White Sands Hotel (Co.Kerry)

“On Kerry’s Wild Atlantic Way, the White Sands is a family run hotel beside one of Ireland’s best blue flag beaches. Enjoy miles of sandy beaches and traditional live music in Jimmy Brownes Pub.” The ‘family run’ White Sands Hotel in Ballyheigue is owned by Jimmy Browne who has been involved in hare coursing for years. The hotel has shamefully sponsored the “White Sands Hotel Coursing Cup” at the Ballyheigue coursing meeting. A 25 February 2025 report in The Kerryman noted that “Bobby Browne delivered Ballyheigue hotelier Jimmy Browne’s third success in coursing’s Irish Cup”. In a February 2025 Facebook post, local councillor Michael Leane wrote: “I’d like to congratulate Jimmy Browne and his family of the White Sands Hotel Ballyheigue on winning the Irish Cup [hare coursing event] with his dog Bobby Browne…” Hare coursing – like fox hunting – remains legal in the Republic of Ireland, with licences for the netting of thousands of hares issued by the Department of Heritage. A 2019 RED C poll found that 77% of people in Ireland want coursing banned, with just 9% disagreeing with a ban.