Standing Up for Country Sports & the Rural Way of Life

The Great Game Fairs of Ireland team ,when they started the Irish Game Fairs in 1979, committed themselves to promoting and defending ALL country sports and the rural way of life. It is true to say that no other individuals or organisations have made such a contribution including in the recent debate over the anti Hunting with Dogs Bill. Realising that this bill threatened not only hunting with dogs, but potentially opened up threats to ALL country sports and indeed the very fabric of rural life they suggested that country sports people should demonstrate their support for hunting by cheering on the hunting demonstrations at the fair.

Several hundred people answered the call for a dignified show of support for hunting by watching and clapping the Killultagh mounted pack and then Dan Kinney and his foot pack from the Glens of Antrim Foxhounds complete with 5yo whipper in Conor. An interested passing ‘spectator’ which challenged the ‘whipper in’s’ control was one of the estate fallow deer! The Kinneys paraded their hounds in pouring rain – as Dan said the pack go out in all weathers to protect sheep farmers’ livelihoods.

It had been arranged that Liz Brown from the Sunnyland Beagles would interview Dan and Conor to hear why they felt hunting should be defended by ALL country sports people.

The showers that had bedevilled the fair on Sunday worsened as Paul Pringle was giving an impassioned introduction to the demonstration of support for hunting. And as Albert Titterington and Liz Brown interviewed the Kinneys, Bill Mnntgomery and Owen Mulcahy with Charley Jacoby from Field Sports Channel and George Logan filming, the angry skies open and there was a torrential downpour of apocalyptic proportions.

As the interviews proceeded quite a few hardy souls with and without umbrellas braved the rain, while the majority of supporters retreated to the Salmon & Woodcock Pavilion and other nearby tentage. However, each person being interviewed was roundly cheered by the crowd, in and out of the tents, and there was no doubt that the majority of people attending the fair made it clear they wanted to see hunting continue.

Young people getting to meet the hounds

When the rain literally came down ‘in stair rods’ many hunting supporters retired to the Salmon & Woodcock Pavilion United in support of hunting - Albert with the Kinneys and the representatives of the Irish Working Terrier Federation

Crowds supporting the Killultagh mounted pack

Dan Kinney parading the Glens of Antrim Foxhounds in the rain

Albert interviews Bill Montgomery, whose family have been hunting for several hundred years! Albert interviews Dan Kinney