“It’s time to take a chainsaw to greyhound racing - an industry that makes life a hell on earth for Man’s Best Friend” - Read John Fitzgerald’s letter in this week’s Dublin People newspaper and please scroll down for action alert...
Greyhound industry is a wasteful economic entity...
Letters, Dublin People: 21st March 2025
If Ireland were ever to set up the equivalent of America’s DOGE - a Department of Government Efficiency - the State subsidizing of our cruel and decrepit greyhound industry could be among the first wasteful economic entities to be phased out or discarded.
Last year, there was a jaw-dropping 24,742 drop in attendance at greyhound racing nationwide, with tracks almost empty for most events. Thousands of greyhounds are culled or “go missing” each year…the ones deemed unsuitable for racing or that have either underperformed or come to the end of their benighted sporting “careers”.
Not exactly a thriving or economically sustainable industry. Yet our politicians, for whatever reason, have a soft spot for it. Since 2001, more than €367 million of State funding has propped up greyhound racing, including the allocation of a whopping €20 million for 2025.
Other sports can only dream of such lavish financial backing. The GAA, the FAI, Sport Ireland and Swim Ireland receive between them about €30 million per annum.
Without State hand-outs, greyhound racing would start to melt away like snow in the morning sun, and soon be at more risk of extinction in Ireland than the hapless Corncrake or Curlew…the difference being that most Irish people would warmly welcome its demise, apart altogether from the joy and relief that would bring to thousands of dogs. Greyhounds are currently classified as agricultural “commodities” instead of domestic animals to enable their use in this gambling-powered industry.
Even in the midst of Austerity following the banking collapse, funds continued to flow to the tracks…while thousands of families struggled to put a meal on the table and even the most essential public services were cut to the bone.
It’s time to take that metaphorical chainsaw to an industry that makes life a hell on earth for Man’s Best Friend!
John Fitzgerald,
Callan, Co. Kilkenny
ACTION ALERT
Don’t go greyhound racing. Please join us in urging the government to STOP the massive grants that are propping up this dog-killing gambling activity. Since 2001, Greyhound Racing Ireland has received €366,986,146 in funding, including €18.2 million for 2023, €19 million for 2024 and €19.82 million for 2025. This is unacceptable and must be stopped.
Micheál Martin TD
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Tel: 01 619 4000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
X: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD
Simon Harris TD
Leader, Fine Gael
Telephone: 01 281 3727
Email: simon.harris@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
X: http://www.twitter.com/SimonHarrisTD
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DeputySimonHarris
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
Ban Greyhound Racing
https://my.uplift.ie/petitions/ban-greyhound-racing-4
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