New Zealand to end greyhound racing: Should Ireland follow suit?

New Zealand is set to ban the sport of greyhound racing from 2026, which has sparked debate regarding whether Ireland should do likewise.

Primarily, the reason the New Zealand government proposed the ban was because the percentage of dogs injured in races remains high.

The decision has prompted questions about the future of the greyhound racing industry in Ireland.

Greyhound Awareness Cork are an organisation set up to raise awareness of the plight of Irish greyhounds all over the world. 

They claim many of them are used, abused, neglected, and raced to death.

Speaking to The Echo, spokesperson Katie Corcoran feels it is only a matter of time before a similar ban on greyhound racing is brought into place in Ireland.

“It is going to follow on here,” she said. “Already this year the very last greyhound track in Mexico has shut down. So that is one more country where there is no longer greyhound racing.

“It is inevitable here. The public here aren’t really that interested in greyhound racing any more judging by their attendance. There is a lot more awareness about the inherent cruelty in greyhound racing.”

In New Zealand, greyhound racing will be wound down over a 20-month period, and an advisory committee has been appointed to help find new homes for an estimated 2,900 racing dogs.

Leader of the Social Democrats, Cork South West TD Holly Cairns, has campaigned on the viewpoint of the sport being cruel.

In a press release last October, Ms Cairns said: “While it is accepted there are breeders and trainers who love and care for their dogs, they are operating within an industry where animal abuse, injuries, fatalities, overbreeding and culls are rampant.

“Thousands of dogs have been bred and then destroyed because they did not make the cut,” she added.

“Public funding for greyhound racing must be phased out. 

“The money squandered on bailing out the greyhound industry could be spent on other sports which are crying out for funding across the country, or for critically underfunded animal welfare charities.

“Ireland is one of only seven countries in the world where commercial greyhound racing is still legal,” said Ms Cairns. “So why is the government insistent on keeping this dying sector on life ?”

for the industry 

For those in of the sport in Cork and Ireland, the greyhound industry is seen as an important part of the social and economic fabric of rural life and it provides considerable employment, directly and indirectly.

According to the Jim Power report ‘The Economic & Financial Significance of the Irish Greyhound industry’, commissioned in 2021, the greyhound industry provides and s considerable employment both directly and indirectly across the Irish economy.

It was estimated that the greyhound racing industry in Ireland s 4,150 full-time and part-time jobs in the economy. 

In addition, there are 6,211 active greyhound owners.

The total number of people deriving economic benefit from the greyhound sector is estimated at 10,361.

Jimmy Barry-Murphy is regarded as one of the most iconic players and managers in the history of Cork GAA.

In the greyhound racing world, he has been involved in the sport for his entire life, including as chairman of Curraheen Park. 

He also was inducted into the Greyhound Racing Ireland Hall of Fame.

Speaking to

The Echo

, Mr Barry-Murphy said on the role greyhound racing plays in Ireland: “It is important, in particular for the rural economy.

“There are 16 greyhound tracks in Ireland. Shelbourne Park is a huge earner and huge status in Irish greyhound racing.

“They are a very important part of the rural economy and provide a lot of employment in these areas.

“People love it and they come together. They care for their dogs and rear them to perfection, race them and then retire.

“So, for example, I know a couple of years ago when sponsorship was very tough in the industry, a group of us got together and wanted to maintain the status of the Laurels.

“We went public on that and the reaction of people from all over Cork city and county was incredible. We raised over €110,000 in three weeks and the whole status of the Laurels was maintained.

“There still is a great groundswell of opinion and goodwill towards the industry out there.

“I know I am biased, but I go there all of the time and it is a fantastic family occasion.

“There have been numerous fundraisers for many sporting organisations and charity organisations and it is hugely ed.”

When asked about the animal welfare issue in relation to the greyhound industry, Mr Barry-Murphy outlined the progress and improvement made by Greyhound Racing Ireland in this area: “I can’t stress enough that the welfare aspect of the industry is a huge part of it now, and rightly so.

“Over 10 years ago, it would be fair to say, let’s be honest about it, there were issues in relation to welfare and everybody has acknowledged that had to be addressed.

“[Now] if my dog wins in Curraheen Park, there is an immediate deduction to the Retired Greyhound Welfare Fund, to make sure that these dogs are looked after in their retirement and placed in homes where they make fantastic pets.

“There have been massive strides in relation to welfare. 

“So the reality is from the day I buy a greyhound pup and hope to race him later on, I have to make a provision for that dog to be cared for till the end of their days. Every dog is tagged and tracked from his birth to his death to see that there are no welfare issues.

“The Greyhound Board have made massive progress in that respect. I am very happy that is the way it is, and that is the way it should be.

“It is something that we had to learn over the years and educate ourselves on as well, that this is going to be a massive part of the industry if it was to survive.

“I know that there has been fantastic progress made and the amount of greyhounds being rehomed at retirement is absolutely huge nowadays. So the animal welfare is a huge aspect to our industry.”

Fine Gael county councillor Eileen Lynch has always had a strong interest and been involved in the greyhound coursing and racing industry since a young age.

She also is a keen advocate for greyhound racing and describes the progress made in the area of animal welfare in the sport.

“There is a lot of spin-off benefit from it in of the employment provided around. There is employment provided in trainers’ yards, breeders, food industry,” Ms Lynch told The Echo.

“Also, the greyhound industry in Ireland is highly regulated. I appreciate there have been issues in the past, I am not going to shy away from that and I acknowledge that.

“But there has been dramatic improvement in greyhound welfare.

“There is an awful lot of ability and an awful lot of transparency.”