FACE Ireland
FACE Ireland is the voice of Ireland's rural pursuits. We represent the conservationists, hunters, participants, landowners, and families for whom countryside pursuits are a way of life.
Why this matters
An organised, well-funded campaign is pushing for an outright ban on certain pursuits such as hunting with hounds, coursing and greyhound racing. These campaigns are backed by self-commissioned polls claiming 80% public support. That figure is unverified and unchallenged.
What is equally important to understand is that this campaign does not stop with hunting, coursing or greyhound racing. The organisations driving it have publicly stated their opposition to shooting, horse racing and a range of other rural pursuits. Hunting, coursing and greyhound racing are the first targets. If they succeed here, the rest will follow.
FACE Ireland exists to respond with facts, with evidence, and with the organised voice of Ireland's rural countryside community.
Ireland's countryside communities actively shape the rural landscape through habitat management, invasive species control, pest management and wildlife stewardship. NARGC members invest almost €1 million per year in non-shooting conservation projects.[2]
Source: nargc.ie
Pest control and wildlife management play an important role in protecting Ireland's countryside, farmland and biodiversity. Responsible management helps control invasive and pest species, reduce damage to habitats and agriculture, and support healthy wildlife populations. FACE Ireland members contribute through practical conservation work, habitat stewardship and the sustainable management of wildlife, helping to maintain a balanced and resilient rural environment.
Hunting, shooting, coursing and rural countryside pursuits support employment, skilled trades and businesses across Ireland. A 2007 study found Irish hunters alone contribute over €111 million to the national economy annually, with 80 to 90 percent spent in rural areas.[1]
Source: FACE Economics of Hunting (face.eu)
Hunt clubs, shooting clubs, coursing organisations and their volunteers are the social backbone of many rural communities, sustaining networks, traditions and a sense of belonging that has no urban equivalent. NARGC alone has 25,000 members across 1,050 clubs, with one club in almost every parish in Ireland.[2]
Source: nargc.ie
Our associations
FACE Ireland brings together thirteen associations representing hunting with hounds, game shooting, hare coursing, deer management, falconry, greyhound breeding and other rural countryside pursuits. Together they represent tens of thousands of members, clubs, landowners and rural businesses across every county in Ireland.
GAME SHOOTING & CONSERVATION
Ireland's largest voluntary field-sports body, coordinating 28 regional game councils and parish gun clubs.
HARE COURSING
National governing body for regulated hare coursing, established 1916, keeper of the Irish greyhound stud book.
TERRIER WORK & PEST CONTROL
Federation of terrier clubs promoting humane, selective pest control below ground.
MOUNTED FOXHUNTING
Governing body for 42 registered foxhound packs, founded 1859.
MOUNTED HARRIER HUNTING
Represents mounted harrier packs hunting hare, one of six disciplines coordinated nationally.
GREYHOUND BREEDING & RACING
National federation representing greyhound owners and breeders across regional associations.
FOOT HARRIER HUNTING
Governs foot-hunting of hare with harriers, without horses, across the countryside.
DEER STALKING & MANAGEMENT
Ireland's leading deer-stalking body, promoting sound management of the wild deer herd.
INVASIVE SPECIES CONTROL
Regulates mink-hound packs that hunt invasive American mink along Irish waterways.
BEAGLING
Promotes and governs beagle packs that hunt hare on foot.
STAGHOUND HUNTING
Ireland's mounted staghound pack, hunting a laid line with deer recovered unharmed.
FALCONRY
Established 1860, one of the oldest falconry clubs in the world, dedicated to birds of prey.
DEER CONSERVATION
Established 1968 to monitor legislation and safeguard the welfare of Irish wild deer.
Rural Footprint
To counter the misinformation and give politicians and media the facts they need, FACE Ireland has commissioned Rural Footprint — a structured, independently overseen survey of everyone connected to rural countryside pursuits in Ireland. From hunt club committees to local pubs, from farriers to landowners, from young riders to rural vets.
The aggregated results will be published openly and used by FACE Ireland to make the evidence-based case for rural communities at every level of public debate.
Phase 1 of the survey is now open for hunting with hounds and terriers. Further surveys covering shooting, coursing, greyhound racing and falconry will follow.
Stay informed
Ask FACE Ireland to email you as each Rural Footprint survey opens. Choose the topics that matter to you, confirm your address by email, and unsubscribe at any time.
