Sherlock urges Government to convene hurley-maker stakeholders
- Urgency required to save the bloodstock of hurling
Labour Agriculture Spokesperson Seán Sherlock TD has called on the Government and the Ministers for Agriculture convene a meeting of stakeholders on the crisis facing hurley-makers in the country. As Canning Hurleys in Galway close today due to a lack of ash supplies, Deputy Sherlock said we cannot afford to lose the hurley-makers that are the bloodstock of the sport.
Deputy Sherlock raised the matter as a Priority Question to the Minister today in the Dáil.
Said Deputy Sherlock:
“The Canning Family is synonymous with the game of hurling and their closure today is a hammer blow for the sport. Government must intervene to protect hurley makers in this country and to ensure that a process is put in place to support hurling.
“Speaking in the Dáil today, I asked the Minister of State to convene a meeting with Croke Park, Teagasc, Coillte and the Irish Guild of Ash Hurley Makers as soon as possible. I note that meetings have taken place “several times” as the Minister of State said.
“However, I asked that she would consider reconvening a meeting at the earliest possible opportunity as a matter of urgency to deal with supply issues. One of the supply lines comes from Ukraine and that makes the issue particularly urgent. We cannot afford to lose hurley-makers. They are the supply lines, bloodlines and bloodstock of that sport.”