Irish taxpayers’ money is being used to fund hunting with hounds in Ireland.
Horse Racing Ireland, which is funded by the Government, has given out €1.7 million more in grants to hunts around Ireland – funding that is helping to sustain one of the country’s worst forms of cruelty to animals.
Paul Murphy TD recently obtained figures that revealed that in 2024 Irish hunts received €1,794,300 in point-to-point racing grants from Horse Racing Ireland.
Point-to-points are horse races organised by hunt clubs. They are a significant source of income for hunts and effectively prop up the bloodsport clubs. Without the Horse Racing Ireland grants, race events would not be viable and this would likely lead to the demise of many hunts.
A breakdown of the €1.7 million in grants for 100 point-to-point race meetings (2024) shows that hunts received:
€808,000-administration grants”
€112,500-insurance grants”
€873,800-race prize money
The latest hand-out brings to over €13 million (€13,796,550) the amount channelled into the coffers of hunts by HRI since 2014.
The 2024 HRI figures show that individual hunts have enjoyed major cash injections for point-to-point racing events organised at one or more locations.
A sample from the figures shows:
United Hunt, Co. Cork received €117,450 (for five point-to-point meetings),
County Clare hunt €71,200 (for four meets),
Duhallow hunt, Co. Cork, €68,400 (for three meets),
Tipperary hunt (Clonmel) €67,750,
Westmeath Hunt €57,050,
Muskerry hunt, Co. Cork, €56,750,
Waterford hunt €56,750,
Galway Blazers €56,100,
Carbery hunt, Co. Cork, €35,700,
West Waterford hunt €35,550,
Killeagh hunt, Co. Cork €32,250.
Northern Ireland Funding
The grants from Horse Racing Ireland are not only benefiting hunts in the Republic but also, hunts in Northern Ireland which received a total of €287,500 last year.
Among the hunts in the North supported by Horse Racing Ireland were North Down €52,050, East Antrim €49,350, East Down €36,700, Mid Antrim €33,850, Route €33,200, Fermanagh Harriers €32,550, Newry €16,600, Co. Down €16,600, Tynan & Armagh €16,600. Hunts in the North have been paid over €1.9 million by HRI since 2014.
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. The fund has been guaranteed since being introduced by then finance minister Charlie McCreevy in 2001.
Horse Racing Ireland – a body which has to-date received more than €1.46 Billion of taxpayers’ money through government grants – continues to give financial support to fox hunts despite majority support in Ireland for a ban on this cruel bloodsport.
Animal rights organisations are calling on the Irish Government to stop funding horse racing and greyhound racing.
Reference Box:
What is Point to Point Racing?
Point to Point races are steeplechases confined to horses which hold a valid Hunters Certificate and are organised by a Hunt Committee which is affiliated to the Irish Masters of Foxhounds Association, the Irish Masters of Harriers Association or Staghounds. The Irish National Hunt Steeplechase CLG (INHSC) is responsible for the governance and administration of Point to Points in Ireland and sanctions approximately 100 fixtures to be run between October and May.
Source: Point to Point (2025) ihrb.ie/point-to-point. (Online). Available at: https://ihrb.ie/ (Accessed: 8 May 2025).
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