Bord Failte promotes foxhunting in Ireland 10th April, 2003 The Irish Council Against Blood Sports (ICABS) was appalled to discover that Bord Failte, Ireland's national tourist board, is promoting foxhunting through its equestrian holidays website. We find the Bord’s stance on this cruelty issue shameful. We are deeply concerned that the national tourism agency, on behalf of the Irish people - the majority of whom oppose bloodsports - is actively promoting Ireland as a cruelty destination worldwide. Fox hunting with hounds has been banned in Scotland and a bill to outlaw hunting with hounds is proceeding through the British Parliament. We can only speculate that Bord Failte view Ireland as a destination for dis-affected hunters from across the water and are set to capitalise on this, with no concern for the awful cruelty inflicted on Irish wildlife. In correspondence received from Bord Failte, they are continuing to defend the inclusion of foxhunting on their website, pointing out that it is a legal activity. Not an acceptable response, considering the extreme animal cruelty involved! Action Item Please contact Bord Failte and demand that they stop promoting the blood sport of foxhunting. Ask them to immediately remove all references to foxhunting from their websites. SAMPLE LETTER (if you have time, please try to modify this letter or write a different one) to address an email to Bord Failte's CEO and Marketing Officers: Dear Bord Failte I was extremely disappointed to learn that Ireland's national tourism body is promoting the blood sport of foxhunting on its website at www.equestrian.ireland.ie Foxhunting, as you are aware, involves horrific cruelty to foxes - the animals are chased to exhaustion and ripped apart by packs of trained hounds. This inhumane activity was banned in Scotland last year while in Ireland, a majority of citizens wish to see it banned. It is unacceptable that Bord Failte is continuing to promote foxhunting. I appeal to you to immediately remove all references to this blood sport from your websites. I look forward to your positive response. Yours sincerely, Name / Country "Equestrian tourism is one of the sectors which Bord Failte supports and markets. Companies in this area market a number of products one of which is foxhunting. As long as the activity remains legal in Ireland, I regret that we are not in a position to censor the information provided by the equestrian tourism industry." (Bord Failte Chief Executive, Niall Reddy, March 2003.) Notes NOTE 1: The references to foxhunting can be seen by visiting www.equestrian.ireland.ie and clicking on the "Activity Specialists" button on the left hand side of the page. This presents a list of equestrian centres, each of which have been given a page by Bord Failte to list their details. Foxhunting is mentioned several times on these pages. Connemara Coast Trails And Aille Cross Trails: "Aille Cross cross-country trail / Fox hunting (October - April) provides cross-country jumping and trail riding at a pace that can be varied to suit riders of different abilities and the opportunity to hunt with the famous Galway Blazers." Mullingar Equestrian Centre: We specialise in showjumping...cross country and foxhunting. Clonshire Equestrian Centre: Clonshire is a superb centre for fine equestration at the heart of our great Limerick hunt country. Ashford Riding Centre: Fox hunting can be arranged. Eden Hill Riding Farm: Other facilities include...hunting. NOTE 2: Below are the email addresses listed in the sample letter alongside their respective owners RWatson@bordfailte.ie - Rhonwen Watson (Senior Product Marketing Officer) nreddy@bordfailte.ie - Mr Niall Reddy (CEO) mmckeown@bordfailte.ie - Marie McKeown (Product Marketing Officer) mcosgrave@bordfailte.ie - Mary Cosgrave (Senior Publicity Officer) dobrien@bordfailte.ie - Damian O’Brien (Publicity Officer) Bord Failte's Hunting Statement Issued 27 February 2003 Equestrian tourism is one of the sectors which Bord Failte supports and markets. Companies in this area market a number of products one of which is foxhunting. It is Bord Failte policy to stock a range of literature from equestrian companies in Ireland and to use these to service enquiries. With the advent of the internet this information has become part of a range of products which appear on our websites. We continue to avoid actively seeking publicity for the foxhunting product. i.e no invitations to foreign media to cover the activity and we have made no attempt to capitalise on the proposed ban on foxhunting in Britain. As long as the activity remains legal in Ireland, I regret that we are not in a position to censor the information provided by the equestrian tourism industry. News Menu | Join | Top | Home