Watch: Dáil fox hunting protest draws farmers and rural residents
When it comes to fox hunting, many would argue that there is a rural and urban divide on the issue, but how true is this?
According to the campaign group Rural Ireland Against Fox Hunting, polling shows that over 70% of rural dwellers are in favour of banning rural pursuits.
A demonstration was held outside the Dáil yesterday (Wednesday, March 25) by the campaign group, with other animal welfare organisations, rural communities and farmers also in attendance to show support.
Pearse Stokes, who is the response coordinator for Kildare Wildlife Rescue, chatted with Agriland at the protest about whether there is this disconnect between rural and urban people on fox hunting.
"Within Kildare Wildlife Rescue, we work with a lot of farmers and we don't see a divide [on the issue] between rural and urban communities.
"Over 70% of rural people want to see fox hunting banned because ultimately they are hit hardest by this.
"So this is a protest to ban fox hunting with dogs, but it is also to say that rural and farming communities should be respected and supported," Stokes added.
Seáic Mac Murchadha, a protester who keeps pigs and horses on his land in rural Newry, told Agriland about his experiences with fox hunters back home.
With multiple farms in his locality, Mac Murchadha noted that he could not remember a time when nearby livestock were harmed by foxes, however he did recall times where animals were traumatised by trespassing hunters.
He said: "A farmer's land is much his land as your back garden or part of your home.
"A farmer's land is not for random people from the city to come out for the day to hunt, to go onto his land and treat it as their own, causing havoc."
In his eyes, Mac Murchadha believes the divide on the issue is the "same in rural areas, as it is in the city."
"You have a handful of people who do not care for an individual's property and want to hunt animals.
"But you have far more people that want this barbaric practice to be a thing of the past."
Another farmer at the protest, Francis Warde spoke to Agriland about why he supports the ban against fox hunting.
Hailing from Co. Longford, the farmer's campaign begun back in August 2024, when a fox was shot and killed outside his home.
Since then, Warde has been researching foxes and surveying sheep farmers across the country on how the animal has impacted their livestock.
He found that the majority of sheep farmers have little to no problems with foxes as most livestock stay in sheds during lambing season.
Warde also highlighted the importance of farming in tandem with the wildlife and habitats on farmland.
Dáil
This protest follows a vote in the Dáil on December 17 last year, where TDs decided on a bill to ban fox hunting.
However, the bill was defeated after 124 TDs voted against the ban, with only 24 voting in favour of the amendments.
With several political parties and campaign groups still pushing for the ban, protesters outside the Dáil believe the end of fox hunting "is only a matter of time."
