Ward Union Hunt Causes havoc in Co Meath

by Maire Ni Treaffan Mon Mar 29, 2010 22:01

Hi I would just like to say when I heard a man in the Union hunt say, he was exposed to fox hunting and stag hunting from the age of four, I became very afraid of the sort of people that we have out there in society. I am sure that been exposed to this sort of cruelty and evil would damage any child's mental health at such an age and in my opinion it would do long term physiological damage to the brain. A child exposed to this would never be able to show love and kindness to any animal and I would be very worried how the affect of learning to kill at such a young age would have on the value he would place on any life. To learn to kill with such cruelty is dangerous not just for the poor suffering creature but for humans also. The moral of my story is that these people's parents have a lot to answer for, rearing their child in such a manner. Death in itself is a harrowing experience for all I am sure but to have their life taken away from them in such an undignified and cruel manner, why o why would anyone want to take away any poor creatures life in such a cruel manner, creating unbearable and unnecessary pain in their hour of death. Would any of these criminals like someone to come to "their time to leave this world" and jeer at them as they depart. This is an inhumane act and Please God come to the rescue of these poor defenseless creatures because humans are not doing enough to stop this and we need Divine intervention.

by Ciara Tue Sep 04, 2007 16:10 ciarams1 at hotmail dot com

"The only reason that the deer went into the school yard was because it was empty the deer would not run into a crowd of people!!!...The deer did not die it was fine the next day!!! "

The day after this incident I was off work and listening to the radio (think it was Joe Duffy). I heard a lady whose child is a pupil of the above school complain about the activities of those involved in chasing the deer. She claimed that these people pursued the deer into the school yard without any regard for the children. She claimed that the deer was covered in sweat, foaming at the mouth and was bleeding. It was also claimed that there was a danger to the children from these people and that the children were terrified by what they had witnessed. In fact one of the childrens' fathers tried to defend the deer from those pursuing it, she described these people as out of control and mad. This lady's main concern was her child's welfare, she was not on the radio with an animal rights agenda. I simply do not believe that the deer was "fine" or that any of you so called "hunters" would be in a position to ascertain the deers' well being the following day.

If chasing and torturing animals is how people such as yourself find amusement, you are not well and I am very glad that you have revealed your true colours in public.

by independant Tue Sep 04, 2007 12:05

Yes, A hunt is an amazing spectacle. And in my youth I often followed them (Fox Hunting) However that was before I came of age and realised that to kill, maim or cause undue distress to animal is no better than causing undue distress to a child. You can buy venison in any good butcher shop, and its not like any of these people are going to starve anytime soon. Why do we not send children up chimneys any more? Because we dont have to! Although mabye these people think it might be fun to watch. Historic precidence is not a great reason for suffering. If your domestic dog gets sick you get a vet. Why? To relive suffering. But some of the same people who would take their dog to a vet will subject another species to unbeliveable cruelty in the name of historic precidence and sport. I grew up with it around me. We wernt included as we were the wrong class of person. We were only allowed to watch. Something Im very happy about now. I wouldnt want my son to be that lacking in morality.

by Young Lass - WARD UNION HUNT Tue Feb 20, 2007 15:42

Ok, So heres the story....... The only reason that the deer went into the school yard was because it was empty the deer would not run into a crowd of people!!! The traffic situation was not our fault if people didnt panic then everything would have been grand and dandy! The deer did not die it was fine the next day!!! Nobody was hurt at the end of it all so get over it and remember there is no point in crying over spilt milk!!!!!

by Tara - d.c.c Tue Feb 13, 2007 14:24

some people may support hunting and some people may not. but opinions must be respected. its just like any culture and it is imoral not to show respect

by Animal lover Wed Feb 07, 2007 19:03

EXTRACT FROM
Campaign for the Abolition of Cruel Sports (CACS)
Lower Coyne Street,
Callan,
Co. Kilkenny.
Phone: (056) 7725543

Press Release:

On Tuesday 23rd January a stag was released at Capranny, Trim and hunted until it collapsed exhausted into a ditch. It was then set upon by supporters and in a stupid and vain attempt to make it run again was very severely beaten with sticks.

