Pigs Exploited For Entertanment

by RosieF Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:04

Not only is the idea to hold a pig race barbaric, but the fact that it has even been suggested, reflects badly on the town of naas as a whole, the council in particular. It portrays us as uncivillised and inhumane. To exploit these animals for ''entertainment'' not only degrades the pigs, but the town itself, and can only serve to lower public opinion of us. We are in the 21st century, proposing an event which would be more suited to medievel times.

by Naas resident Thu Apr 17, 2008 16:17

The race was held every Punchestown week by young jockeys riding down the main street. It was over in 3 minutes or less. Most of the jockeys were thrown off within seconds. As a local tradition it was harmless and drew a local crowd. Then in about 1996 the town council banned it for insurance or PC reasons.

Indymedia.ie is full of stories about local life being swamped or homogenized by city folks with their industries / motorways / shopping centres / belief systems / supply chains. What hypocracy to want to homogenize us here in Kildare, when we have had to take Dublin's garbage for years. When we want to be left alone to do our own thing some townie will always come along and interfere.

I'm against coursing and hunting, against painful slaughter and keeping of animals etc., but for this race. My grandfathers watched it nearly a century ago and I hope my grandchildren will too.

by Naas resident Thu Apr 17, 2008 20:33

The event has been approved by the Kildare branch of the ISPCA, and a vet and a pig farmer will be on hand. The pigs never got injured and that is why it continued. What farmer would lend a pig to the race if it was going to be injured?

Along with many of our residents, many of our TDs in Kildare - like Emmet Stagg - were not born in the county and would know little about its past.

by Elv Fri Apr 25, 2008 10:00

The race did not use real pigs, it were people dressed in pig suits of some sort racing on all fours!

The race was cancelled using real animals years ago (which I totally agree with).

by observer Fri Apr 25, 2008 10:21

Opposed to exploiting pigs! Indeed. A great champion of the vulnerable of course.

by Mr. Paul John Eveleigh - Health and Safety Training - First Rate Training Sat Jun 07, 2008 09:22 frt at talktalk dot net 07950962957

With no harm to the pigs and with all risk assessment being covered to both pigs and humans ( should that be the other way around) do you not think that it would be good for us mere mortals to just get on and enjoy life without picking holes. If you have enough time to do that, try and help cancer victims, stroke victims etc instead of championing the cause of something else.