Shooting club members must “stand in solidarity and accept [the] pheasant shooting season must be put on hold”, according to Fianna Fáil Senator Eugene Murphy.

He has acknowledged that while it may be disappointing that the season was unable to start on Sunday (November 1), he is urging those involved to “accept the situation” and stand in solidarity with everyone else in the battle against Covid-19.

“The pheasant shooting season normally involves shooting club members travelling to pheasant shoots around the country, frequently in groups, so it is not an individual sport and must be subject to the same rules and regulations just like other sports,” the senator said.

The Gardaí have clarified that under the current Covid-19 regulations, sporting events must be organised under the structure/licence of a national governing body, funded by Sport Ireland. As such, sport shooting is prohibited in any other circumstances.

“Recreational hunting does not fall under any of the exemptions allowed for exercise or sporting events. It has also been clarified that recreational hunting does not come under any permissible exemptions for travel outside of the home.

“It may be disappointing for people, but I would urge them to stand with everyone else and accept that this must be put on hold for the moment.”

‘Heart of rural communities being ripped out’

Meanwhile, representatives of Aontú have called it the “latest attacks on rural Ireland”.

Representative for the Trim area Jack Lynch said that the heart of rural communities is “being ripped out with Covid-19 restrictions that do not help stop the spread of the virus”.

“Country sports such as hunting and fishing have been banned and churches have been forced to keep their doors shut without considering the devastating impact that this is having on small rural communities around the country,” he says.

“I cannot think of a more socially distanced place to be than down the fields with your dog watching her work as she catches the scent of a pheasant.

You are totally isolated from the world and even if two people are hunting together, they are out in the fresh air and can put as many acres between each other as is needed.

“People all across rural Ireland look forward all year to the three-month period during the winter months when they can get out with their dog and hunt game birds.

“In the darkest months of the year, this is a vital way of looking after people’s mental health. The joy of seeing your dog in the field is something that’s hard to describe.

“While we support the fact that the GAA [is] still operating at a county level, I cannot see how the mostly solitary pursuit of hunting and fishing are banned. This is another senseless attack on country sports.”