A second stag was then released which was hunted towards Kildalkey village and into the school playground, at a time when the children were about to leave the school and when a number of parents had assembled to collect them. The stag was clearly exhausted but nonetheless was then hunted along the public road towards Trim. People who protested at the totally inhumane treatment of the stag were verbally abused. The stag was finally pursued by men in a jeep until it collapsed.

These events were well aired and documented by callers to the Joe Duffy Radio Show the following day some of whom asserted that the stag had collapsed and died.

The following day a vet acting for the Ward Union said on radio that he had inspected the stag and apart from being tired he was in good health.

It is significant that the vet did not report on an examination of the second stag, which gives credibility to the claims of callers that it died.

by Catlady Wed Feb 07, 2007 12:12

Well, it would seem the local farmers don't share the point of view expressed by John as they have banned all hunting on their lands:

http://www.unison.ie/meath_chronicle/stories.php3?ca=34...15186

Meath Chronicle 3 Feb 2007

Kildalkey farmers ban hunting over lands after school chaos

And even Oliver Russell has admitted they put children at risk:

Meanwhile, Ward Union Hunt chairman Oliver Russell has apologised
for the incident, which he admitted had caused "anxiety and stress to
staff and potential risk to the children".

by Catlady Tue Feb 06, 2007 12:34

Yeah yeah yeah, townies don't have a clue, hunters are all lovely people who respect others and nature, its a great day out etc etc etc. Funnily enough I know a Dub who hates Joe Duffy as he thinks he is a culchie! A question of opinion I suppose...

"Nowadays, hunting is seen as something terrifying and the callers to the programme all had this viewpoint."

Its called progress!!! Societie's attitudes change and evolve all the time - otherwise we'd still be living in fear of the Parish Priest and eternel damnation for setting foot in a Protestant church, most Irish women would be holed up in magdalene laundries, and we'd still support hunting with hounds. The fact is, most people don't wnat to see animals chased around purely for the entertainment of an elite few, particularly if there is any chance of an accident with their kids.

Incidentally, there was nothing stopping other hunters calling in to Duffy... He even asked that someone who had seen what happened come on air. they way i saw it when I listened, Joe was understandably unconvinced by the spiel given by this guy, who for some reason had seen nothing of what happened. If the hunt wanted to defend themselves, it would have made more sense to bring someone who had witnessed the incident, as the irate mothers and farmer had done. It's hardly Duffy's fault that the guy had seen nothing, so couldn't address any of the points raised in a convincing manner!

by John Tue Feb 06, 2007 11:19

Tuesday February 6th 2007 - Irish Independent

DO you ever listen to the Joe Duffy liveline on RTE radio? It's on every afternoon during the week and people phone in from all over Ireland to talk and mostly complain about issues that affect them. Joe is a Dubliner and I always feel that the programme has a very urban bias in the way some issues are handled and this was never more obvious than in the recent Ward Union hunt and Kildalkey School controversy in Co Meath.

The phone lines were hopping and as usual Joe fielded the calls brilliantly, stirring up the controversy as mothers phoned in to say that their children were terrified, that the "dogs" were dangerous, the deer the hunt was endeavouring to recapture was supposedly close to death and covered in blood, the horses were said to be also covered in blood and falling on the road, on and on it went and the more I listened the more I realised how huge the urban/rural divide has become. Why on earth should schoolchildren or their parents be afraid of horses or hounds?

Why should they be afraid of an adult or child on horseback? Not so long ago everyone in rural areas was familiar with horses, cattle and other animals and everyone knew that hounds were not dangerous to people. Children would sometimes find a stray hound and keep it for collection and receive a reward from the huntsman. Yet the callers to the Joe Duffy show portrayed the hounds as creatures from hell. Many children are now fed solely with food from supermarket shelves and the local takeaway. They don't know where an egg comes from and think meat is something that appears, shrink-wrapped in plastic and ready to cook. They fail to make the link between a rasher and a live pig and milk comes in cartons so the rearing of calves and milking cows are things totally foreign to them, as is the ancient sport of hunting.

Thirty or 40 years ago, if the hunt passed near a school, the children would be given time off to run out and enjoy the spectacle.

