oireachtas.ie; michael.ring@oireachtas.ie; noel@noelrock.ie; david.stanton@oir.ie; leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie
Email “I support an end to all state funding to the cruel greyhound industry and a ban on hare coursing” to all Fianna Fáil TDs
billykelleher@eircom.net; sean.haughey@oireachtas.ie; Bobby.Aylward@oireachtas.ie; brendan.smith@oireachtas.ie; johncurranff@gmail.com; Charlie.McConalogue@oireachtas.ie; michael.mcgrath@oireachtas.ie; sean.ofearghail@oireachtas.ie; john.brassil@oireachtas.ie; darragh.obrien@oireachtas.ie; eamon.ocuiv@oireachtas.ie; jackie.cahill@oireachtas.ie; john.mcguinness@oireachtas.ie; mattie.mcgrath@oireachtas.ie; micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; michael.moynihan.td@oireachtas.ie; niall.collins@oireachtas.ie; coper@eircom.net; Robert.Troy@oireachtas.ie; thomas.byrne@oireachtas.ie; timmy.dooley@oireachtas.ie; barry.cowen@oireachtas.ie; fiona@fiona.ie; declan.breathnach@oireachtas.ie; mary.butler@oireachtas.ie; kevin.okeeffe@oireachtas.ie; dara.calleary@oireachtas.ie; escanlonmcc@eircom.net; sean.fleming@oireachtas.ie; niamh.smyth@oireachtas.ie; james@jameslawless.ie; shane.cassells@oireachtas.ie; willie.odea@oireachtas.ie; margaret.murphyomahony@oireachtas.ie; anne.rabbitte@oireachtas.ie; eugene.murphy@oireachtas.ie; jack.chambers@outlook.com; james.browne@oireachtas.ie; john.lahart@oireachtas.ie; lisa.chambers@oireachtas.ie; marc.macsharry@oireachtas.ie; jim.ocallaghan@oireachtas.ie; pat.casey@oireachtas.ie; aindrias.moynihan@oireachtas.ie; frankorourke1@gmail.com
Email “I support an end to all state funding to the cruel greyhound industry and a ban on hare coursing" to all Labour Party TDs
brendan.howlin@oireachtas.ie; joan.burton@oireachtas.ie; alan.kelly@oir.ie; jan.osullivan@oir.ie; willie.penrose@oireachtas.ie; brendan.ryan@oir.ie; sean.sherlock@oir.ie
Please sign and share petitions
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
Ireland - Ban cruel hare coursing
www.change.org/p/ireland-ban-cruel-hare-coursing
Stop supporting the cruel greyhound industry
https://www.change.org/p/stop-supporting-the-cruel-greyhound-industry
GAA: Stop club fundraisers at greyhound tracks
https://www.change.org/p/gaa-stop-club-fundraisers-at-greyhound-tracks
Tell Gain Pet Nutrition to Stop Sponsoring Greyhound Racing
https://www.change.org/p/jimtracy-glanbia-ie-tell-gain-pet-nutrition-to-stop-sponsoring-greyhound-racing
Contact the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan, and urge her to permanently stop licensing cruel hare coursing.
Email: josepha.madigan@oireachtas.ie or
Phone: +353 (0)1 631 3800
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://facebook.com/JosephaMadiganFG
Tweet to: @josephamadigan
Watch the RTE Investigates documentary 'Greyhounds Running for their lives' yet on the RTE Player https://www.rte.ie/player/movie/rt%C3%A9-investigates-greyhounds-running-for-their-lives/104051751967 or on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYTb2qBjlMM
REPORTED INJURIES AND DEATHS AT YOUGHAL STADIUM
2019 (January to September)
9 injuries, 5 deaths
2018
13 injuries, 6 deaths
2017
7 injuries, 1 deaths
2016
5 injuries, 3 deaths
2015
7 injuries, 3 deaths