In Ireland I often feel that I am wedged between the media monoliths of the UK and the USA. I feel this especially when it comes to information about veganism and animal rights. There are many fantastic groups working in Ireland, and we've had our own Vegan Society for a few years now, but sometimes I get the feeling that people think that the atrocities of animal agriculture just don't happen here. We're a small country with traditional small farms, they may ration, our farming is small, local and unindustrialised.
This however, is far from the truth.
Small, perhaps, but we are a country heavily steeped in agriculture.
As a vegan I find it repulsive, heartbreaking and cruel, which makes it difficult for me to do research into the Irish agriculture industry. The various government boards (such as Bord Bia and Bord Iascaigh Mhara) put profit above all else, which paints a grim picture of the position of animals.
I would like to spend this year's vegan month exploring and highlighting some elements of our country's systematic exploitation of animals.
I'll begin with some statistics from the
central statistics office
According to the preliminary 2011 census there are 4,581,269 people in the Republic of Ireland (excluding me, as I was in Barcelona at the time of the census!), so there are regularly more cattle and often more sheep in this country than people.
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