Like so many towns in Meath and Kildare, Kildalkey is now almost a suburb of Dublin and the accents of many of the callers to RTE confirmed this. Huge numbers of people have moved from Dublin and now live in towns within commuting distance of the city and send their children to the local schools. This can bring great benefits to previously small communities but these people, new to the countryside, have often never seen a hunt and frequently have no understanding of rural sports or the way in which those who farmed and worked in rural areas have for centuries taken part in and enjoyed pastimes like hunting, shooting or fishing as part of normal recreation.

Nowadays, hunting is seen as something terrifying and the callers to the programme all had this viewpoint.

One unfortunate man had the task of acting as spokesman for the hunt but his was a lone voice as the controversy raged around him. He got little help from Joe who even commented: "Do these people not have jobs to go to?"

Of course they have jobs. We all have to work for our living but would Joe have made the same comment about the crowds that flock to a major soccer match in the middle of the week? Somehow I doubt it.

I remember my father telling me of once travelling to a fair by bus and how the bus suddenly stopped on a country road and everyone got out to watch the hunt as it passed by. This was before television and other forms of entertainment were available and to see the hunt in full flow was a moment of excitement and pleasure. Stopping the earths and ensuring that the horses had a clear run across the countryside was a further paid job and brought in some much needed spare cash to many a herdsman on the numerous cattle farms around Ireland.

The hunt was and is fun and entertainment and created a huge and valuable rural industry around it. But try explaining that to Joe Duffy and his urban listeners.

Huge numbers of farmers ride to hounds or follow the hunt and I enjoyed the sport myself for many years. Not only was it a wonderful day out but it also gave an opportunity to school young horses and show off the merits of a horse for sale.

The hunt always provided a valuable service in collecting any dead animals from farms and the annual point to point was and is a great social event where the hunt would be able to thank the farmers whose land they crossed with admission tickets and refreshments.

Man has hunted with hounds since the earliest times and the skill of a good huntsman is a joy to behold. Modern political correctness and pure ignorance of the skills and merits of country sports has led to objections and abuse from people who know little or nothing about hunting or country life.

The hunts themselves are not totally blameless. There used to be an unwritten rule that you looked after your animals first and yourself second. This meant that immediately after the hunt you brought your horse home and made sure he was comfortable and his needs taken care of before your own needs for a hot bath or whatever were dealt with.

The same applies to shooting where the care and welfare of your dogs is the first priority, once they are dried down and fed and checked for thorns or scratches, only then can you relax yourself. Sadly nowadays one sometimes sees horses left standing in trailers for hours after a hunt while the owners enjoy a warm fire and refreshment.

Masters of hounds should stamp out this practice as it demeans the hunt and only shows the ignorance of these few owners who are so careless towards the needs of their horses. The many people who so enthusiastically follow the hunt should also be aware of the needs of other road users.

A little thought would do a lot for the image and popularity of the hunt. It's a super sport, one that Irish farmers have enjoyed for centuries and with proper care and attention will, I hope, continue for centuries to come.

I have known people who were almost violently anti-hunt but then bought ponies for their children and in time became enthusiastic followers as they watched and partook of the fun and excitement. Perhaps the callers to the Joe Duffy programme should start by joining a foot pack and spend a day hunting with beagles. A day spent taking exercise out in the countryside might change their attitudes and allow them to see how exciting and enjoyable hunting really is.

by Catlady Thu Feb 01, 2007 12:09

So John, you love animals... Funny bloody way of showing it, letting brutes terrorise them across your property...

If that is the meaning of love then I absolutely adore hunters!

They can let themselves be chased to the ground, terrorized, and ripped to bits in by ample back garden any time. I'll even provide the dogs, and make sure there are no sabs around to interfere. A great days entertainment, to brighten up a dreary day in the country...

by John Wed Jan 31, 2007 16:09

I was reared on a farm and love animals. The Ward Union Hunt were always and still are welcome on our lands and all our neighbours feel the same. It adds a bit of excitement to the countryside on dreary winter days. They provide an excellent Knackery service for fallen animals to all the farmers. I never saw a stag being injured or attacked by hounds for the past 40 years. Ye can slag each other off but at the end of the day it is a licenced sport and long may it continue.

by Catlady Wed Jan 31, 2007 15:10

David,

"Get your facts right, the stag was not torn to pieces or ripped to bits. You shouldn't comment on something you obviously know nothing about."

