Clann na nGael GAA club in County Cork is being urged to say NO to greyhound track fundraising. The club is planning a “Night at the Dogs” fundraiser at Curraheen Park stadium this month, despite all the revelations about cruelty and killing in greyhound racing and the ongoing deaths of dogs at the Cork track.
In an appeal to the club to choose fundraising methods which do not involve the exploitation of dogs, we highlighted the suffering and death inherent in greyhound racing, including the annual culling of thousands of greyhounds who aren’t fast enough to win races.
We also told them that at tracks around Ireland in the past eight years, at least 2,881 greyhounds suffered injuries and 983 died or were killed. Among the victims were a greyhound who collapsed after a race and died of a heart attack, a greyhound who was carried away bleeding with a leg bone “popped out”, a greyhound who collapsed and died with a “haemorrhage into the abdomen from a rupture of the aorta”, a greyhound who “collided with a boundary wall and died on impact”, a greyhound with a severed spine and greyhounds who suffered broken necks and died.
At Curraheen Park track since 2015, 182 greyhounds suffered injuries and 72 died or were killed.
“We hope that your club will show compassion for the animals who suffer and die in this inherently cruel gambling activity and join the many companies, clubs and charities which have rejected greyhound racing,” we stated.
ACTION ALERT
Please join us in contacting the club.
Email: Pro.clannnangael.cork@gaa.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ScorchersGAA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1020594234656913
Never attend fundraisers at greyhound tracks. If you wish to support the club, donate directly and call for a different fundraising venue.
Since 2001, Greyhound Racing Ireland has received €309 million in funding, including €19.2 million for 2021 and €17.6 million for 2022. Another €18.2 million has been allocated for 2023. This is unacceptable and must be stopped.
Join us in urging the government to stop squandering millions of euros of scarce public funds on greyhound racing and instead redirect the money to sports clubs, schools, animal rescue centres and environmental groups crying out for support.
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: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: 021-432 0088
Leinster House: 01–618 3000
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
Tweet to: 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 sign and share the petition
GAA: Stop club fundraisers at greyhound tracks
https://www.change.org/p/gaa-stop-club-fundraisers-at-greyhound-tracks
Watch RTE’s award-winning “Greyhounds Running For Their Lives” documentary
https://youtu.be/ZYTb2qBjlMM
Irish Government grants to greyhound racing
2001 €11,777,583
2002 €13,613,163
2003 €12,837,200
2004 €13,382,800
2005 €13,670,000
2006 €14,012,000
2007 €14,572,000
2008 €15,257,000
2009 €13,625,600
2010 €11,852,800
2011 €11,460,000
2012 €11,258,000
2013 €11,004,000
2014 €10,844,000
2015 €13,600,000
2016 €14,800,000
2017 €16,000,000
2018 €16,000,000
2019 €16,800,000
2020 €16,800,000
2021 €19,200,000
2022 €17,600,000
2023 €18,200,000 (allocated in Budget 2023)