The Irish greyhound industry continues to injure and kill greyhounds in pursuit of a gamble.
In 2025, 197 greyhounds were killed at greyhound racing stadiums tracks around Ireland. In addition, 344 greyhounds suffered injuries at races between January and the end of December and more than half of them (191) were “euthanised” by track vets. The deaths of 6 other injured greyhounds are listed as racing fatalities.
The 197 deaths are the second highest since records began and just 5 less than last year’s record high of 202 deaths.
These figures were revealed in response to a recent Dáil question by Paul Murphy TD to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Martin Heydon TD.
Catalogue of Injury and Death
An analysis of the information supplied by the Minister reveals that the 191 greyhounds who were killed by vets had suffered injuries including: jugular vein wound, suspected spinal bleed, spinal injury, broken/fractured/dislocated hock, badly torn hamstring, torn tendons, broken calcaneus with bone protruding, broken elbow/wrist/humerus bone, fractured leg/shoulder/wrist/toes/forelimb/stopper bone, complete radial fracture, dislocated wrist, severe dislocation of right wrist, possible nerve damage around pelvis and torn/ruptured Achilles tendon.
147 injured greyhounds who were treated had suffered injuries including: broken leg, broken/fractured hock, broken wrist, broken tail, dislocated hock/toe, fractured shoulder/shoulder blade/toe/leg/wrist, pelvic injury – possible spinal shock, injured hip, torn ligament/ventral cervical muscle/gracilis muscle/dew claw, elbow injury, muscle injury, hock hyper-extension, hock ligament injury, small wound on left leg, suspected dislocation of right hock joint, wound on toe/metatarsal, abrasion on leg, cut toe, cut above tendon on front leg, swollen gracilis, split web and sore pelvis.
The six “racing fatalities” involved three greyhounds dying after breaking their necks in races at Thurles, Co. Tipperary (1st February), Galway (14 February) and Clonmel, Co. Tipperary (16 May 2025) tracks, a greyhound who died with a lacerated artery at Lifford track, Co. Donegal, on 28 June 2025, a greyhound who died at Kilkenny track on 15 October 2025 (no cause of death identified) and another who died at Curraheen Park, Co. Cork, track on 8 November 2025 (post-mortem inconclusive).
Two greyhounds were killed by a vet at a race meeting at Youghal track, Co. Cork, on 31 March 2025. They had suffered dislocated hock, torn tendons and an open fracture of the left toes. Two greyhounds were also killed at race meetings at Shelbourne Park, Co. Dublin, (25 April 2025), Lifford, Co. Donegal (17 May 2025), Kilkenny (25 June 2025), Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford (30 June 2025), Kilcohan Park, Co.Waterford, (17 July 2025) and Youghal, Co. Cork (7 July, 21 July, 26 July 2025).
All were killed by track vets after they suffered broken or fractured hocks. Two greyhounds were also killed at Lifford, Co. Donegal track on 9 August 2025 (both suffered fractured radius & ulna).
Greyhound Deaths at Irish Greyhound Stadiums
In 2025, the worst day for greyhound death was the 25th April when a total of six greyhounds were killed at Curraheen Park, Co. Cork, Dundalk, Co. Louth, Limerick, Newbridge, Co. Kildare and Shelbourne Park, Co. Dublin tracks.
26th July was the next worst day for deaths – five greyhounds were killed at Dundalk, Co. Louth, Limerick, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, and Youghal, Co. Cork, tracks.
On the 9th August, four greyhounds were killed at Galway, Lifford, Co. Donegal, and Curraheen Park, Co. Cork tracks.
On the 20th September 2025, four greyhounds were killed at Limerick, Shelbourne, Park, Co. Dublin, Thurles, Co. Tipperary and Tralee, Co. Kerry tracks.
On the 4th of October 2025, four greyhounds were killed at Curraheen Park, Co. Cork, Kilcohan Park, Co. Waterford, Limerick and Tralee, Co. Kerry tracks.
The track with the highest number of deaths (euthanised plus racing fatalities) was Limerick (24), followed by Youghal (21), Lifford (16), Shelbourne Park (15), Mullingar (14), Kilcohan Park / Waterford (13), Kilkenny (12), Clonmel (12), Tralee (11), Enniscorthy (11), Galway (11), Curraheen Park (10), Dundalk (10), Thurles (9) and Newbridge (8)
The track where the most injuries occurred (resulting in death or treatment) was Limerick (40), followed by Shelbourne Park (39), Mullingar (33), Curraheen Park (30), Tralee (27), Lifford (27), Youghal (24), Enniscorthy (19), Clonmel (18), Kilkenny (18), Thurles (17), Galway (16), Kilcohan Park / Waterford (16), Dundalk (12) and Newbridge ( 8 )
Injury and Death at Greyhound Tracks
In relation to the percentage of injured greyhounds who were euthanised at tracks, Newbridge, Co. Kildare was the worst with 100% of injured dogs killed (8 injured/8 killed).
This was followed by:
Youghal: 88% (24 injured/21 killed)
Dundalk: 83% (12 injured/10 killed)
Kilcohan Park / Waterford: 81% (16 injured/13 killed)
Galway: 66% (15 injured/10 killed)
Kilkenny: 65% (17 injured/11 killed)
Clonmel: 65% (17 injured/11 killed)
Limerick: 60% (40 injured/24 killed)
Enniscorthy: 58% (19 injured/11 killed)
Lifford: 58% (26 injured/15 killed)
Thurles: 50% (16 injured/8 killed)
Mullingar: 42% (33 injured/14 killed)
Tralee: 41% (27 injured/11 killed)
Shelbourne Park: 38% (39 injured/15 killed)
Curraheen Park: 31% (29 injured/9 killed)
This gives a total of 56% killed – (344 injured, 191 killed by vets + 6 fatalities).
