A primary school in County Kerry has been told that exposing children to a gambling environment by fundraising at a greyhound track is highly inappropriate.
The Kerryman is reporting this week that Murhur National School in Moyvane "has announced that it will hold a special 'Night at the Dogs' event to raise funds to develop its facilities". The fundraiser is scheduled to take place in April at Tralee greyhound track, a venue where dogs suffer and die.
A promotional graphic, featuring a photograph of pupils standing next to a greyhound, has been published on the school's Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1427307859187877&set=a.579719427280062
The under-funded shool is aiming to raise money to cover the costs of "the creation of an additional special education room, a dedicated sensory room and a quiet space designed to foster calm, confidence and connection".
"These improvements will allow us to enhance the internal spaces of the school, creating a modern, functional, and welcoming learning environment that supports contemporary teaching and learning while nurturing pupils academically, emotionally and socially," Murhur school principal Finola Fogarty was quoted as saying.
In an email to Ms Fogarty, ICABS stated: “It is deeply disappointing that your school has chosen a greyhound track as a fundraising location - not only due to the suffering and death that occurs there but also because it is a gambling venue. The fundraiser will introduce attending children to a gambling environment where placing bets is normalised and presented as an exciting experience. While minors are not permitted to place bets, they will see prominent 'download our betting app' signs and be exposed to on-site tote betting at tables where they are seated. For many, this will be their first introduction to gambling."
"We are confident that if the children of Murhur National School were aware of the awful cruelty and killing that occurs in greyhound racing, they would not want to go anywhere near a greyhound track,” we added.
We told her that in the past 11 years alone, 4,040 greyhounds have suffered injuries at tracks around Ireland and 1,593 were killed.
“This includes 278 injuries at Tralee greyhound track and 116 deaths,” we added. “Witnessing dogs writhing in agony and crying out in pain would surely prove upsetting to those attending a fundraiser.”
It is deplorable that while schools are forced to fundraise for vital facilities, greyhound racing automatically gets millions of euros of taxpayers' money every year. Since 2001, Greyhound Racing Ireland has received €386,806,146 in grants, including €19 million for 2024, €19.82 million for 2025 and another €19.82 million for 2026. Greyhound Racing Ireland has repeatedly cited fundraising at tracks as a justification for the continued state grants. Join us in urging the government to stop funding unpopular greyhound racing and instead redirect the money to the schools, sports clubs, community groups and animal rescue centres crying out for support.
ACTION ALERT
Appeal to Murhur National School to say NO to greyhound racing and choose a different form of fundraising.
Finola Fogarty, Principal
Email: info@murhurns.com; nightatthedogs2026@murhurns.com (CC The Parents' Association Building Committee)
Urge the Minister for Education and Youth to intervene to advise schools about the inappropriateness of fundraising at greyhound tracks and exposing impressionable youngsters to a gambling environment.
Hildegarde Naughton
Minister for Education and Youth
Tel: (01) 618 3198
Email: hildegarde.naughton@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HildegardeNaughton
Don’t go greyhound racing or attend events at greyhound tracks.
Urge the leaders of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Sinn Fein to end the state funding that is keeping the dying greyhound “industry” afloat.
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
Stop supporting the cruel greyhound “industry”
https://www.change.org/p/stop-supporting-the-cruel-greyhound-industry
GAA: Stop club fundraisers at greyhound tracks
https://www.change.org/p/gaa-stop-club-fundraisers-at-greyhound-tracks
INJURIES AND DEATHS AT TRALEE TRACK
2025: 27 injuries, 11 deaths
2024: 42 injuries, 17 deaths (16 killed by track vet + 1 racing fatality)
2023: 13 injuries, 5 deaths
2022: 15 injuries, 6 deaths (4 killed by track vet + 2 fatalities)
2021: 23 injuries, 13 deaths
2020: 29 injuries, 07 deaths
2019: 37 injuries, 12 deaths
2018: 29 injuries, 10 deaths
2017: 24 injuries, 15 deaths
2016: 28 injuries, 16 deaths
2015: 11 injuries, 04 deaths