The Federation of County Cork Gun Clubs

County Qualifier Clay Shoot Change of Date

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The County Qualifier and Open Shoot organised for Sunday 29th November has been deferred for one week owing to unforeseen problems. The new date is Sunday 6th December. The times and venue remain the same. 1st card is at 10:30 am, last card at 15:00. We would like to apologize for the change at short notice and for any inconvenience caused.

Clay Target Shoot – Qualifying Round

Venue: Dunmanway Clay Target Shooting Grounds

Date: Sunday 06th Dec 2015 10.30 AM to 3.00 PM

County Qualifier and Open Shoot.

Minister announces Ban on Sale of Woodcock

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Minister Humphreys announces ban on the sale of woodcock

The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys TD, has  announced a ban on the sale of woodcock, effective from 1st November 2015. The move is aimed at addressing the falling number of the bird species here.

There is a large winter influx of woodcock to Ireland. The Minister has decided to introduce the ban, following consultation with relevant stakeholders, in order to reduce shooting pressure on the species. The ban is effective from November 1st, which is the start date for the hunting season for woodcock which extends until 31st January 2016.

 Minister Humphreys has outlined the rationale below:

“Concerns have been expressed by both hunting groups and conservation bodies that the extent of shooting is threatening the woodcock population. It is thought the increase in the shooting of woodcock may be due to the overseas market for the species.

“My Department will monitor the impact of the ban during the hunting season and I will consider additional protection measures, if required. Any further changes will only be implemented in consultation with the relevant hunting and conservation organisations.

“A number of hunting and conservation groups are supportive of the ban, including the National Woodcock Association of Ireland, the Association of Game Shot Operators, the National Association of Regional Game Councils and BirdWatch Ireland.”

A replacement for the CLA Game Fair

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A new date for the diary.

The CLA Game Fair in the UK is at an end. It is being replaced with a new show called “The UK Game Fair”. The venue will be the National Agricultural Expedition Centre Stoneleigh Park and the dates are 22-24 July 2016.

https://www.ukgamefair.com/the-show/

The promise is to make this the new flagship fair for country sports and hopes to address many of the CLA Game Fairs perceived failings and is designed to attract the mainstream Game Fair following among both exhibitors and visitors.

UK Game Fair Location

Sucessful Clay Target Shoot

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bigstock-Wild-Pheasant-In-Sunset-Light-103114508-300x200Recently at Ballindenisk Watergrasshill the Federation of County Cork Gun Clubs held a Clay Target Shoot.

This event was very well attended.

There was a Fifty Bird Sporting over five stands and the general view was that stand five was very difficult. The weather on the day was reasonable.

2015 EU Birds Directive Derogation

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Under the terms of the EU Birds Directive,  Ireland has to take measures to protect all wild birds and their habitats.

The Directive allows member states to make derogations from its protective measures where particular wild bird species are causing damage to crops, livestock and fauna  and/or represent a threat to public health or to air safety.

The minister has signed such a derogation  for the 12 month period from 1st May 2015 to 30th April 2016.

A link to that Derogation is available here.

Open Seasons Order

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The National Parks and Wildlife Service has published the species of birds and animals which may be hunted and the dates which apply for those hunting seasons.

For details, see the Open Seasons Order.

 

Quarterly Meeting: November 2015

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A quarterly meeting of the Federation of Cork County Gun Clubs will be held in the Oriel House Hotel Ballincollig on Wed 11th November at 20:30 hrs.

Our guest speaker is Mr Ian Fish, Gamekeeper, who will speak for 15 minutes on game-rearing and then answer any questions.

We’d be delighted to see members of Cork gun clubs at the event.

Everyone welcome.

Changes to Firearms Licensing Announced

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Clay pigeon shooting cork

The Minister for Justice & Equality, Frances Fitzgerald TD, has announced a new Statutory Instrument to govern the licensing of target handguns

She has also announced plans for changes to the administration of the firearms licensing system generally. Cork game clubs should note that the proposal to ban certain semi-automatic shotguns is dropped as are the proposals to give An Garda Siochana new powers to refuse firearms licence applications for any firearm based on calibre, appearance, or proliferation. Instead the proposals include the Sports Coalition’s suggestions in their plans.

Main proposals:

  • To establish new Firearms Assessment and Appeals Authority
  • An immediate cap on licensing of any new centre-fire semi-automatic rifles
  • Minister to sign new Statutory Instrument re-defining non-restricted handguns
  • An Garda Síochána to establish centralised licensing system for restricted firearms
  • Garda Inspectorate to review the administration of firearms licensing
  • Re-establishment of Firearms Consultative Panel
  • No changes to the licensing of shotguns and the vast majority of rifles which make up 99% of licensed firearms in Ireland.

NARGC – the National Association of Regional Game Councils of which our Cork Federation is a member – has welcomed the developments, and thanked the Sports Coalition, William Egan (solicitor) and Minister Fitzgerald for their hard work and pragmatism in developing the new proposals. Its National Director Desmond Crofton said:

“[Minister Fitzgerald’s] planned proposals will in time make a very positive contribution to removing the acrimonious and adversarial approach, which has characterised firearms licensing in this country over the past ten years, while at the same time taking full account of public safety concerns. It therefore goes without saying that I and the Sports Coalition welcome and fully endorse the Minister’s announcement. […]It is my hope that shooting people can now settle down to concentrating on participation in their chosen sport and leave behind the need to engage in a constant battle to even renew a firearms certificate.

Cork Gun Clubs that have queries about the proposed legislation are welcome to contact the Federation of Cork County Gun Clubs for more information.

Click to view:
Statutory Instrument No. 391 of 2015
Department of Justice press release