A large increase in the number of visitors from Britain is expected at next week's National Coursing Meeting in Clonmel.
And The Nationalist understands that those visitors will include former soccer player turned film star Vinnie Jones.
Last week The League Against Cruel Sports accused Vinnie Jones of glamorising hare coursing, and told him to stay away from the even
t.
However the Mayor of Clonmel, Cllr. Niall Dennehy, and Jerry Desmond, Chief Executive and Secretary of the Irish Coursing Club told him that he would be very welcome at the Meeting.
The increase in British visitors has been prompted by the hunting ban in the UK, which has banned coursing, foxhunting and all forms of hunting with dogs.
Sterling's favourable exchange rate with the Euro also adds to the attraction of the three-day festival for British greyhound enthusiasts.
The Meeting, which also attracts thousands of other visitors from all over Ireland, as well as Northern Ireland and some European countries, is worth an estimated ?12million-?16 million to the local economy.
The week will start with the Ladies International hosted by the Clonmel and District Open Coursing Club at Clerihan on Sunday, before the National Meeting gets underway at Powerstown Park Racecourse on Monday morning.
Meanwhile Jerry Desmond has stated that the withdrawal of sponsors Irish Dog Foods will have "no effect whatsoever" on the meeting.
Mr. Desmond claimed that the company had withdrawn its sponsorship from two of the support stakes because of threats made against it by anti-blood sports activists, a claim that has been refuted by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports.
Aideen Yourell, a spokesperson for the Irish Council Against Blood Sports, thanked the Naas-based company for responding positively to what it says was its "appeal not to associate with this cruel event".
When contacted, Irish Dog Foods refused to comment.
The main stakes at the Meeting are the Derby, which is sponsored by Boylesports, and the Oaks, sponsored by Hotel Minella.
