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Open Meeting for all pro racers, owners, breeders, , GOBA's, trainers etc.
Please show your support. This is your chance to be heard.
Now is our time to stand together and be counted. A serious effort is needed and our voice has to be heard. TIME is not on our side, its time that all sections of our sport stand together " divided we fall, united we conquer".
Wednesday 4th September 2019 at 7.45 pm in Thurles Greyhound Stadium
Maurice, only if we unite as a sport. The only way I can see it. We have to all work together, lot of work ahead, very tough times. But as in the past, we will go belly up if we are divided this time. We can sit at home, moan and groan, this will not help us. Please get behind the federation as one voice, we need to be strong. Not sure whats ahead until we face it, but we can be prepared. NEVER GIVE UP.
Show your support on Wednesday night.
Tony Gallagher Australia (Team Member) Posts 5910 Dogs 12952 / Races 40209 01 Sep 2019 18:45
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maurice mullaney wrote:
Padjoe, any ideas yourself how we can turn this game around Asap?
Put pressure on the board to reduce their "administration costs" and increase spending on welfare and prizemoney.
This would be a good start as there is plenty of money coming in so cutting the money from the main area it is going out is the only way forward.
Martin James Ireland (Verified User) Posts 1128 Dogs 5 / Races 0 01 Sep 2019 19:48
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Minister Creed quoted.
Shift from breeding to welfare to retain funding.What is that supposed to mean? Read the article EXTERNAL LINK Back in the day it was unthinkable that 200 K per annum, possibly less, would not be available to support a feeder Track eg LONGFORD or the like.
Martin James Ireland (Verified User) Posts 1128 Dogs 5 / Races 0 01 Sep 2019 19:58
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Blaming welfare perceptions on falls in attendance ? Im not too sure about that. What about closing the closing of Harolds Cross and the general situation in Dublin.
This is what I think...if that program never aired what would we be thinking... that program to some extent has put a blockage on our perspective of our future it was one big fat lie and the more time goes by the more people are starting to relise it so id encourage people to get back in the driving seat and push forward sitting back worrying and believing our sport is over is exactly what the antis want...the first thing I would do is think of a way to get the public through the gates and involved and that is not a very hard task we are at a stage were people only go places if they have a reason so we create a reason we all know benefit meetings work how many social clubs charitys Gaa clubs schools ect ect are in our local areas that desperately need funding...set up a website linking to social media which allows all these local clubs to book a benefit nite... constantly send out information to the local clubs on how much a benefit nite can make for their clubs set up a yearly callender with booking dates correspond it back to the tracks we could easily have a benefit nite every 2 weeks if this was set up correctly, another thing I would do is set up a protest group from every goba to tackle the anti groups I'd handle it a little differently than standing at gate wit posters because the last thing we want is people thinking we are also part of their protest also I would select a couple of people from the anti protest group to get training in open debating so when they come under questioning they will be well able for the pressure and lastly i believe its time our GOBAs grow and our people get behind them we actually cant sit back any longer for all of this to work we need man power and finances and most of all loyalty to each other,
This is what I think...if that program never aired what would we be thinking... that program to some extent has put a blockage on our perspective of our future it was one big fat lie and the more time goes by the more people are starting to relise it so id encourage people to get back in the driving seat and push forward sitting back worrying and believing our sport is over is exactly what the antis want...the first thing I would do is think of a way to get the public through the gates and involved and that is not a very hard task we are at a stage were people only go places if they have a reason so we create a reason we all know benefit meetings work how many social clubs charitys Gaa clubs schools ect ect are in our local areas that desperately need funding...set up a website linking to social media which allows all these local clubs to book a benefit nite... constantly send out information to the local clubs on how much a benefit nite can make for their clubs set up a yearly callender with booking dates correspond it back to the tracks we could easily have a benefit nite every 2 weeks if this was set up correctly, another thing I would do is set up a protest group from every goba to tackle the anti groups I'd handle it a little differently than standing at gate wit posters because the last thing we want is people thinking we are also part of their protest also I would select a couple of people from the anti protest group to get training in open debating so when they come under questioning they will be well able for the pressure and lastly i believe its time our GOBAs grow and our people get behind them we actually cant sit back any longer for all of this to work we need man power and finances and most of all loyalty to each other,
well said, one example of getting people back in to the tracks is to target younger generation. It might be a bit late for the snowflakes generation but some of the younger ones. I see from Thurles on Saturday some new initiatives to make a visit to the local track worthwhile. One race in the night where the kids can parade with the dogs, so six kids, draw 1-6 and lead out the dog they draw, a prize for the winning child and dog, photo etc. Gets the children back interested. Only one small thing, plenty of other ideas out there to get the public back in the gates. Each track then share ideas. We need to put in some ground work and we will make the sport great again. Unity is powerful and will help implement change. Don't forget to add your support on Wednesday night. We need you to attend.