I suggest you learn to read. I never said the stag was torn to pieces, or ripped to bits. I said that anyone who found pleasure in watching any animal having this done to them was sick, ie: hunters. The same applies to anyone who enjoys chasing them and terrifying them, which was certainly the case for this unfortunate stag, as anyone who saw him and who, unlike the hunters, did not have a vested interest, has testified. And I have seen this happen in the past, so please do not assume that I do not know what I am talking about.

I was brought up in the country, surrounded by animals, as I mentioned, and it is quite frankly irresponsible to have "dozens of mounted horses galloping down a road" in any area where there are people, and particularly children wandering about, no matter what nonsense you may choose to spout. Horses are big, strong, can be easily frightened, fall over, bolt, spook, kick etc. and accidents can easily happen despite the best efforts of an accomplished rider.

As Caobhin rightly states, nobody has a problem with seeing animals using roads, so long as they are not putting anyone in danger. If on the other hand, someone were to gallop a herd of crazed cattle down the main street of a rural town, I could see reasonable objections being made. Closing down dairy farms is a completely different issue, best suited to a different thread.

I would imagine the reason the school are bringing the children to see the dogs and deer would have something to do with the fact that they were traumatised - the teachers probably want to stop them having nightmares. It does not change the fact that hunting is a barbaric passtime followed by a sub-species of perverts.

Each of your posts surpasses the last in its arrogant attempt to depict people from urban areas as ignorant of country life. This sort of crap is not fooling anyone with a brain. Plenty of rural people are anti-hunting - who do you think joins the Irish farmers Against Hunting??? - and plenty of town dwellers are sick perverted scumbags too. Compassion has sweet FA to do with where you were born or raised. Union Ward made a big big mistake on this occasion, and will now have to pay the price as both national and international groups mobilise to put you lot out of your cruel business once and for all. Live with it.

Harmless fun???

by David Wed Jan 31, 2007 14:30

Shows what you know about hunting. The stag that was hunted last Tuesday will be kept at the deer farm until next year when it will be hunted once for the season. If it was as barbaric as you make out, why is the school organising a school tour to the deer farm to see all the stags out in their paddocks and to the kennels also to see the hounds, the children will pet the hounds. The hounds wouldn't touch a child or the stag for that matter, they follow the scent of the stag, it is not a bloodsport, but what's the point in explaining this to townies, they know everything and have done everything and if they havn't done it, they are going to do it! Let them at it

by Caobhin Wed Jan 31, 2007 13:16

The hypocrisy of this wannabe redcoat brit pontificating about so-called townies "occupying" parts of their own country is only matched by the moronic Goebbels-like efforts to use children to pass this obscenity as a jolly jaunt. I know of no children that enjoy the spectacle of animals being torn to pices while alive - is there some primary school for cannibal/cro-magnon children nobody has heard of? I'm undecided as to whether the attempt to grasp at wider support for these foul activities by equating a herd of dairy cattle with a pack of animal abusers on the move is more pathetic than moronic or vice versa. People are not bothered by any animals using roads - it is the human dregs and their foot followers that are the problem.

Again this thick ignores the point that this stag survived despite the Ward Hunt redcoat 's best efforts. . Meanwhile these animal abusers are no doubt preparing to ensure this stag is not so lucky next time around (if indeed the cratur did survive).

by David Wed Jan 31, 2007 12:47

Get your facts right, the stag was not torn to pieces or ripped to bits. You shouldn't comment on something you obviously know nothing about. The stag was less than 10 seconds in the school yard and when he was caught and returned to the deer farm a Dept of Agriculture vet examined him and he was fine.

Once sparsely populated areas of County Meath are occupied by townies who have never witnessed a hunt and are scared rather than thrilled by the prospect of seeing dozens of mounted horses galloping down a road. True, at the sound of dogs, the first thing you do is get out the way. Then we shout for the children to come to witness the spectacle – which they love. I suppose townies might panic at the sight of so many animals, but all the mothers had to do was sit in the cars and watch. You can screech that this is an attack upon ones civil liberties, but if you live in the country you are at some stage likely to be obliged to make way for animals. Joe Duffy cannot protect you from all eventualities.