Calculated percentages exclude the six racing fatalities, i.e. injured greyhounds who died and were not euthanised by vets. It is unknown how many of the injured greyhounds who were treated and taken away were subsequently killed.
Irish Greyhound Industry Injury and Death
The latest 2025 figures bring to 4,040 the number of greyhounds injured and 1,593 the number killed in racing at Irish tracks since 2014. The Greyhound Racing Ireland figures for injuries and deaths at races do not include the greyhounds injured at tracks and later killed elsewhere.
In reply to a previous Dáil Question from Paul Murphy TD, Greyhound Racing Ireland (GRI) admitted that their injury stats only cover greyhounds “seen” to have been injured at tracks and do not include greyhounds who were injured but taken away and not presented to the track vet. Also not included are greyhounds who sustained what they term “minor injuries”.
In 2025, there was even more suffering and death at trials at tracks around the country. In its response to Deputy Murphy, Greyhound Racing Ireland revealed that “14 greyhounds were recorded as having been injured in trials and sales events.” Four of these greyhounds were “euthanised following trials” and 3 other greyhounds “died on the track or shortly after a trial”.
The four trial greyhounds who were euthanised were removed from Galway, Newbridge, Co. Kildare, and Limerick tracks suffering hock and leg injuries and were later killed by the owners’ vets.
There is no requirement for vets to be present at trials. Greyhound Racing Ireland has stated in the past that “a veterinary surgeon is not on duty for official trials or unofficial trials, but the contact details of nearby veterinary clinics are posted in the weigh room of each of the Greyhound Racing Ireland licensed stadia.” This could lead to prolonged suffering for injured greyhounds who are transported away from tracks before they receive treatment.
The three other greyhounds who died at trials were recorded as “racing fatality”. They died at Shelbourne Park, Co. Dublin, (broken neck), Dundalk track, Co. Louth, (cardiac failure) and Tralee track, Co. Kerry (acute cardiac failure.
Greyhound Racing Ban
The Irish Council Against Bloodsports (ICABS) said that the 2025 greyhound injury and death figures are appalling and what is reported is not the true picture of how greyhound racing is conducted.
According to ICABS, many greyhounds are killed out of public gaze for the simple reason that they are not fast enough. An ICABS spokesperson highlighted the fact that a Greyhound Racing Ireland report revealed that around 6,000 greyhounds are killed every year because they don’t make the grade. The report estimated that, for example, a total of 17,962 greyhounds were culled in 2013, 2014 and 2015. They were killed for “failure to produce qualifying times”, “failure to produce desired entry level times” and for an “unacceptable decline in performance”.
ICABS renewed it call for a ban on greyhound racing and for the Irish government to cease funding the canine abuse contained in the Irish greyhound industry.
2025 – Greyhound Injuries and deaths at Greyhound Racing Stadiums Ireland
Clonmel: 18 injured – 11 killed, 6 treated, 1 fatality
Curraheen Park: 30 injured – 9 killed, 20 treated, 1 fatality
Dundalk: 12 injured – 10 killed, 2 treated
Enniscorthy: 19 injured – 11 killed, 8 treated
Galway: 16 injured – 10 killed, 5 treated, 1 fatality
Kilkenny: 18 injured – 11 killed, 6 treated, 1 fatality
Lifford: 27 injured – 15 killed, 11 treated, 1 fatality
Limerick: 40 injured – 24 killed, 16 treated
Mullingar: 33 injured – 14 killed, 19 treated
Newbridge: 8 injured – 8 killed, 0 treated
Shelbourne Park: 39 injured – 15 killed, 24 treated
Thurles: 17 injured – 8 killed, 8 treated, 1 fatality
Tralee: 27 injured – 11 killed, 16 treated
Kilcohan Park / Waterford: 16 injured – 13 killed, 3 treated
Youghal: 24 injured – 21 killed, 3 treated
2014 to 2025 – Reported Greyhound Injuries and Deaths at Greyhound Racing Stadiums Ireland
2025: 344 injuries, 197 deaths
2024: 389 injuries, 202 deaths
2023: 257 injuries, 134 deaths
2022: 287 injuries. 122 deaths
2021: 351 injuries. 154 deaths
2020: 255 injuries. 90 deaths
2019: 332 injuries. 119 deaths
2018: 353 injuries. 121 deaths
2017: 357 injuries. 124 deaths
2016: 427 injuries. 139 deaths
2015: 422 injuries. 122 deaths
2014: 266 injuries. 69 deaths (July to Dec 2014)
Irish Government Grants to Greyhound Racing
The horse and greyhound racing industries receive financial support from the State through the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund, under section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001.
2.—(1) There shall stand established, on the establishment day, a fund to be known as theHorse and Greyhound Racing Fund, in this Act referred to as the “Fund”, for the purpose of giving support to horse and greyhound racing.
2001 €11,777,583
2002 €13,613,163
2003 €12,837,200
2004 €13,382,800
2005 €13,670,000
2006 €14,012,000
2007 €14,572,000
2008 €15,257,000
2009 €13,625,600
2010 €11,852,800
2011 €11,460,000
2012 €11,258,000
2013 €11,004,000
2014 €10,844,000
2015 €13,600,000
2016 €14,800,000
2017 €16,000,000
2018 €16,000,000
2019 €16,800,000
2020 €16,800,000
2021 €19,200,000
2022 €17,600,000
2023 €18,200,000
2024 €19,000,000
2025 €19,820,000
2026 €19,820,000
TOTAL: €386,806,146
(€386 Million)
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If you have a tip for an animal welfare issue, an animal news article, a press release, or just want to just reach out to us, we’d love to hear from you. John Tierney, Animal News Ireland/Editor