Laws of the Leash

With a negotiated access over 18 months, Laws of the Leash documents the national hare coursing finals in Clonmel, County Tipperary, and the different experiences of the 3 species involved. Some 10,000 people gather over the weekend to watch and bet on 64 pairs of greyhounds as they race after captured wild hares. Coursing operates through family traditions which can span centuries, but is often surrounded by controversy and opposition from animal welfare groups. However, strong ties to rural identity and communities, a majority support in the Dáil, and an estimated worth of €16m to the local economy all contribute to Ireland being one of only 3 countries in the EU where coursing is yet to be outlawed - its place in the modern world remaining uncomfortable for many.

Laws of the Leash has been made into a self-published photobook and has generated critical interest, winning a place in Source magazine’s 2019 graduate competition.