Should fox hunting be allowed in Ireland
Dear Sir, Looking at the photo of the carnival in Gowran, the people in fancy dress performing on horseback in the street in the November 14 edition of the paper, we could be excused for thinking it was the 'Yeo Dragoons' heading for Vinegar Hill again.
They, the hunt, were on the road all day. If they had asked permission I am sure they would have been allowed to hunt on the race course. But maybe the race course committee did not want them, or their damage, no more than us farmers. Do the fox hunt people ever read the local papers? If they did they would see all the no hunting - lands preserved notices. These constitute 80% of landowners in the endangered areas. 56 farmers from Ballymack to Kilmaganny, 25 over Thomastown, the Bramblestown area, farmers in Kells, Mooncoin, North Kilkenny, Tullaroan, where men have been very badly treated, we have a video of hunt actions now available to RT.
Also the hundreds of farmers who as groups or individuals, stud farms and landowners who do not want their livelihood vandalised and state so in the Kilkenny People at their own expense. Contrary to the fox hunt peoples' statement, they do not ask permission and even when we erect "No Fox Hunting" signs, the hunt people tear them down or alter them to read "Fox Hunting Here". The Gardai have been notified of this vandalism.
We farmers appeal even now to the hunt, to re-erect those signs with the original notice. Why do we farmers suffer the expense of giving the message that we do not want our barbed and electric fence wire cut, our fences destroyed, our crops and grass land poached , our livestock scattered and injured and at times killed. All contrary to EU reps and TB eradication and road safety requirements. Thus putting farm income payments at risk.
We "Farmers Against Fox Hunting and Trespass" are appealing to government to ban fox hunting in the interest of good and healthy farming and in the country's interest, as in the UK, spare us farmers this vandalism. Then the hunt people could operate drag hunts (a pre-laid scent) confined to their own land area sparing us commercial farmers all this arrogance, abuse and damage.
Yo Charlie, I will say the photo will still be as good with drag hunting.
But you might get a cheer in the meadows, remember do not follow the fox into farm land without permission, you will be putting your dogs at risk of a reaction. Drag hunting only, will make happy farmers, but we croppies will not lie down.
Yours etc.,
Philip P Lynch
Chairman F.A.F.T.
Gleann an Ri
Mallardstown,
Callan,
Co. Kilkenny
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Thursday 17 May 2012
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