Government funding of ‘sports’

Sir, – The 800,000 members of the GAA around this country will surely welcome the recent news that JP McManus is to give every county board on the island €1 million.

The Irish billionaire used to be one of the main sponsors of hare coursing, so the redirection of his munificence to a real sport will also be welcomed by the great majority of Irish people who are opposed to this vile blood sport.

Since it took office, this Government has given €74 million of taxpayers’ money to the handful of people who breed and race greyhounds, an activity intrinsically linked to hare coursing, and one responsible for the death and injury of thousands of dogs every year.

Imagine the good that this money could do if it were given instead to some of the many genuine sporting organisations around this country which, like the GAA, foster happier, healthier and stronger communities? This Government could take a leaf out of Mr McManus’s book. – Yours, etc,