Latest news with #BillyWoods
Irish Independent
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Cork Super Cup: What time is kickoff? Is the game on TV? Other questions answered
The weather is set to be stunning for the historic clash, which will see the Bhoys take on the Rebel Army, the first time a League of Ireland side has ever graced the hallowed turf of 'the Park'. Both teams attended a Mayoral Reception at Cork City Hall yesterday evening and players will train in Cork today ahead of the clash. Tens of thousands of tickets have already been sold for the game, with a large contingent of Celtic fans expected to travel from Scotland, and all four corners of the island, to see the reigning Scottish Premiership champions take on the hosts. Have Cork City played Celtic before? This will be the sixth meeting between the pair, with all previous encounters being close affairs. In their first clash, it was the League of Ireland outfit that got the better of their Scottish counterparts, winning 2-0 at Turner's Cross in the summer of 1991. A year later, the Bhoys returned the favour in Bishopstown, winning by the same scoreline, and in 1994 they were back in town, with Billy Woods scoring a spectacular volley for the hosts, however goals from Paul McStay, Simon Donnelly, and John Collins ensured a 3-2 win for the Celts. In 2001, Martin O'Neill's Celtic were also pushed to the wire in victory by the same score at Turner's Cross, while eight years later, a Celtic XI was organised to travel to Cork to play a then-financially struggling City in a bid to raise funds. Former Derry City player Patrick McCourt scored the winner in front of just 3,520 in what turned out to be a damp squib in City's final season before being rescued by FORAS. However, this game is set to be one of the highlights of a superb Cork sporting summer, and multiple times that number are expected to filter through the turnstiles at Cork GAA headquarters, just days after the hurling side reached the All-Ireland final. What time is kickoff? The game is set to start at 6pm on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. Is the game on TV? Yes, the game will be shown on Premier Sports 1 in Ireland, while Celtic TV will be streaming the game worldwide. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more What players should I look out for? Attention from the Celtic side will be on Cork native Adam Idah, who had previously competed in school athletic events in the stadium. For Cork City, young winger Cathal O'Sullivan is being touted as the next young player to make the move abroad from Ireland. Is the game sold out? No. Tickets are still available for the game and are priced from €28 (terrace) to €45 (South Stand Lower) for an adult, and €18 to €25 for a child. How do I get there? Páirc Uí Chaoimh is situated near the suburb of Ballintemple on Cork's southside. Supporters are encouraged to make the manageable walk from the city to the stadium, which takes about 20 minutes in total. The 202 bus passes through Ballintemple. For those coming from further afield, Irish Rail has deferred the last train from Cork Kent to Dublin Heuston stations to 9.25 pm now, to allow supporters to get back in time, and will stop at Mallow, Limerick Junction, Thurles, and Portlaoise. A one-way flexible ticket from Cork to Dublin costs €32.99, while a First Class ticket costs €52.99. Irish Rail have also pushed back the last train to Tralee to 8.55 pm as well, while the last Bus Éireann coach to Limerick also leaves at 8.55 pm, allowing enough time for supporters opting for public transport to get back in time. Those taking cars are encouraged to stay away from the immediate vicinity of the ground, with a traffic management system in place, and illegally parked cars removed.
CBS News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Florida approves first black bear hunt in 10 years, amid strong opposition
Florida wildlife officials gave preliminary approval Wednesday for the first black bear hunt since one 10 years ago that was halted early after more than 300 bears were killed in only two days. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted 4-1 at a meeting in Ocala in favor of a bear hunt in December and annually into the future, allowing the use of up to six dogs to corner the bears. Methods could include bowhunting, similar to rules for hunting deer, and bear hunting in baited areas. A final vote is scheduled in August. The commission staff says the goal is to "begin managing population growth" for bears, which number about 4,000 in Florida. "Managing population growth is important to balance species numbers with suitable habitat and maintain a healthy population," the staff report says. Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods, whose fast-growing county hosted the meeting, said his office has received 107 calls about bear encounters with humans over the past nine months — likely only a fraction of actual encounters because many rural residents don't report them. Woods said he supports the hunt. "It needs to be regulated and it should be regulated. I think we keep not only our citizens safe but the state of Florida's citizens safe," Woods told the commission. Clashing views on hunting and conservation Several hunters and representatives of outdoors groups urged the commission to approve the hunt, noting Florida is one of only six states with significant black bear populations that does not allow it. "Bear is a game species. It's time for us to have some level of bear hunt," said Travis Thompson, executive director at the All Florida conservation organization. Hunt opponents contend there isn't enough scientific evidence to justify killing bears and the most reasonable approach is to convince people in Florida's ever-sprawling developments to secure garbage and take other non-lethal steps to limit human-bear conflicts. "I implore you to not allow the slaughter of these majestic animals we have in Florida," said Leslie Carlile, an opponent whose