Tony Gallagher Australia (Team Member) Posts 5910 Dogs 12952 / Races 40209 02 Sep 2019 18:36
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Hi Brian,
You have some great ideas and in the short term they would be a big help to the current situation. I do feel that the grass roots doggy men are trying their best and are doing all they can but without maximun funding and support from the Irish Greyhound Board it may not be enough.
At the moment the anti's are putting pressure on the politicians to stop the funding for Irish greyhound racing. The politicians are putting pressure on the Irish Greyhound Board to come up with a proposal to improve the welfare of greyhounds and the sport as a whole.
In my opinion the only way forward is to present a united front representing everyone involved in the industry and put a proposal directly to the head of the Dept. of Agriculture and all politicians. This in turn will put pressure on the Irish Greyhound Board to make big changes in the way the board is structured and the way funding is distributed. This would also ensure the board would want to work with you and instead of just going through the motions would actually have to take action on your suggestions. The changes are well overdue as the current system simply does not work. This is reflected in tracks being sold off and others closing due to funding.
This is a golden opportunity to have a new start avoiding the pitfalls which have occurred in the past.
Good luck to everyone involved in greyhounds in Ireland.
The above post is my personal opinion only and not that of Greyhound-Data or the team.
You have some great ideas and in the short term they would be a big help to the current situation. I do feel that the grass roots doggy men are trying their best and are doing all they can but without maximun funding and support from the Irish Greyhound Board it may not be enough.
At the moment the anti's are putting pressure on the politicians to stop the funding for Irish greyhound racing. The politicians are putting pressure on the Irish Greyhound Board to come up with a proposal to improve the welfare of greyhounds and the sport as a whole.
In my opinion the only way forward is to present a united front representing everyone involved in the industry and put a proposal directly to the head of the Dept. of Agriculture and all politicians. This in turn will put pressure on the Irish Greyhound Board to make big changes in the way the board is structured and the way funding is distributed. This would also ensure the board would want to work with you and instead of just going through the motions would actually have to take action on your suggestions. The changes are well overdue as the current system simply does not work. This is reflected in tracks being sold off and others closing due to funding.
This is a golden opportunity to have a new start avoiding the pitfalls which have occurred in the past.
Good luck to everyone involved in greyhounds in Ireland.
The above post is my personal opinion only and not that of Greyhound-Data or the team.
Great post and some excellent ideas. The federation has plans to do just this Tony also to unite with other powerful groups to lobby the department and government representatives to protect and save our sport and stadia. Power in strength and to have the right people to implement the greyhound industry as a sport worth keeping.
Kevin Lindsay United Kingdom (Verified User) Posts 1420 Dogs 10 / Races 7 03 Sep 2019 13:39
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Padjoe is anybody doing a live feed into the meeting for those of us who cannot attend?
Many thanks to the large crowd that filled Thurles tonight from all corners of the country, great show of support. Excellent meeting and congratulations to the new Chairman of the federation Damien Matthews. To all the speakers on the night including the people from the floor shows what we can do going forward to make this sport great again, stronger voice and unity.
A special thanks to outgoing chairman Pat O'Neil who was part of the driving force to get the federation back on track once again.
