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Newsletter - December 2001 Issue
Chairman’s Letter
We are now known as ‘Countryside Ireland’, a title that should help
to move our organisation into a stronger position for Fieldsport and Conservation
representation.
The members voted unanimously for the name
change at the extraordinary general meeting following the A.G.M. held in Athlone
in October. The original name ‘The Irish Field & Country sports Society
Company Limited’, will remain the corporate name and whilst worthy of the
society at it’s foundation, the name was not proving to be suitable for pushing
forward a major membership drive which is so badly needed.
The agenda for launching ‘Countryside Ireland’ has already started with a
development strategy devised by the committee. A press campaign with good
coverage in the Fieldsport and farming press has already been initiated also
a programme of events for 2002 is being instigated, culminating with an official
launch at the ‘National Country Fair’ in Birr Castle on the June bank holiday
weekend. Sun 2nd –3rd June 2002.
Scotland
It is with regret that we watch the goings
on in the new Scottish parliament. The debate on the Watson’s ‘Hunting with
dogs bill’ has been driven by prejudice and bitterness, with the advice of the
advisory committee being totally ignored as was the Burns enquiry in England.
The Edinburgh March.
We unfortunately had to advise field-sport enthusiasts in this country not
to attend the March on the Mound in Scotland, as the F.M.D. position has not
been fully reviewed by our selves and the dept of agriculture. Another month
free of the disease in the U.K will help our agricultural industry to breath
a little easier.
F.A.C.E. Ireland.
F.A.C.E. held it’s board meeting in Dublin recently with twenty eight countries
involved, representing over eleven million hunters across Europe. The main
issues discussed, apart from organisational logistics, were the confusion
in Europe over the interpretation of the ‘Birds Directives’ by different countries
and the concerns over the Game Meat regulations and Firearms directive. It
is essential that we give F.A.C.E. the support that it needs in it’s monitoring
of legislation, on our behalf in the European Parliament.
F.A.C.E has announced that at long last, one of the main angling organisations
is now working from the office in Brussels, and discussions are on going about
that angling group becoming part of F.A.C.E (.Europe).
Next Year F.A.C.E will celebrate twenty five years lobbying on field-sport
and conservation issues in the European Parliament. They will have an exhibition
and congress in Brussels next march and host receptions for M.E.P.’S.
Fishing
The new bag limits for salmon and sea trout announced by the minister Mr.
Frank Fahy have to be questioned. Where good conservation practises and monitoring
of fisheries has been practised, it’s wrong for the government to introduce
such extreme measures with little or no consultation on each individual eco-system.
Some rivers have a good record on conservation and management, with respectable
numbers of smolts returning to the sea each year. The real issues are the
internationally recognised problem of indiscriminate and excessive cropping
by drift netting and also the increasing problem of cormorants moving further
and further up rivers, where they are mopping up large quantities of juvenile
salmon.
Log Books: Remember that there is a deadline for the return
of log books and unused tags. Both must be returned within 21 days from the
expiry of the licence or the end of the fishing season.
Hunting
Irish anti-field sport organisation, I.C.A.B.S. have said that they are abandoning
their non-confrontational policy and vowed to use protest, boycotts and shame
campaign to force authorities to mirror proposed hunt bans in Scotland and
England.
Our response to their misinformed agenda is that the government and the general
public have responded well to the rules and procedures agreed between our
Department of Agriculture and the Hunting Association.
We appeal to all hunt clubs to comply strictly with these rules and to adhere
with the protocols on the F.M.D. prevention.
Conservation Issues
Countryside Ireland will be taking a stronger standpoint on conservation
topics and will be commenting nationally on issues that affect wildlife habitats.
We will be represented at all the necessary forums that might affect our members.
An example recently was the ‘Water Framework Directive’ conference
at Tullamore. The directive is part of E.U. legislation and is been monitored
by the department of the environment. River basin management
for clean water quality is essential for fishery eco-systems.
Finally ‘Countryside Ireland’ can only become a strong voice
for field-sports with your continuing support. We need to increase our membership
dramatically therefore please recommend us to your fellow sportsmen and women
be they shooters, hunters, fishers, ratters, falconers, etc.
David Wilkinson. Chairman, Countryside Ireland
Contact Details
Hon. Secretary Philip Lawton, 100 Ballygall Road East, Glasnevin,
Dublin 11 Telephone: 01-8348279 or 087-2472006
Chairman David Wilkinson, Hotwell House, Longwood, Co. Meath Telephone:
087-9973608
Website The webmaster is William McClintock Bunbury www.countrysideireland.com
Membership & Renewals Information and applications
Michael Ryan (Treasurer & Membership Secretary) Telephone: 0404-46684
Michael Ryan & Associates, Low Street, Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow.
