Protests in Co Tipperary calling for ban on hare coursing

Today hundreds of people took part in an event organized by Action for Animal Welfare Ireland, the purpose of which was to highlight the unending nightmare of animal cruelty, not just in the Clonmel district and the county but nationwide.

The march began in Irishtown and protesters converged on the County Council Office in Clonmel to mount their peaceful demonstration, numerous car drivers beeping support along the route.

The protesters demanded immediate coordinated action to address grievous animal welfare issues in Tipperary and elsewhere in Ireland. A key demand was for a horse warden to serve Tipperary.

Horses turn up dead or emaciated at sites nationwide, casually dumped by heartless owners, and other equines are abused in so-called Sulky Racing, a crude imitation of ancient chariot races depicted in Hollywood epics such as Ben Hur and Gladiator.

Greyhounds too come to a grim end once their racing or coursing days are over. Shallow graves have been unearthed all over Ireland, the remains of these wonderful, affectionate animals speaking volumes about the need to enforce existing animal welfare legislation and enact new laws where necessary to tackle cruel recreations.

Protesters outside the County Council Office in Conmel also had concerns about illegal dog fighting and badger baiting and stressed the importance of sharing information about these practices with Gardai.

Eye-catching placards calling for a ban on live hare coursing were displayed. 

A spokesperson for Animal Welfare Ireland said: "The Irish Coursing Club may have its HQ in Clonmel, and Powerstown Park racecourse may serve as an annual venue for hare coursing, but the people of the town and district largely reject the use of hares as live bait in this cruel game."