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The Minister for Agriculture has apparently approved a major cash injection into a privately-operated greyhound track with paltry attendance levels.

Minister Charlie McConalogue previously confirmed that Greyhound Racing Ireland “made an application to my Department for approval of a grant of €1 million towards the redevelopment of Kilkenny Greyhound Stadium” and in February 2024 he repeated that the application “is currently being considered by officials from my Department”.

According to a Kilkenny Live report this week: “Cathaoirleach of the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee, Jackie Cahill TD has confirmed that Kilkenny Greyhound Stadium is to receive funding from the Department of Agriculture. Deputy Cahill has told Kilkenny Live he received confirmation from the Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue, that his department officials will engage with the board of the stadium to secure funding for the development of facilities at the track.”  https://www.ireland-live.ie/news/kilkenny-live/1459267/kilkenny-sports-facility-to-receive-major-funding-boost.html

Pro-bloodsports TD  Cahill was quoted as saying: “I have been working closely with Deputy John McGuinness and Minister Charlie McConalogue over the last number of months to secure funding for Kilkenny Dog Track. I'm happy to confirm that Minister McConalogue has informed me that his officials in the Department of Agriculture will be working closely with the Board of Kilkenny Dog Track over the coming weeks to progress the funding that the track needs to commence the development of the track.”

Jackie Cahill laughably described Kilkenny track as “an extremely successful track”.

In reality, locals have largely rejected the venue, with very low attendances recorded.

Last year, for example, there were 102 meetings and a total claimed attendance of 15,922. That's an average attendance per race meeting of just 156. In the first month of 2024, the average race attendance was a mere 102.

The rock bottom interest in greyhound racing is more than clear when it is noted that there is a population of 85,500 within 20km of Kilkenny track and a population of 473,100 within 50km.

In reply to a recent Dail Question from Paul Murphy TD, Greyhound Racing Ireland refused to provide a breakdown of the 2023 attendance figures, maintaining that for the private tracks, it could “only report the attendance totals”. This despite previously providing breakdowns.

It is known that much of the so-called attendance at Kilkenny track is made up of greyhound owners, greyhound trainers and bookies and NOT paying members of the public. Greyhound Racing Ireland stats show that in 2022, the claimed attendance figure for Kilkenny track had been inflated by 6,907 entries by greyhound owners/trainers and bookmakers (44% of the total). In 2023 (up to 10th October), owners/trainers and bookmakers accounted for 41% of the recorded “attendance”.

The wholly misleading attendance numbers have been presented by GRI to convey a level of public support for greyhound racing which does not exist.

In a renewed appeal to Minister McConalogue at the beginning of March, we implored him to reject the application for funding. 

“There is absolutely no justification for squandering one million euros, or a single euro, on a venue where attendance has plummetted, at a time when the greyhound racing 'industry' is dying,” we stated. “The low attendance at this track leaves no doubt that the public has largely rejected greyhound racing. It would be the greatest insult to the many deserving sports/community/health/environmental groups in Kilkenny, and indeed in your own constituency, crying out for support, if funding was approved for this unpopular venue.”

We reminded the Minister about all the greyhounds who suffer and die at Kilkenny track. 125 greyhounds suffered injuries there and 47 died or were killed by a track vet over the past nine years alone, sickening Greyhound Racing Ireland statistics show. This includes 15 injuries and 7 deaths in 2023. 

Kilkenny track already receives massive annual grants from taxpayer-funded Greyhound Racing Ireland. In 2022, it was given €64,375 which included an “operating grant” of €40,000 and money to cover vet fees of €20,375.

Since 2001, Greyhound Racing Ireland has received over €347 million of public funds. A RED C opinion poll has shown that a two-thirds majority want the government to stop all the funding that is propping up greyhound racing, with just 16 per cent wanting the funding to continue.

SEE ALSO:

Minister urged to say NO to €1 million grant to Kilkenny greyhound track
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2022/08/15/minister-urged-to-say-no-to-e1-million-grant-to-kilkenny-greyhound-track/

Greyhound Racing Ireland grants quarter of a million to private greyhound tracks
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2023/10/17/greyhound-racing-ireland-grants-quarter-of-a-million-to-private-greyhound-tracks/

Greyhound injuries and deaths at Irish greyhound tracks
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2019/03/27/greyhound-injuries-and-deaths-at-irish-greyhound-tracks/

URGENT ACTION ALERT

Contact Minister Charlie McConalogue today and tell him to say NO to a million euro grant to Kilkenny greyhound track and end the government’s funding of greyhound racing.

Charlie McConalogue
Minister for Agriculture
Tel: 01 618 3199 or 01 607 2000
Email: minister@agriculture.gov.ie; charlie.mcconalogue@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CharlieMcConalogue
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@McConalogue

Don’t go greyhound racing or attend events at greyhound tracks.

Urge the leaders of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, the Green Party, Sinn Fein and Labour to stop the funding and back a ban on greyhound racing.

Simon Harris TD
Leader, Fine Gael
Telephone: +353 (0)1 618 3805 or +353 (0)1 889 2442 
Email: simon.harris@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
X: http://www.twitter.com/SimonHarrisTD
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DeputySimonHarris

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/
X: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD

Eamon Ryan TD
Leader, Green Party
Tel: 01 618 3894
Email: eamon.ryan@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EamonRyanGP/
X: https://twitter.com/EamonRyan

Mary Lou McDonald TD
Leader, Sinn Fein
Tel: (01) 727 7102
Email: marylou.mcdonald@oireachtas.ie
X: https://twitter.com/MaryLouMcDonald
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryLouMcDonaldTD

Please sign and share the petitions

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

Watch RTE’s award-winning “Greyhounds Running For Their Lives” documentary
https://youtu.be/ZYTb2qBjlMM