‘Sup?
Sports News Ireland reports:
The excited pupils and staff of Gaelscoil Chill Dara were introduced to the school’s new canine friend, a greyhound named Cú Abú, this week.
Legendary Irish broadcaster Micheál O’Muircheartaigh also attended, explaining the project to the pupils and sharing his experience of greyhound ownership. One of the aims of the project is to communicate through Irish where possible, and Micheál spoke in his native tongue to the pupils throughout.
Dublin Coach are sponsoring the greyhound for The Gaelscoil, located on the Curragh, and will work in partnership with GAIN, Newbridge Veterinary Clinic and Newbridge Greyhound Stadium over the coming year.
Cú Abú will become a mascot for the school, providing an opportunity for learning about animal ownership and rearing, and helping the school’s fundraising efforts through prize money and a fundraising night at Newbridge Greyhound Stadium.
The greyhound is in training with Michael Murphy in Kildare and with the help of Dublin Coach all of the pupils were transported to his home for their first meeting with Cú Abú. The female greyhound is expected to kick-start her racing career in June 2016.
Micheál O’Muircheartaigh presents Kildare school children with greyhound (Sports News Ireland)
Marta writes:
It doesn’t sound real – what school would expose children to a gambling industry, well known for massive animal welfare issues and cruelty cases (see the recent China exports controversy)? But it looks real – is it real? Sometimes reality overtakes satire sites!
Anyone?
Weird
No, no, no…. it’s OK, it’s done through Irish.
Antagonisteach!
I can guess what that civil-servant-Irish word is, they’re so imaginative in modernising the Irish language, kudos to them.
* sticks on Barry Lyndon *
I do love a bit o’ Ryan O’Neil.
Jeepers, you were quick out of the blocks in slagging the Irish language element to it Clamps.
And you were quick off the blocks defending it Ultach..
Michael O’Muircheartaigh is a lovely man. He has time for everyone. Lovely dog too :)
Yeah I wonder if he’ll have time for this lovely dog when she’s injured or past her prime at 3 years old… Needle time then like for countless others
That issue is to do with an entire industry, not one man.
He promotes it, and in schools to boot, so he seems quite comfortable with the industry and its practices.
That’s a fair point, but what you’re getting at about the treatment of racing dogs won’t be changed if O’Muircheartaigh withdraws his support of the sport. That said, I completely agree with you as regards how they are treated but we’re not known for treating dogs well in this country.
I hear what you’re saying and the industry is bigger than just him but he is actually actively creating demand here. I get what IGB are doing – greyhound racing is thankfully dying on its feet, with IGB in debt closing or selling off their stadiums. They just want to make a bunch of customers out of these kids and their families. Him lending his support is what gets them into gaelscoils; if he is indeed such a greyhound lover why won’t he promote greyhound rescues instead? He’d actually save some lives instead of condemning some.
Great comment HH. I can’t argue with that for a minute. Well said.
I should add that I’ve worked with O’Muircheartaigh before and found him to be a man with time and a kind words for every man woman and child he encountered. But that doesn’t change the facts you’ve highlighted above. And I can’t argue with them because you’re absolutely spot on.
I don’t doubt it for one second. Sadly I think that what you’re describing is a perfect example of a curse placed on the Irish psyche: good and otherwise decent people support or turn a blind eye to atrocities. Sometimes it’s because they will not stop and think for a minute; sometimes it’s because they’ve been taught to never question tradition or authority.
If you meet him again perhaps let him know your thoughts?
I always thought a good dog with an edge wouldn’t be into all that petting
Greyhounds are very sweet and also apparently quite lazy dogs. Only fake rabbits whirring around race tracks get them going.
Yup, they’re the couch potato of the canine world. Lovely dogs, I hope to adopt a couple when I (finally) get to buy a house.
You can, but only if you make them wear bowties
:D
I normally don’t endorse people dressing up their pets. But this I can support… sure it’s no different to them wearing a collar.
Or lingerie.
Ah here… :'(
Too far Bertie, too far
And too weird
Don’t be dragging the clergy in now Sheila.
Gambling industry securing future business through schools, just as the alcohol industry does through sports. Nothing to see here, moving on…
+1
The amount of betting shops on our streets is a national embarrassment and the power of the Alcohol lobby is causing a national health catastrophe
First point: betting shops are not a problem, if you don’t like them then don’t go into them. Second point: What sporting event is used by alcohol, No sport ever made me drink.
‘Fist point’ – It’s not going into them that’s the problem – it’s the sheer volume of them on our streets that is the depressing fact.
‘Second point’ – I don’t believe you don’t see the use of sporting events by alcohol companies as a means to expose their products and associate them with healthy pastimes and how that might influence impressionable people..
*first…dammit
Anomanomanom, betting and alcohol are a problem some of the time, both can cause addiction and children exposed to them can be particularly susceptible.
In particular, I have a big issue with arcades with what in effect are gambling machines targeting kids, like the coin machine and the toy grabber. They should be banned.
Yes, it’ll be the art of picking accurate reverse forecasts that grabs the attention of these 11 year old boys and not the cute doggies.
Speaking of which; why are kids allowed to gamble at the dog racing?
Are they? At a guess, they’re actually not but the cashiers assume they’re putting on bets for their parents.
Garthicus, yesterday….
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3578932/Put-flower-boy-Michelle-s-husband.html
Sure the 2 tracks in dublin promote, and are packed out with, communion and confirmation parties.
cue predictable outrage from the usual undisputed champions in the whingeathon
‘won’t someone think of the leanaí’
gambling has never hurt anyone, except, you know, the people who gambled on huge mortgages or the banks that in turn gambled with that money and of course all the actual gambling addicts who destroy their livelihoods and their loved ones, it’s a lovely activity which alongside drinking and torturing animals is what makes ireland what it is now and of course it is fine because, like all other addictive activities, it’s all the fault of the addict, or the sinner as the people who shaped your psyche over the last 100 years would confirm.
That’s right
all people are children who need to be coerced into always doing the right, just and moral thing because you know that’s just the way it is and always has been
Where do I sign up for kiddie porn?
The gambling, drink and porn industries know the importance of catching them young. And you think it’s ok to let ’em.
NO I think it’s ok to treat people as adults who can make up their own minds and not try to brainwash them into following your personal moral code.
Those are children in the picture up there. You think it’s wrong to brainwash them unless your a multi million industry built on human suffering launching a marketing blitz on them? Impersonal immoral codes are okay?
We all follow laws that are based on a moral code – 10 commandants etc. SO where should we stop?
Fupp off Dawn Piggy Anna – go and play with other kids
@ Nigel
Please say how playing with and learning how to care for a greyhound equates to brainwashing, other than to induce mass responsible dog ownership?
What a chump….
It’s the people who race greyhounds who need to be taught responsible dog ownership.