News UpdateSeptember - October 2012

Voluntary Moratorium on Shooting of Curlew

Countryside Alliance Ireland is calling for voluntary restraint from the shooting of Curlew this hunting season.

As many of you are aware, Countryside Alliance Ireland, in partnership with the Irish Red Grouse Association, has been conducting a survey of resident

Curlew numbers in the Republic of Ireland, focusing mainly in the Cavan, Monaghan and Leitrim areas.

The aim of the survey is to inform the NPWS and Bird Watch Ireland as to the population of resident Curlew in these areas. As the count continues it

is apparent that the inclement spring and summer weather has had an effect on ground nesting birds and their ability to rear new chicks. This, along with the increased predation of ground nesting birds, has led us to call for this moratorium on shooting curlew for the 2012 season.

Lyall Plant, Chief Executive of Countryside Alliance Ireland, said: “With the imminent arrival of the migratory population we believe that, in order to ascertain the true resident population, we need to carry out further counts when the migratory birds depart our shores.

As a responsible organisation, with our activities based on conservation and sustainability, we believe that this voluntary restraint will allow us to obtain accurate figures that will formulate scientific evidence as to the actual numbers of our resident population”.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Meeting Organised to Discuss Firearms Proposals

The Department of Justice for Northern Ireland has recently released a public consultation on Proposals to vary Firearms Licensing Fees and a number of other miscellaneous amendments to the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004.

The consultation document contains a proposal to increase the cost of a firearm certificate from £50 to £120, an increase of 140%.

The consultation also proposes to increase the cost of a firearm’s dealer’s certificate, from £150 to £697, an increase of 365%.

Countryside Alliance Ireland (CAI) has been working closely with BASC NI, the Gun Trade Guild NI (GTG NI) and the Northern Ireland Firearms Dealers Association (NIFDA) on these and other related issues for some time and we feel that such a substantial increase in firearms licensing fees will have a significantly negative impact on our sport, which contributes £45

million annually to the NI economy and supports the equivalent of 2100 full time jobs.

CAI, working in conjunction with the organisations mentioned above, has organised a firearms dealer’s evening which will be held on Tuesday 18th September 2012 in Island Hall, Lagan Valley Island, Lisburn, at 7:00 pm. Dealers have been asked to express the views of their customers.

The aim of the evening is to provide a forum for discussion where the gun trade can convey not only their views, but also the views of their customers to our political representatives, which we hope will include some, if not all members of the Justice Committee.

Glenoo Shoot and Fishery

I visited Glennoo recently and whilst is sounds rather Scottish it is actually only around 75 minutes from Belfast and under 2 hours from Dublin. Glennoo began life in 2009 as Glennoo Shoot offering small game bird days to groups of 3-6 shooters, on the bogs and forest slopes of Glennoo and Mullaghfad Mountains .

Since then, they have expanded their game shoot and introduced exciting new game angling packages for syndicates and day tickets. The shooting ground covers the small patchwork farms and the heather clad slopes you see on your left between Clogher and Fivemiletown when driving to Enniskillen from the Ballygawley roundabout. This is the Sliabh Beagh range of mountains that straddle the border between Tyrone, Fermanagh and Monaghan.

When you consider the number of small shooting parties that head from here to Scotland each season to shoot mixed bags of 100-150 birds over two or three days, then Glennoo is well placed to dominate this sector for many years as the add on costs of the average trip to Scotland now approach a level that few of us can comfortably afford in these hard times.

With a ferry return averaging £250+, diesel for the trip from £100, accommodation and food at least £60 per day not to mention an evening or two in the pub and you don’t get much change from £1000 per head for your rough shooting trip. Glennoo is reachable from most places in Ireland within a few hours at most and has excellent B&Bs , hotels and the superb Blessingbourne self catering

apartments set in an old world estate courtyard which can cater for up to four per apartment. Leaves you lots of money to spend on the better half or more shooting! As for bringing your shotguns from the Republic of Ireland the boys at Glennoo do virtually all the paperwork for you for £20 per person.

For the 2012/13 season Glennoo offers shooting clients a mix of red partridge, pheasant, woodcock and snipe. Bag sizes will range from 40-70 birds for walked up days and they have a few driven pheasant days left for 80-150 bird days.

Always looking to respond to the changing world of shooting Glennoo is introducing a new concept called “Walked Up Wednesdays” which will offer individual shooters the chance to join a team and avail of a full shooting day without having to chase up a team of guns themselves.

This package is very competitive and can cater for up to 5 guns at a time. There is also a rather unique shoot cabin available for tea and coffee plus the post match analysis.

Glennoo is about more than shooting and this year they have fully launched a comprehensive fishing package with superb trout fishing from boats on two beautiful and heavily stocked loughs in the Sliabh Beagh area.

One is stocked with brown trout and the other with rainbows with three boats on each. There are a few syndicate spots left at the time of going to print but they will have guided day ticket fishing available most days at £20 per angler based on two anglers sharing a boat.

They also offer day tickets on the Blackwater at Clogher which is a prolific wild trout river.

Lyall Plant

The Countryside Alliance Ireland Awards have opened to nominations, so please nominate today and help us sing the praises of those who work so hard for rural life.

You can nominate online – visit www.caireland.org and follow the link, or by phoning 0207 840 9340.

The Awards celebrate communities, produce, enterprise and rural heritage. Voted for by the public across five categories, including a new one for 2012, they applaud those who routinely go the extra mile for their community and help to promote rural life.

