Irish anti-bloodsports groups are to escalate their campaign to get Waterford Crystal to withdraw from sponsoring bloodsports. A large number of animal rights activists recently held a demonstration at the world famous crystal manufacturing plant at Kilbarry in Waterford in the Republic of Ireland.

At that demonstration the Association of Hunt Saboteurs press officer, Bernie Wright, called on the company to stop supporting legalised animal abuse.

According to Ms.Wright, Waterford Crystal provides sponsorship money to local hunts to run point-to-point race meetings and hunter trials showjumping events. Also, the company aligns itself to the "Greyhound Persons of the Year Awards" which glorifies the abusive nature of greyhound racing and hare coursing.

Despite on-going contact by the AOHS with the Waterford Crystal representatives regarding their sponsorship of bloodsports no clear statement has emerged from the company as to their official policy on sponsoring bloodsports events. The AOHS said they received an assurance from Waterford Crystal's sponsorship co-ordinator that it was not the policy of the company to support such events.

However, recently in a local Waterford newspaper the company's marketing manager, Martin McGuire, was quoted as saying" we will continue to lend our support to country pursuits."

The AOHS have responded by launching a campaign drawing on the resources and membership of animal rights/welfare organisation both in Ireland and worldwide to expose Waterford Crystal's connection to animal abuse.

It is expected that demonstrations will be held at Waterford Crystal outlets in Europe and America. Other actions planned include a telephone, fax and e-mail contact campaign which according to Ms.Wright will let the company the extent of people's anger on this issue. Further demonstrations at the Kilbarry plant are also expected to be held.

The AOHS press officer said last night that the demonstration in at the company's plant was the first action in our campaign. "It is incredible to think that a company like Waterford Crystal needs to promote itself on the back of animal abuse. What they fail to realise is that the Animal Liberation movement is powerful and effective. I have no doubt Waterford Crystal will feel the backlash from people who care about animal rights/welfare. We will show exactly what Waterford Crystal is funding when we demonstrate. We will be urging people to make their views clear to the company."

The AOHS are demanding a clear statement from Waterford Crystal saying that will no longer sponsor or lend its brand name to events connected to bloodsports. They defined bloodsports as sport that directly involves suffering, terror or the death of animal e.g. foxhunting, hare coursing, shooting. Any activity that is linked to the above e.g. point-to-point, greyhound racing, gun dog trials or any activity that furthers the aims of bloodsports be it financial or promotional.

A spokesperson for the company said the company doesn't make any public statements on these matters. It believed that senior management at the company will be meeting shortly to discuss this issue. Until this issue is resolved it expected that tourists visiting the Waterford Crystal factory will be facing animal rights protests.

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