What would the townies do if cows or cattle got out on the road, which occurs in rural areas, they probably would want all dairy farms within a 20 mile radius to be closed down. You have to listen to thunder!

by Catlady Tue Jan 30, 2007 17:22

I am a country lass myself, from the wilds of County Laois originally and now living in rural Galway... Grew up on the back of a horse too for that matter.

But unlike some of the less well evolved culchies I have had the displeasure to encounter I'm not sick or sadistic enough to derive any pleasure from watching any animal ripped to bits, stomped, swung around in the air, terrorized or chased to the point of exhaustion. (apart from hunters maybe - now that would be more fun than a double bill of Desperate Housewives!) And I don't like little kids to be scared either. Hope that farmer drags the hunt through the court and wins.

Ward Union hunt might have been around for the last 150 years David, but you lot sure won't be up to your hideous antics for another 150!

by Caobhin Tue Jan 30, 2007 17:01

You know what you can do with your "confirmation"

He ran into the school yard only because it was empty

Not because he was being chaased/terrorized by a baying pack of sadistic throwbacks?

On many occasions I have seen school children being let out of class if the hunt is passing and they are delighted and excited with the spectacle.

Are you saying the children were "delighted and excited" by the spectacle of animals being torn to pieces?

The hunt members are made up at least 80% locals and farmers and there was never such an issue made out of a minor incident in the last 150 years of the Ward Union Hunt's history.

And where do the fox hunts have their origins in? The yeomanry of the local Ascendancy - your origins are in the 18th century equivalent of the UDA/UVF.

From listening to the Joe Duffy show...(blah blah rant).. criticised by blow ins in the area and received so much coverage on the airwaves.

Excellent research there, aside from the fact that your faith in the Joe Duffy show is feeble-minded, all Irish people are entitled to oppose this filthy so-called sport here, irrespective of any fictitious bog-parochial boundaries constructed in your own head.

by David Tue Jan 30, 2007 13:52

I want to confirm that the stag did not die. He ran into the school yard only because it was empty but then the first of the children came out and he ran the other way. The stag was in the school yard for less than 10 seconds. On many occasions I have seen school children being let out of class if the hunt is passing and they are delighted and excited with the spectacle. I saw the stag been caught and loaded into the trailer and he looked very healthy to me. This was confirmed by a Dept of Agriculture Vet the next morning. The hunt members are made up at least 80% locals and farmers and there was never such an issue made out of a minor incident in the last 150 years of the Ward Union Hunt's history. From listening to the Joe Duffy show, all the mothers who were complaining did not have country accents and probably never saw a hunt before. What a shame that a sport that is loved by so many locals is criticised by blow ins in the area and received so much coverage on the airwaves.

by a Tue Jan 30, 2007 11:07

the stag did NOT die, the dept of agriculture visited the stag the following day and found him alive with one minor cut.

by chrissie Fri Jan 26, 2007 19:57

Besides the cruelty to the quarry & hunter horses, the danger to children, traffic, pedestrians & pets is entirely unacceptable. Hunt sabs needed!

by Paul Fri Jan 26, 2007 12:19

Any coincidence that RTE showed the pro-coursing movie Man About Dog the following night?

A few years ago I was house-sititng in West Cork when I heard a bugle and the sound of dogs and horses outside. About ten horsey-types with red overcoats had trotted up the driveway on their mounts behind about two-dozen beagles. I don't know what the people who owned the house I was minding would have done but I gave them all their marching orders and was glad that the fox got through undergrowth behind the house. They had no respect for my friend's flowerbeds or lawn, the boundahs!

by Catlady Thu Jan 25, 2007 10:29

I would say that this just beggars belief, but I don't actually find it all that surprising...

Thank God no children were hurt - at least not physically.

I suppose the hunt lobby will continue to say that their "tradition" is just harmless fun, but this incident is a fine example of the cruelty, irresponsibility and downright savagery they are capable of.

It's long past time for our representatives to look past the propoganda pushed by hunters and finally put a stop to this so-called "sport", which amounts to nothing more than ignorant, arrogant, mindless thugs killing and maiming Irish wildlife, trespassing on private property and putting innocent bystanders at risk.