Countryside Alliance Ireland - love the countryside

The Republic of Ireland’s Environment Minister Mr John Gormley (The Green Party) is to press ahead with legislation banning stag-hunting with hounds despite mounting opposition from hunting groups across the country.

The Irish Cabinet has approved the heads of a Bill which will make deer-hunting with hounds an offence.   An amendment to the 1976 and 2000 Acts will include a provision prohibiting deer hunting with a hound or pack of hounds.  A spokesman for the Minister said “that the heads of the bill were currently being drafted and would be published early in the New Year”.

We believe that this ban on stag-hunting is the thin edge of the wedge and is a concerted effort by the Green Party to stamp out all rural Irish country sporting activities.  We cannot allow this to happen and following a mass meeting in Trim on Monday the 14th December 2009 all country sports organisations opposed to the ban indicated their full support towards overturning this unjust legislation. 

It has become increasingly clear that a united front is vital towards overturning or changing the legislation to allow the Ward Union to continue with their hunting activities and to further demonstrate that we will not allow this threat to our way of life by a minority party within the Irish Government.  

A unified voice and a professionally run campaign is vital to provide the strategy and energy that will be required to do the necessary work of lobbying and public relations. Countryside Alliance Ireland has pledged its full support to this campaign. 

First They Came...

They came first for the Ward Union, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a member of the Ward Union

Then they came for the Fox Hounds and the Beagle Packs, and I didn't speak up because I did not go hunting.

Then they came for the Anglers and Coursing Clubs, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't an Angler or took part in Coursing.

Then they came for the Game Shooters and Deer Stalkers, and I didn't speak up because I was a Beef Farmer.

Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up.