Kilkenny board vows to fight for image rights

The Kilkenny County Board has warned that it is prepared to go all the way to court to protect the county teams' image rights.

Pictures of the senior and U21 hurling teams were used on 2005 calendars that carried advertisements without permission from the county board.

County chairman Ned Quinn said: "If needs be, Kilkenny will pursue this issue all the way to the courts."

The Cats commissioned a new logo last year which is used on playing gear, meaning reproductions are not allowed without the county board's permission.

The photos of the teams had the logo on the players' jerseys, but had been digitally removed from the calendar picture.

Kilkenny development officer Barry Hickey the jerseys were "defaced" by the removal of the logo and that the board "would not let this matter rest".

He added that Kilkenny were entitled to protect their image rights and that any money earned was put back into the promotion of games at underage level.