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Hotel asked to disassociate from coursing
22 April 2008

The manager of the Clonmel Park Hotel in County Tipperary has been asked by ICABS to disassociate from a cruel blood sport. In an advert placed in the events booklet for this year's coursing finals, the hotel extended a "welcome to all visitors to the national coursing meeting".

The advert also highlighted that the hotel is "just 5 minutes drive from the coursing grounds" and that a coursing video was to be shown nightly at the hotel.

Asking manager, Michael Boyle, to give a commitment that the hotel would disassociate from coursing and ensure that no further ads are placed in coursing publications, ICABS stressed that "a majority of Irish people (and many millions around the world) are opposed to this horrendous blood sport".

Please join us in our appeal to the Clonmel Park Hotel by taking part in our action alert below.

Clonmel Park Hotel advert displaying a welcome message to visitors to the coursing meeting
The Clonmel Park Hotel advert which appeared in the programme for the 2008 coursing finals in Clonmel. ICABS has asked the hotel to disassociate from the blood sport.

extract from advert
An extract from the Clonmel Park Hotel's advert in the coursing booklet.

ACTION ALERT

Appeal to the Clonmel Park Hotel to give a commitment that no further adverts will be placed in coursing publications and that coursing videos will not be shown at the hotel again.

Sample Letter
(Please compose your own personal letter if possible. If you do not have time to do this, please send the short sample letter below. Be assertive, but polite, in all correspondence. Thank you.)

Michael Boyle
General Manager
Clonmel Park Hotel
The Poppyfields
Clonmel, Co. Tipperary

Email: michaelboyle@clonmelparkhotel.com
Tel: 052-88700

Dear Mr Boyle,

I am contacting you to register my great disappointment at your hotel's association with the Clonmel coursing finals 2008. It is incredible that a modern hotel like the Clonmel Park would wish to associate with a cruel blood sport that a majority of Irish people wish to see being made illegal.

As you may be aware, hares are snatched from their habitats, kept in captivity for months and forced to run for their lives in front of greyhounds. They suffer fear, stress and injuries such as broken bones. Hares continue to die painful deaths in this horrendous activity.

Please show compassion for Ireland's persecuted hare species by announcing that the Clonmel Park Hotel will never again advertise in coursing publications or allow coursing videos to be shown at your venue.

Thank you. I look forward to receiving your reply.

Yours sincerely,

[Name/Location]

ACTION ALERT

Please contact Environment Minister, John Gormley, and appeal to him to give a commitment that this will be the last ever hare coursing season in Ireland.

Sample Letter
(Please compose your own personal letter if possible. If you do not have time to do this, please send the short sample letter below. Be assertive, but polite, in all correspondence. Thank you.)

Minister John Gormley
Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
Custom House, Dublin 1.

Email: minister@environ.ie
Tel: 01 888 2403.
Fax: 01 878 8640.

Dear Minister Gormley,

I am writing to implore you to firmly reject future licence applications from the Irish Coursing Club. Hare coursing is Ireland's most appalling animal abuse with thousands of hares being ripped from their natural habitat and forced to run for their lives before muzzled dogs. When hit, the injuries are often so severe that the terrified hare has to be destroyed - but only after suffering from stress and severe internal injuries or broken bones.

In its pre-election manifesto, the Green Party pledged to ban blood sports when in government. I am among the confident majority who trust that you will take this historic opportunity, Minister, to spare the hares the suffering caused by coursing and refuse further licences to these heartless destroyers of our wildlife heritage.

Thank you and best wishes.

Yours sincerely,

Name/Location

ACTION ALERT

Please contact your local TD and Senator and ask them to make an appeal to Minister Gormley on your behalf.

For the names of your TDs, please click on your county on the Irish Government website

Contact your TD at:
Dail Eireann, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Tel: 01-618 3000 or 1890 337889 (1890 DEPUTY).

For a list of Senators, please visit the Irish Government website

Contact your Senator at:
Seanad Eireann, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Tel: 01-618 3000 or 1890 732 623 (1890 SEANAD).

Video: Coursing cruelty

Photos: Coursing cruelty

Coursing cruelty
A terrified hare is knocked off its feet by a muzzled greyhound during the 2008 coursing finals at Clonmel. The fate of this hare is unknown but records show that hares hit by dogs can suffer broken bones and other internal injuries.

Coursing cruelty
A hare runs for dear life during the 2008 Boylesports coursing derby in Clonmel.

Hare Coursing Gallery - Image 4
Another victim in coursing. This hare is seen being violently mauled into the ground by a greyhound. Its internal injuries are likely to be severe.

Hare Coursing Gallery - Image 1
A hare is mauled into the ground by a muzzled greyhound during a coursing meeting. This is one of the thousands of hares cruelly captured in the Irish countryside every year for use in the blood sport.

More information about blood sports

Coursing: Leaflet | Photos | Videos | Petition
Foxhunting: Leaflet | Photos | Videos | Petition
Carted deer hunting: Leaflet | Photos | Videos | Petition

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