The Countryside Alliance Ireland Award categories are:

1. Local Food Award

2. Daily Telegraph Village Shop/Post Office Award

3. Enterprise Award

4. Butcher Award

5. Start-Up Award, new to 2012, for new rural businesses that have been trading for less than 18 months and are already making their mark.

Irish nominees will be judged and the winners announced in early 2013. Those winners will then be on their way to Westminster to represent Irish businesses against winners from across Britain. Ireland’s high quality produce and love of our landscapes and communities gives us a really good chance.

Last year Ireland had two overall winners, with Michael Martin from County Antrim and Nolan’s of Kilcullen taking top honours in their categories. Both parties travelled over for the

awards ceremony in London and were absolutely delighted to be named as the best in the UK and Ireland.

The Awards have been nicknamed ‘The Rural Oscars’ and they belong to their communities rather than just one

business, too, so the morale boost and sense of achievement they engender to everyone in the running is something rather special.

CAI would urge everyone who supports our farmers, businesses and communities to have their say and nominate their favourites.

Those who live and work in rural Ireland face unique challenges and it is our privilege to honour them. Nominations will be accepted until 29th October 2012 - so don’t delay, nominate today!

Positive Beginning to Solving Shooting Issues

On Wednesday 22nd August, Countryside Alliance Ireland facilitated a meeting with representatives of the NASPRC, the Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Siochana.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss and agree a process by which issues raised by members of affiliated clubs could be appropriately dealt with by being logged, actioned and regularly reviewed. By regularly reviewing issues it is hoped to remove obstacles to their conclusion and expedite solutions for the shooter.

Importantly, the meeting was also intended to seek a path forward on key issues affecting the future of sporting shooting. These issues included suitable pistols, rifles and magazines, replacement centrefire pistols, new

entrants to centrefire pistol shooting and reloading status.

In addition, we sought to propose a fair, transparent and consistent licensing process and begin discussions for a credible alternative to legal action for members who believe they have been unfairly treated.

Whilst the agenda was very ambitious for the first meeting, progress was made. The process for managing issues reported to the NASRPC by members of affiliated clubs was accepted and it was agreed that the group would meet every 6 to 8 weeks to monitor progress.

Regarding the other issues identified, further discussion is required before a position and a way forward can be agreed.

The meeting was positive and it was agreed from the outset to focus on current and longer term issues facing our sport and to work together to improve the current situation.

This meeting was very significant in that it was the first time any member of the current NASRPC Committee engaged directly with An Garda Siochana and the Department of Justice and Equality in the same forum.

All parties involved are optimistic that this process will yield a positive outcome.

For the avoidance of doubt, the current legal situation and court cases were not discussed nor was discussion on the subject attempted by any group at the meeting.

CAI Awards open for Nominations

Bits and Pieces Royal Mail Proposing to Ban

Carriage of Firearms

Royal Mail has launched a consultation regarding proposals to prohibit Firearms and component parts from postal services under Postal Schemes. Currently, Royal Mail allows the carriage of Firearms and their component parts for sporting use only.

If these proposals were to be implemented then Royal Mail would explicitly prohibit all Firearms because they are unable to offer safe custody of them. Parcelforce Worldwide would continue to operate a dedicated service for Registered Firearms Dealers.

Countryside Alliance Ireland will be responding to this consultation on behalf of our members and the shooting community. We wish to know the opinions of our members regarding these proposals and to what extent they would affect you directly should they be implemented. We will be submitting a response before the consultation closes on 17th September 2012. Please email your feedback to jenny@caireland.org by 11th September 2012.

Gundog Fair at Temple House Estate

Temple House Estate, County Sligo, is being host to a gundog fair on Sunday 30th September 2012. Top gundog breeders and buyers will gather at the estate to showcase and view working gun dogs from 10am onwards.

The day’s focus is on Spaniels, Labradors and Pointers. There will be good cover for spaniels, open range fields/rushes for pointers and a lake which is perfect for showing retrieving so that enthusiasts can view dogs working before purchase.

Entries are invited from breeders/sellers whose dogs should be registered with the Irish Kennel Club or UK Kennel Club and all dogs attending should have current vaccination certificates.

For more information contact Andrew Young on +353 (0)86 300 5129 or visit the Temple House website

CAI Perpetual Trophy for Best Hunting Dog

The National Country Fair at Borris House was the venue for the recent Cork Field Trial Association working spaniel test. There were an impressive number of competitors participating, some with more than one dog.

CAI sponsored the rosettes and trophies for the three classes; puppy, novice and open. In addition, there was the inaugural presentation of the CAI perpetual trophy for the best hunting dog of the day.

This sought after trophy was deservedly won by Mick Walsh and Hollydrive Theo FTC, and pictured are Frankie and Jenny presenting the trophy to Mick.

The end of an Era

It is with great sadness that our volunteer Frankie Martin has decided to call it a day. After eight years of selfless and hard work Frankie has decided to call a day on travelling the length and breadth of Ireland helping us convey the positive message that everything we do is for the good of country sports and the rural way of life.

Over the years Frankie has played a vital role in developing youth in fishing and has as Chairman of Montalto Anglers made the syndicate waters available for use by Countryside Alliance Ireland. Over the years he has given very generously, and at no time questioned what he was asked to do. Indeed many visitors to our stand had many a long chat with Frankie and I know that he will be a big loss to us all.

Frankie has been awarded Life membership as a token of our thanks for all he has done for Countryside Alliance Ireland and the wider countrysports community.