Hunting part of the fabric of Irish country life

Your correspondent John Tierney is to be complimented for his blood curdling letter on cub hunting and must be in line for the Bram Stoker Award which is granted annually by the Horror Writers Association. However, his literary effort would be more appropriate for the fiction page rather than the letters page.

His knowledge of hunting must be gained from reading Victorian novels such as those of Somerville and Ross. All foxhunting in Ireland is carried on in accordance with a strict protocol agreed between the Hunting Association of Ireland and the Department of Agriculture.

If he has evidence (as opposed to propaganda) of breaches of this protocol as described in his letter he should report it to the Department of Agriculture and An Garda Síochána who will deal with it appropriately.

With more hunt clubs than rugby clubs in Ireland hunting continues to be a major part of Irish country life as it has for hundreds of years and looks likely to continue well into the future.

Richard Power

Grange

Kilmallock

Co Limerick