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Greyhound racing has this week been removed from a list of recommended “things to do” in Youghal.
Following an Irish Council Against Blood Sports appeal, Youghal greyhound track was deleted from the list on the Cork town’s official website. Also gone is a page which presented a visit to the track as "a great night for all the family”.
A big "thank you" to Youghal.ie for this positive response.
In our appeal, we pointed to the decision by Fáilte Ireland to stop promoting greyhound racing due to the suffering and deaths, and fears that the activity damages Ireland’s reputation as a tourist destination.
“Far from being family-friendly, those visiting this gambling venue may witness the very upsetting sight of greyhounds falling and crying out in agony with injuries such as broken legs and wrists,” we stated. “Over the past seven years at Youghal track, 73 greyhounds suffered injuries and 35 died or were killed by a track vet. This includes 20 injuries and 7 deaths last year.”
Since 2014 at tracks around Ireland, at least 2,763 greyhounds suffered injuries and 938 died or were killed.
Many more are also killed behind the scenes because they don’t make the grade. As revealed in RTE’s award-winning “Greyhounds running for their lives”, around 6,000 greyhounds are killed every year simply because they are not fast enough to win. The documentary included horrifying scenes of greyhounds being delivered to a knackery where they were shot in the head and dumped into a skip. One dog was seen writhing on the ground as his merciless owner drove away https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYTb2qBjlMM
Youghal.ie is the latest to reject greyhound racing. This follows similar moves by Pure Cork, Galway Tourism, Tramore.ie, In Your Pocket City Guides, Air France (which removed Irish greyhound racing from 44 of its international websites), Thomas Cook, Toyota Ireland, Opel Ireland, Heineken Ireland/Murphy’s, Dublin Bus, Eir Sport, Tesco Ireland, Electric Ireland, Applegreen, Barry’s Tea, Hyde Irish Whiskey, Expedia, Galway Crystal, FBD Insurance, Botanica International, Voucher Cloud, Permanent TSB, Maldron Hotels, Clayton Hotels, North Star Hotel Dublin, Metropole Hotel Cork, Treacy’s Hotel Waterford, The Mayson Hotel, Trip Indicator, Food For Thought (the official publication of the Restaurants Association of Ireland), DishCult, Hertz, MummyPages.ie, Ireland Before You Die, Dublin Convention Bureau, etc. Among the charities that have said NO to greyhound racing are Pieta House, Society of St Vincent de Paul, Our Lady’s Hospice, Parkinson’s Ireland, The Hope Foundation, Cara Projects, Movember, Family Carers Ireland and Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. As have sports groups such as Arklow Rugby Club and Verona FC.
Visit https://youghal.ie for more information about Youghal - “the most easterly town in County Cork and a gem in Ireland’s Ancient East” - including details about upcoming festivals, concerts and heritage events. Check out the list of top things to do in Youghal at https://youghal.ie/top-10-things-to-do/
ACTION ALERT
Don’t go greyhound racing. Please join us in urging the government to end the state funding that is keeping the dying greyhound “industry” afloat.
Since 2001, Greyhound Racing Ireland has been granted more than a QUARTER OF A BILLION EUROS, including €16.8 million for 2020, €19.2 million for 2021 and €17.6 million for 2022. This is unacceptable and must be stopped.
Please contact your local TDs and urge them to oppose this funding. Visit the Oireachtas website for contact details for TDs https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/tds/?term=/ie/oireachtas/house/dail/33
Urge the leaders of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, the Green Party, Sinn Fein and Labour to stop the funding and back a ban on cruel greyhound racing
Micheál Martin TD
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie; micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: 021-432 0088
Leinster House: 01–618 4350
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD
Leo Varadkar TD
Leader, Fine Gael
Telephone: 01-619 4020
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar
Eamon Ryan TD
Leader, Green Party
Tel: 01 618 3894
Email: eamon.ryan@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EamonRyanGP/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EamonRyan
Mary Lou McDonald TD
Leader, Sinn Fein
Tel: (01) 727 7102
Email: marylou.mcdonald@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryLouMcDonald
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryLouMcDonaldTD
Ivana Bacik TD
Leader, The Labour Party
Tel: (01) 6183136
Email: ivana.bacik@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ivanabacik
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bacikivana/
Please support our campaign with a donation
https://www.paypal.me/banbloodsports
Watch RTE’s award-winning “Greyhounds Running For Their Lives” documentary
https://youtu.be/ZYTb2qBjlMM