Cork County Council Ban Circus Animal Acts on Public Land

CORK COUNTY COUNCIL PASSES MOTION TO BAN ANIMAL-ACT CIRCUSES USING PUBLIC LAND
The Future of an Animal-Act Free Circus Industry is Nearing, says Group

County Cork ­ ARAN and Animal Rescue Cobh are this morning celebrating the latest victory in our efforts to get animals out of Irish circuses as we prepare for flowers and a ‘thank you¹ note to be sent to Sinn Fein Councillor Kieran McCarthy, who introduced a motion this morning that would prohibit any circuses using public land in Count Cork ­ the motion was back the majority. Cork City Council passed a similar motion back in 2008 but never made it into by-laws for no main reason – we are no confident both will now be brought forward this year.

³With countries all over the world introducing national legislation to ban animal-act circuses on grounds of animal suffering, it¹s only a matter of time before Ireland can finally hold it¹s head up high and look to a future without animal suffering in the circus says,² ARAN¹s John Carmody. ³We commend the progressive efforts of councillor McCarthy and his fellow members for backing this motion.²

“This, being the very first meeting of the new council, if I succeed in having this motion passed and no other over the next five years, then I’ll feel I had achieved something great and worthwhile,” says Cllr McCarthy.

“We are ecstatic that this motion has been passed with a unanimous yes vote. It just goes to show what can be achieved when like-minded people come together and speak out for what they believe in. We gave animals in circuses a voice, not just in Cork, but throughout Ireland and the world. We hope this inspires others to keep campaigning towards the day animal-act circuses will be a thing of the past.² says Katie McGroarty of (ARC).

County Cork now joins the ranks of Drogheda, Wicklow Town, Arklow, Waterford, Monaghan, Clonakilty and South Dublin Council.

What is wrong with using animals in circuses? Aren¹t they well looked after? With the very best intentions in the world a travelling circus is unable to adequately provide for the animals in their care. Traveling from city to city, animals are kept in the back of beast wagons only to be tethered up, caged up or chained up in small spaces with little mental stimulation, no physical exercise and their often highly complex needs are denied. Whilst circuses continue to assert their love of animals – nothing could be further from the truth unless you consider giving animals food and a drink of water, ³love². Duffy¹s Circus is now touring Ireland with sea lions that has sparked concern by people in every city they have visited so far. The controversial Courtney Brothers Circus is touring with tigers who are going insane <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqWPmo73bnA> from confinement.