Protest at greyhound track during school fundraiser

A PROTEST took place last Friday night outside the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium in Tralee led by a Killorglin parent who objected to her child’s school hosting a fundraiser at the track.

Phillipa Christie, whose daughter attends St Oliver’s National School in Killarney, organised the protest to voice her concerns over what she referred to as a “gambling” fundraiser.

Welfare concerns were also raised by protestors. Ms Christie claims that the greyhound industry is cruel and is not an appropriate form of fundraising for a local school.

She raised her concerns with Principal Rory Darcy ahead of the event but a decision was taken not to cancel the event so close to day. Mr Darcy did say he would take Ms Christie’s considerations into place in the future.

Ms Christie was joined by a number of other concerned people at the greyhound track on Friday night when the Killarney school hosted the fundraiser. Many of the protesters held banners criticising the greyhound industry.

The Irish Greyhound Board (IGB) defended the sport this week and in a statement to The Kerryman said that many schools and organisations benefit from hosting fundraisers at the Kingdom Greyhound Track and in greyhound stadiums across the country each year.

However, the board said that it respected the right to protest. In the statement the board said that its priority is the welfare and regulation of the industry.

“The IGB is doing, and will continue to do, all it can in terms of maintaining regulation and welfare is a key priority for the Irish greyhound industry.

“€2 million was spent by the IGB across regulation and welfare in 2017. With the allocation of an additional €800,000 for 2019, we anticipate even further resources to be spent on further enhancing greyhound welfare next year. All reports of poor welfare are investigated and the IGB does not tolerate mistreatment of greyhounds in any shape or form,” the board continued.