Tipperary TD calls for committee to address dangers of sulky racing on public roads

Clonmel TD Mattie McGrath has renewed calls for action on the issue of sulky racing, urging the establishment of a dedicated committee to find a practical solution. His comments come after a parliamentary question he tabled revealed that no prosecutions have been recorded for racing sulkies on public roads.

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According to the response he received, no such data exist because there is no specific offence under Irish law for racing sulkies in a manner that poses a danger to other road users. The absence of legislation, Deputy McGrath said, leaves a gap in how authorities can respond to unsafe or reckless racing activity.

Sulky racing, a practice in which horses pull lightweight two-wheeled carts often driven at speed along public roads, has long drawn mixed reactions across rural Ireland. While supporters defend it as a cultural tradition, critics point to the risks it poses to drivers, pedestrians and the animals involved.

Deputy McGrath said he believes that cooperation and regulation, rather than prohibition, are the best ways forward. “Banning sulky racing isn’t the way to move forward,” he said. Instead, he suggested that properly organised events could be held on sand-based racecourses, which would provide a safer and more controlled environment for participants and spectators alike.

The Independent TD, called for a committee to be set up to examine the possible legislative and practical measures to manage the activity responsibly. 

Deputy McGrath’s intervention adds to ongoing discussions about how best to regulate sulky racing, an issue that continues to stir debate in Tipperary and beyond. For now, the absence of clear legal provisions means enforcement remains limited, leaving local communities and gardaí to deal with the consequences on a case-by-case basis.

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