Peaceful protest at Laois Hunt’s St. Stephen’s Day gathering

Annual St Stephen’s Day Laois Hunt saw sizeable protest

On December 26th, a well-attended protest took place in Abbeyleix against the annual St Stephen’s Day fox hunt organized by Laois Hunt. Artist and wildlife rescue volunteer Rebecca Deegan organized the protest to educate the public and highlight the growing opposition to hunting foxes for sport.

Attendees included many local residents, representatives from the National Animal Rights Association (NARA), the Laois Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (LSPCA), and Kildare Wildlife Rescue, as well as valued political support from Laois Social Democrats and the Party for Animal Welfare (PAW).

Participants carried banners and homemade placards informing the public about the realities of fox hunting; while hunts are often seen as traditions, they involve using hounds to chase the fox over a long distance, which causes stress, fear, and potential injury, often resulting in a brutal death.

A key point of the demonstration was to highlight humane alternatives that keep the social, sporting and pageantry elements of the hunt without harming wildlife. Activities like drag hunting and man-trailing allow riders and hounds to participate in challenging and rewarding work while avoiding cruelty and stress for wild animals.

Polling consistently shows strong public support for banning fox hunting in Ireland. The protest reflected a belief that traditions can evolve and adapt to keep respect for animals and the environment at the forefront.

The organizer; Rebecca Deegan, and participants expressed their gratitude to An Garda Síochána for their support, which ensured that the protest remained safe, peaceful, and respectful for everyone involved.