16 Tracks
The greyhound racing industry in the Republic of Ireland is regulated and promoted by the commercial semi-state body the Irish Greyhound Board (IGB). There are currently 16 IGB licensed greyhound racing tracks in the country. As of the end of 2015, there were 3,351 greyhounds in the pool of racing dogs.1
In the Republic of Ireland the greyhound racing industry receives government funding through the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund. Between 2001 through 2019 more than €250 million will have been paid out to the IGB from this Fund.2
The majority of greyhounds racing in Ireland are bred in the country. In 2019, there were 2,324 litters registered in the Irish Greyhound Stud Book, a decrease of 23% since 2010.3
A greyhound at an Irish kennel in Donegal. (Burma Kennels)
A greyhound falls while racing at Curraheen Park. (Curraheen Park)
A greyhound with her puppies at a breeding kennel in Ireland. (Jaxx Greyhound Kennel)
Caged dogs at a greyhound kennel in Ireland. (Greyhound-Data)
Puppies bred for racing in Ireland. (Greyhound-Data)
Emily the greyhound was a former racer found abused and abandoned. (The Irish Sun)
Protesters against greyhound racing at the Curraheen track in Ireland. (Ban Blood Sports)
A caged dog from the RTÉ exposé Greyhounds Running for Their Lives. (RTÉ News)
Protests against dog racing following the 2019 RTÉ investigation. (Emma O'Brien)
The IGB has Racing Regulations that include rules for betting and prize money, doping policies and requirements for racing officials.4 Additionally, the Irish government passed the Welfare of Greyhounds Act in 2011 that sets standards for certain greyhound breeding operations and general welfare requirements for housing, transport and record keeping.5
From 2015 through 2020, 2,146 greyhounds suffered injuries and 715 greyhounds were killed at Irish tracks.6
Wagering on greyhound racing is legal in Ireland. In 2019 the turnover, or amount bet by gamblers, at the IGB licensed tracks was €23 million.7 Since 2010, the turnover has declined by 30%.8
On June 26, 2019, RTÉ News aired a program entitled RTÉ Investigates: Greyhounds Running For Their Lives. The investigation revealed that nearly 6,000 Irish greyhounds are killed each year.9 In addition, according to an IGB-commissioned report that was completed in 2017, the Irish greyhound industry breeds 1,000% more puppies than it needs to conduct racing.10 The program also highlighted the merciless killing of unwanted greyhounds at Irish knackeries or slaughterhouses, drugging dogs to fix races, track injuries and deaths.11
Irish Report
Rewarding Cruelty: Greyhound Racing in Ireland
(November 2019)
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RTE Investigates: Greyhounds Running for Their Lives
GreyGlobe Conference in Dublin
On November 30, 2019, one hundred greyhound advocates from across the world participated in the Second International Conference on Greyhound Advocacy in Dublin. This event was co-hosted with the Irish Council Against Blood Sports (ICABS). Speakers included Trudy Baker of Greyt Exploitations, Ruth Coppinger TD, Katie Corcoran of Greyhound Awareness Cork, Gill Docherty of Scotland Against Greyhound Exploitation (SAGE), Dr. Samantha Gaines of the RSPCA, Nicole Matthews of ICABS, Paul Murphy TD, Emma O'Brien of Galway SPCA, Maureen O'Sullivan TD and Andrea Pollard of Free the Hounds and Greyhound Adoptions WA.
Dublin Rally for the Greyhounds
On June 2, 2016, hundreds of people opposed to the export of Irish greyhounds came together for a rally for the dogs. Greyhound advocates and adoption leaders from Australia, Italy, Macau, United Kingdom and the United States assembled with John Carmody and ARAN (Animal Rights Action Network) outside the Dept. of Agriculture, where GREY2K USA delivered our petition with over 300,000 signatures to Agriculture Minister Michael Creed. The rally ended with a march to the doors of Parliament and a meeting with lawmakers.
- IGB Business Model Analysis. September 29, 2017. igb.ie.
- "Greyhound industry gets another €16 million in Budget 2018," Ban Bloodsports. October 10, 2017. banbloodsports.com 2019’s subsidy rose to €16.8 million; million (“Greyhound racing in Ireland is in 'serious decline'”). Irish Council Against Bloodsports. January 21, 2019. change.org.
- Floyd Amphlett, “Registrations and Litters Both Down,” Greyhound Star, greyhoundstar.co.uk, January 23, 2020 (accessed April 1, 2020); “Greyhound Numbers.” Greyhound Rescue Association Ireland. grai.ie.
- Greyhound Industry (Racing) Regulations, 2007 (No. 302 of 2007).
- Welfare of Greyhounds Act, 2011 (No. 29 of 2011).
- “At tracks around Ireland in 2020, 255 greyhounds suffered injuries and 90 were killed” Irish Council Against Bloodsports, banbloodsports.com, January 30, 2021 (accessed March 16, 2021).
- Sean McCarthaigh, Greyhound racing profits fall in ‘year of two halves, Irish Examiner, p.4. irishexaminer.com, November 16, 2020 (accessed March 17, 2021).
- Horgan-Jones, Jack. "Attendance at greyhound tracks drops 20% after RTÉ Exposé." The Irish Times. September 19, 2019. irishtimes.com.
- Ibid.
- IGB Business Model Analysis. September 29, 2017. igb.ie.
- RTÉ Investigates: Greyhounds Running For Their Lives. RTÉ Player. June 26, 2019. rte.ie.
Irish Resources:
Irish Adoption Groups
Ireland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Greyhound Rescue Association Ireland
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Irish Adoption Groups
Ireland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Greyhound Rescue Association Ireland
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