Sincere thanks to all who have lobbied the prestigious Radisson Blu Hotel group, objecting to its plans to host a gala function to promote the horrific practice of live hare coursing. Huge numbers of messages have been posted on Radisson Blue’s Facebook page, calling for the cancelation of the so-called “Irish Coursing Club Awards” due to be held at its hotel in Limerick City, Ireland. Already, references to the hotel’s name and location have quietly disappeared from coursing club websites. This may indicate a desire to avoid protests on the night of the function. If the event goes ahead on April 14th, hare coursers will be treated to a lavish banquet at the hotel and will then be presented with cheques and trophies celebrating their role in this barbaric blood sport. The hotel needs to be aware that this practice involves snatching timid hares from the countryside and using them as live bait. The animals are mauled and tossed about by the greyhounds, and the unfortunate dogs also routinely suffer fatal or painful injuries on the waterlogged or frost covered coursing venues. Hares deemed unfit for coursing in Ireland due to injury or illness are used for blooding…their back legs are tied and the animals are then dangled in front of greyhounds to tease and aggravate them, before being fed live to them in these so-called training sessions. Hopefully, Radisson Blu will heed opposition to hare coursing and cancel the awards event. Messages can be left on its main Facebook page or people can contact the nearest branch of this major international hotel group by phone, Facebook, or twitter. Here are two useful links. https://www.facebook.com/pg/radissonblu/posts/ https://www.facebook.com/radissonblu/