Dates for your diary
SHOW CALENDAR 2002
Countryside Ireland will be exhibiting at these shows. Anyone
willing to assist at the above please contact our show organiser Hon. Secretary
Philip Lawton, 100 Ballygall Road East, Glasnevin, Dublin 11. Telephone: 01-8348279
or 087-2472006
2002 NATIONAL COUNTRY FAIR
The 2002 National Country Fair will be held on Sunday and Monday 2–3 June,
Bank Holiday weekend, at Birr Castle Demesne, Birr, Co. Offaly.
In the four years of its existence the attendance
of the Fair has grown from 8,000 spectators in 1998 to 22,000 in 2000. Traditionally
the Fair was held on one day only, however the new venue, Birr Castle Demesne
allows management to extend the Fair to two days with a projected attendance
of 40,000 spectators. “I believe that Birr Castle Demesne is
ideally suited to hosting this increasingly popular event,” said Margaret
Edgill, Fair Director.
The Main Arena plays host to world-class demonstrations, displays and clinics
over the two days. Over 100 trade exhibitors will participate in the Retail
Village. New attractions for 2002 will be, Horses Impossible (Medieval
Jousting), Kangaroo Kid (stunt entertainer), John Bidwell (exhibition shot),
Terrier Roadshow Racing Team, International Gun Dog Trials, Aerobatic Flying
Displays……… The many favourites will also be returning, and in response
to demand the clay shooting layout has been increased. Angling Seminars will
include information area hosting talks and demonstrations by experts in their
field.
The Fair provides entertainment for all members of the family and has become
Ireland’s premier country sports event and country fair.
For further information contact:
Margaret Edgill, Fair Director,
tel/fax: 01-4580981
email: info@countryfair.ie
http://www.countryfair.ie
YOUNG COUNTRYSIDE IRELAND
Hi, my name is Catherine Lawton, I am seventeen and am a member of Countryside
Ireland. My father, Philip Lawton, is the Hon. Secretary that’s how I ended
up at the Horse Show. Well, the week of the Horse Show started with
a very busy day on Tuesday as the stand had to be set up – and you can’t park
near the stand – so lots of carrying. The place was so busy you could hardly
move and David Wilkinson, Niall Clancy, Dad and myself set up the stand and
finally left the R.D.S. at nine o’clock, and they did not even bring me to
the bar. Every morning started by leaving home in time to be at the R.D.S.
well before the show opened at nine o’clock, and making sure the stand was
ready for the day. It was after seven o’clock in the evening before we finished.
Dad had asked me to help and it was something to do during my summer
holidays. I had a great time during the week, talking to many different people
of varying ages, who had interests in many types of fieldsports. If you hear
about a show that Countryside Ireland are having a stand at, and you would
like to help, get in contact with Philip Lawton, David Wilkinson or Michael
Ryan. They would love to hear from you and I would love to have some young
company at the shows. Don’t be put off by the hard work because there was
plenty of fun too. They are not bad to work with – really! SO GET INVOLVED.
Catherine Lawton.
WEB SITE
www.countrysideireland.com
This is the all new and improved website
under the organisation’s new name COUNTRYSIDE IRELAND. There is plenty to be seen from the objectives to
a guest book (leave a message – telling us anything you might like to see
on the site) and linked sites, including a photo gallery. All
you have to do for those who are not very computer literate (like my Dad)
is “click on” the thing that you want to look at and wait till it appears
on your screen. There are even some
photographs from the Horse Show. Many of the links show things connected with
fieldsports and you might get interested in something new. If
you have access to the Internet, “log on” and have a look – you will be impressed.
This new website is due to hard work of committee member, William McClintock
Bunbury.
Secretary’s musings
Sporting terms The young of animals and birds have their special terms
and quite a few have been borrowed to describe our own children often with amusing
results if we were to think where they came from. Geese have goslings and a
dog and bitch otter may produce cubs while grouse produce cheepers, partridges
squeakers and pigeons have squabs. The young of wild fowl being flappers have
a 1920’s sound but don’t be temped to use the term to your teenage daughter
or, even worse, think she’s other than a cygnet. Badgers and bears have cubs
as do foxes, leopards, lions and otters while wild boars and their sows will
produce squeakers. Deer, if red, have calves, while fallow produce fawns and
roe, kids, or fawns and young hares are leverets. The cries are probably
better known and while the cattle will low and the ass bray, monkeys chatter,
a panther saws and a sambhur bells. A pheasant crows and a raven croaks while
that chicken designed by a committee, the ostrich, actually wails but the amusing
green woodpecker yaffles or laughs. There are a number of excellent reference
books which will give you hours of innocent amusement and the most exhaustive
is undoubtedly “The Language of Field Sports” by C.E. Hare first published in
1939 but now republished by David A. H. Grayling of Shap, Penrith, Cumbria,
and just the thing to get your hands on to enable you to annoy your friends.
Others are “A Dissimulation of Birds” and “A Menagerie of Animals” by Steve
Palin which are beautifully illustrated (Minerva Press, London) and “A Dictionary
of Sporting Terms” by Michael Brander published in 1968 by A. & C. Black
Limited of London.
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