Hunters become the hunted

The Government’s decision not to allow the sports of hare coursing and point to point racing to take place under current Covid restrictions has been described as “an attack on rural Ireland”.

The comments came from County Councillor Joe Carroll (FF) following last week’s decision by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine not to include the popular rural sports on a list of elite and professional sports allowed to take place behind closed doors.

Cllr Carroll argued at this week’s council meeting that point to point racing and coursing are very safe and easily managed in terms of social distancing due to being outdoors and spread out.

“I can go into a supermarket anywhere in West Cork on a Saturday and stand next to 60 or 70 people at any given time. You'd never see more than ten people standing together at a coursing meeting,” he said.

Cllr Carroll added that the sports are a huge aspect of life in county Cork and urged his fellow council members to be “very strong” and not to accept the Government’s decision.

Cllr Frank O’Flynn (FF) was in agreement and said that events were very well organised and experienced “no problems with social distancing”.

Cllr O’Flynn continued: “There's nothing better for people in rural Ireland, out in the open, fresh air. Some of the point to point races are two and a half miles, it could be over ten or 15 fields.”

Responding to a letter from Cork County Council on the issue of coursing, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine said that the NPWS (National Parks and Wildlife Service) had advised the suspension of the sport on 21 October of last year, but that the suspension has since been lifted and that coursing activities have resumed.

However, a number of Cork county councillors said that this simply was not the case, with Cllr Michael Creed (FG) labelling the letter “outdated and wrong” and describing claims that coursing activity had resumed as “complete and utter rubbish”.

Councillors also suggested that Covid restrictions may have been used by those with an agenda against the sport of hare coursing to suspend activity in the country.

According to Cllr William O’Leary (FF), Covid has “suited some people well”, with Cllr O’Flynn adding that efforts to stop the sport have amounted to a “hunt at rural Ireland”.

The livelihoods of those involved in the sports, especially those who make their living from point to point horse racing, were also a major concern for councillors who called for further clarity from the Government.

In the Dáil last Thursday, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said he understood that the issue was one of great concern but that he was unaware of any plans to allocate financial packages for the industry.