Please join us in urging Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue to say NO to a new licence for a greyhound track in Lifford which closed down in 2019.

An application has been made to Greyhound Racing Ireland for a licence which would allow racing to return to the County Donegal track.

“It would be outrageous if Greyhound Racing Ireland greenlighted the re-opening of Lifford track, particularly after an Indecon report it commissioned clearly recommended the closure of the track,” ICABS stated in correspondence to Minister McConalogue.

The Minister and his Department should not only block any proposed expansion but focus on phasing out greyhound racing entirely. The activity is responsible for much suffering and death around Ireland, based as it is on over-breeding dogs, choosing the fastest and getting rid of many of those who don't make the grade. Methods of killing include shooting in the head - as highlighted in RTE's disturbing "Greyhounds Running for Their Lives" documentary.

Numerous dogs also die at tracks. Before its closure in August 2019, Lifford track stood out as one of the worst in relation to the killing of greyhounds who suffered injuries. Between 2015 and 2019, 44% of the greyhounds injured there didn't make it out alive, i.e. 62 greyhounds suffered injuries and 27 were killed by a track vet. At tracks around Ireland in the same period, at least 2,146 greyhounds were injured and 715 killed.

In each of the last four years of its operation, greyhounds tested positive for prohibited substances at Lifford track. Adverse analytical findings reports published on the Greyhound Racing Ireland website show that the substances were Amphetamine, Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen, Firocoxib, Naproxen, Flufenamic Acid, Pentobarbital, Heptaminol and Procaine.

Granting a fresh licence to Lifford track would be completely at odds with the findings of the Indecon reports commissioned by Greyhound Racing Ireland, we told Minister McConalogue.

For example, the "Indecon Independent Strategic Review of Irish Greyhound Racing Stadia to Underpin a Viable Long Term Sustainable Industry" report published in November 2019 stated that Lifford was one of four stadia "with the lowest projected attendance" and that "attendance is an important measure of demand for the facilities and is of critical importance in influencing the commercial sustainability of stadia".

The results of a survey of greyhound owners/breeders published in the Indecon report showed that just 6% of respondents said they used Lifford track "on a regular basis" (the joint-lowest in the country). This undermines claims that there is significant demand for a re-opening of Lifford track.

We understand that those pushing for the granting of a licence are complaining that the closure of Lifford track - which is less than 15 miles from a track in Derry - has forced those involved in racing to travel vast distances to alternative tracks.

For example, a spokesperson for the Greyhound Owners and Breeders Federation is quoted in the Donegal News of 20 June 2021 as saying: "With the two year anniversary of Lifford’s closure, owners and trainers are still facing a minimum of a five hour round trip to race their dogs at Dundalk which is the nearest track supported by Greyhound Racing Ireland."

This does not tally with the findings of the Indecon report which pointed out that the distance from Lifford track to Dundalk track is just 1 hour and 50 minutes - meaning a return trip is not “a five hour round trip”.

Furthermore, the survey of greyhound owners and breeders found that nearly all (95%) of those who had been using Lifford track were already using at least one other track so travel times and distances were clearly not an issue prior to the track's closure.

The results of a RED C poll, which showed that a two-thirds majority want the government to end the state grants that are propping up greyhound racing, strongly indicate that there is an overwhelming desire to see an end to greyhound racing and its associated suffering and killing.

“This is, after all, an activity which Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland have both stopped promoting due to fears it damages Ireland's international image,” we stated in our appeal to Minister McConalogue. “Please follow this example, prevent any resumption of racing at Lifford and move towards ending all greyhound racing.”

ACTION ALERT

Urge Minister McConalogue to act to stop the licensing of Lifford greyhound track.

Charlie McConalogue
Minister for Agriculture
Tel: (01) 618 3199
Email: minister@agriculture.gov.ie; charlie.mcconalogue@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CharlieMcConalogue
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@McConalogue

Consider signing these other petitions

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

Ireland must ban greyhound racing
https://www.thepetitionsite.com/en-gb/184/794/470/?TAP=1732

“Stop Greyhound Racing”
https://www.change.org/p/the-department-of-agriculture-stop-greyhound-racing

Please support our campaign with a donation
https://www.paypal.me/banbloodsports

Watch RTE’s award-winning "Greyhounds Running For Their Lives" documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYTb2qBjlMM