City centre march held to mark World Animal Day

By Darren J Prior

Fifty people (and a few dogs) turned out for the national march in Dublin City Centre for World Animal Day 2025 on October 4.

While a couple of people this publication spoke to on the day were a bit disappointed withthe turnout, the majority view was that it was a successful event, bearing in mind that it was held during Storm Amy.

 The organisers of the march had agreed with An Garda Síochána to march from the Garden of Remembrance to Merrion Square but before the march set off they were told that the Gardaí could only bring them to O’Connell Bridge as there was “trouble” on the southside of the city from another march taking place; organisers were not overly disappointed with this, given the weather.

Tara O’Connor and her partner Kevin Keegan, who both live in Carlow, were the main organisers of the march working alongside John O’Callaghan from Dog Advocacy Ireland and Dog Advocacy Ireland in general.

Tara said that she was “really happy with the turnout. I kind of thought that it would be a bit less with the weather but I am delighted. I think we have done quite well”.

She also said that she, Kevin and Dog Advocacy Ireland have got a lot of feedback in their campaign for Stout’s Law.

She explained, “we have a lot of support and have got a lot of feedback. We have quite a few rescues on board. Quite a few politicians on board. And of course the Party for Animal Welfare are on board. It’s amazing. It’s really nice to see the support we are getting.”

Asked whether she is hopeful that there will be a big reform in animal welfare laws soon, Martina Kenny from My Lovely Horse Animal Rescue said, “I would love if there was a big change, but I doubt it is going to happen very soon.”

“If enough people get together and enough people shout and realise that we’re in charge, not the government, maybe things will change. And they should change; they have to change”.

Cathal Leavy, Dublin Local Area Representative of the Party for Animal Welfare PAW also had strong words to say.

“We have to build a bit of momentum. We have to get more and more people out for events like this. Because the fact is, most people do support better welfare for animals.”

“We have to get to the government and make them face up to themselves and stop just whinging about money all of the time,” he said.

“Animal welfare is extremely important – we can’t be ignorant of animals just because they haven’t got a voice.”

Leavy said, “all the government ever go on about is money – have some respect for animals.”

“We want a change to the laws to look after animals as they should be looked after. Animals are not on this planet for people’s personal pleasure and entertainment. They have feelings themselves and they have to be looked after and that has to be enshrined in the law; we’re sick of the government”.

Addressing the marchers at the Garden of Remembrance before they took off on their march to O’Connell Bridge, John O’Callaghan from Dog Advocacy Ireland said he and DAI expect to organise another march for dog and animal welfare in general in Dublin City Centre again soon.