Danny Healy-Rae backs funding for greyhounds and racing
Danny Healy-Rae spoke in support of the ministers and the government for announcing money for the greyhound and horse racing industries. He praised the industries' value to Kerry communities and criticised opposition speakers for failing to understand rural life.
He welcomed the ministers and the government for announcing this money for the greyhound industry and for the horse racing industry, saying the funding recognises what these activities mean to county Kerry and to rural people.
He described people with greyhounds out in the morning and late in the evening, walking and exercising the dogs and themselves, calling them a vital part of the community and saying they do "tremendous work".
He highlighted the economic benefit of race meetings in places like Killarney and Lishdale, mentioning the Harvest Festival, visitors from across Ireland who spend in local towns, and the colour and fashion that attendees bring to the events, including a local winner, Joanne Murphy, as best dressed lady in Lishdale.
He criticised opposition comments made the previous Wednesday, saying opponents were "playing to the gallery" and urging them to come down, walk the roads and witness the role greyhound owners and rural people play in their communities.
Funding and support
He welcomed the ministers and the government for announcing this money for the greyhound industry and for the horse racing industry, saying the funding recognises what these activities mean to county Kerry and to rural people.
Greyhound owners and community life
He described people with greyhounds out in the morning and late in the evening, walking and exercising the dogs and themselves, calling them a vital part of the community and saying they do "tremendous work".
Horse racing's economic and cultural contribution
He highlighted the economic benefit of race meetings in places like Killarney and Lishdale, mentioning the Harvest Festival, visitors from across Ireland who spend in local towns, and the colour and fashion that attendees bring to the events, including a local winner, Joanne Murphy, as best dressed lady in Lishdale.
Response to opposition
He criticised opposition comments made the previous Wednesday, saying opponents were "playing to the gallery" and urging them to come down, walk the roads and witness the role greyhound owners and rural people play in their communities.
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Transcript
I'm glad to get the opportunity to talk here and support the ministers and the government for announcing this money for the greyhound industry and for the horse racing industry. We know what they mean to our county in Kerry. People with greyhounds out in the morning, late in the evening, walking, they're exercising the dogs and they're exercising themselves and they're a vital part of our community. And we hear the opposition here and they were playing to the gallery last Wednesday night what they wouldn't do for the farmers and what they were going to do for them. These are all farmers and they're rural people trying to live the best way they can. And we appreciate the level of money that the horse racing industry brings to towns like Killarney. We have four or five race meetings there and then we have the big one in Lishdale, the Harvest Festival and the mountain people that comes from all over Ireland and spends their money in Lishdale and the local towns because they can't all stay in Lishdale, all the people for the week. And then we have to be honest and appreciate the colour and the fashion that the ladies bring to the places like Lishdale races and Killarney races and where they spend fortunes for to do themselves up and to add glamour to our events. And we appreciate that very much. Even we have local ladies from Killarney that actually won the best dressed lady in Lishdale, Joanne Murphy. And we appreciate all this because it means so much to rural Ireland and the people that are talking against it. I'm sorry that they don't understand it. You should come down and see what's going on there and walk the roads with the people that are walking the dogs because they're doing tremendous work and it's great for people's heads to get out on the road and walk in the fresh air. And they love their dogs and they appreciate them and they do nothing in the world wrong to them. They spin more on the dogs than they spin in their homes. Is there someone else? Yes, there is. Oh, sorry. Deputy Michael Carr.