Great meeting padjoe well done to you Geoff and all involved in setting it up,I think we have a great chairman in Damien mathews well done to him and I wish him all the best going forward... challenging times are ahead but with the right attitude we will get passed them...
Well done Padjoe and your committee sorry i could not make the meeting last night best of luck in the future to you and the new chairman Damien Mathews hope yous can bring the greyhound people together
The show of support has been excellent from every track in the country, North and South. all stakeholders represented and all in agreement to unite as one strong voice for the betterment of the sport. We now need to get behind the Monster benefit Night in Shelbourne Park Friday week. Again a big show of support, tickets available on-line and they will also be on sale through each track over the week end, please purchase as many as you can if you are available to attend on the night or not. there is plenty of support for races, anyone wishing to get involved in race sponsorship, or sponsorship on the card, please contact the people on the committee.
IGOBF EGM September 4th/ 2019 The Irish Greyhound Owners And Breeders Federation held a very well supported EGM on Wednesday last with a large attendance from GOBAs around the country and representatives of all sectors in the industry present at Thurles Greyhound Stadium. The most pressing order of business on the meeting agenda was the election of a new IGOBF Chairman to replace the outgoing Pat ONeill. Proposed by Tipperary GOBA, Damien Matthews was elected unopposed, an appointment which was resoundingly endorsed by all GOBA delegates present and extremely well received by the large attendance. In his first address as IGOBF Chairman, Damien firstly thanked his predecessor Pat ONeill for his commitment to the federation.
The Federation has revitalised with support from the wider greyhound community through the toughest period that the sport has endured, haring the same vision for a unified and Industry-wide inclusive Federation, Damien stated that the growing strength of the Federation at present could not be possible without the immense work of the committee throughout this period of time. Outlining his aspirations for the IGOBF going forward, Damien stressed that unity across all stakeholders was the single most important factor in the sport and that the Federation be the channel for owners, breeders, trainers, stud-keepers, bookmakers, sponsors and all participants to address their concerns, with the confidence that these issues will be made known in all dealings with the IGB. In light of the recent Prime Time Investigates documentary on RTE, the new chairman renounced the unacceptable activities of a small minority within the sport who did not represent the vast majority but outlined that the sport must be active in promoting the real truth of greyhound racing in the face of a relentless anti movement. To this end he stated it was vital that greyhound racing form alliances with like-minded industries such as the farming community, the horse racing industry, the hunting groups and the various rural pursuits who face similar opposition through the spread of mistruths. Attendees were also urged to maintain pressure on their local TDs to enlist support ahead of the next General Election and that greyhound racing as an entity present as a voting block who will not support any political party who will not actively work to promote and secure a healthy future for the industry. With uncertainty over the impending Indecon Report, Damien added that rather than reacting to problems, the sport must begin to become more proactive in anticipating obstacles going forward. Imploring all to become involved with their representative GOBAs, he reiterated that the Federation would welcome all contributions that had the good of racing at their core and that the IGOBF be the representative body for all who seek to progress greyhound racing. In the short-term of course and seeking to establish a reserve of funds to aid tracks under financial pressure at present, the details and progress of the IGOBF Save Our Tracks Monster Benefit Meeting at Shelbourne Park was outlined to the attendance. A final push for ticket sales and the enlisting of sponsors over the coming week was requested and it was expressed that all who could make the journey to Shelbourne Park on Friday September 13th be present to support the event as a display of unity with the simple message that no track will close without fervent opposition from the greyhound public across Ireland. Amongst many contributions and expressions of concerns, attendees were brought up to date on the progress of essential electrical works at Longford Greyhound Stadium for which funds had been raised. Representatives thanked the wider community for support received and repeated their gratitude for the defiant manner in which the wider racing community continues to support their efforts to ensure a future for racing in Longford. Many thanks to all those that contributed, its now time for each and every one of to stand up and be counted, do not leave everything to others, to be a strong greyhound community , we need to get behind our GOBA's at local level and support the sport to implement changes to bring back public support, young generation and sponsors to our tracks and a legacy to ensure that greyhound racing remains on the whole of the island of Ireland.
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