family goes back several generations in Florida. "Trophy hunting is pure evil in my opinion." The FWC has received more than 13,000 online comments about the proposal, about three-quarters of them opposed. At Wednesday's meeting, 170 people signed up to speak on both sides of the issue. Hunt opponent Janet Osborne told the commission it would "take a step backward" by approving the bear proposal. "The problem is the overpopulation of people," she said. Among other things, supporters of the hunt point to a black bear's extremely rare, fatal attack earlier this month on 89-year-old Robert Markel and his dog in a rural part of Collier County, in southwest Florida. Bears are also frequently seen in neighborhoods that stretch into their habitat, one even wandering onto Disney World's Magic Kingdom in 2023. In the 2015 hunt, hunting permits were for anyone who could pay for them, leading to a chaotic event that was shut down days early. The 300-plus bears killed then included at least 38 females with cubs, meaning the little bears probably died too. This time, the plan is to have a random, limited drawing of permits with a limit of 187. Hunters could kill only one bear each and only in certain parts of Florida where the bear population is large enough. There would be no killing of cubs and none of females with cubs, according to the FWC staff. A permit would cost $100 for a Florida resident and $300 for a nonresident. For 2025, the plan is to hold the hunt from Dec. 6 to Dec. 28. In the future, the FWC foresees a bear hunt between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, subject to more studies about the effect of hunting and the population of the animals. Private landowners with 5,000 acres (2,023 hectares) or more could hold what the FWC calls a "bear harvest program" on their property under the proposal. Bears could be hunted at bait feeding stations on private property.
CBS News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Florida approves first black bear hunt in 10 years, sparking debate
Florida wildlife officials gave preliminary approval Wednesday for the first black bear hunt since one 10 years ago that was halted early after more than 300 bears were killed in only two days. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted 4-1 at a meeting in Ocala in favor of a bear hunt in December and annually into the future, allowing the use of up to six dogs to corner the bears. Methods could include bowhunting, similar to rules for hunting deer, and bear hunting in baited areas. A final vote is scheduled in August. The commission staff says the goal is to "begin managing population growth" for bears, which number about 4,000 in Florida. "Managing population growth is important to balance species numbers with suitable habitat and maintain a healthy population," the staff report says. Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods, whose fast-growing county hosted the meeting, said his office has received 107 calls about bear encounters with humans over the past nine months — likely only a fraction of actual encounters because many rural residents don't report them. Woods said he supports the hunt. "It needs to be regulated and it should be regulated. I think we keep not only our citizens safe but the state of Florida's citizens safe," Woods told the commission. Clashing views on hunting and conservation Several hunters and representatives of outdoors groups urged the commission to approve the hunt, noting Florida is one of only six states with significant black bear populations that does not allow it. "Bear is a game species. It's time for us to have some level of bear hunt," said Travis Thompson, executive director at the All Florida conservation organization. Hunt opponents contend there isn't enough scientific evidence to justify killing bears and the most reasonable approach is to convince people in Florida's ever-sprawling developments to secure garbage and take other non-lethal steps to limit human-bear conflicts. "I implore you to not allow the slaughter of these majestic animals we have in Florida," said Leslie Carlile, an opponent whose family goes back several generations in Florida. "Trophy hunting is pure evil in my opinion." The FWC has received more than 13,000 online comments about the proposal, about three-quarters of them opposed. At Wednesday's meeting, 170 people signed up to speak on both sides of the issue. Hunt opponent Janet Osborne told the commission it would "take a step backward" by approving the bear proposal. "The problem is the overpopulation of people," she said. Among other things, supporters of the hunt point to a black bear's extremely rare, fatal attack earlier this month on 89-year-old Robert Markel and his dog in a rural part of Collier County, in southwest Florida. Bears are also frequently seen in neighborhoods that stretch into their habitat, one even wandering onto Disney World's Magic Kingdom in 2023. In the 2015 hunt, hunting permits were for anyone who could pay for them, leading to a chaotic event that was shut down days early. The 300-plus bears killed then included at least 38 females with cubs, meaning the little bears probably died too. This time, the plan is to have a random, limited drawing of permits with a limit of 187. Hunters could kill only one bear each and only in certain parts of Florida where the bear population is large enough. There would be no killing of cubs and none of females with cubs, according to the FWC staff. A permit would cost $100 for a Florida resident and $300 for a nonresident. For 2025, the plan is to hold the hunt from Dec. 6 to Dec. 28. In the future, the FWC foresees a bear hunt between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, subject to more studies about the effect of hunting and the population of the animals. Private landowners with 5,000 acres (2,023 hectares) or more could hold what the FWC calls a "bear harvest program" on their property under the proposal. Bears could be hunted at bait feeding stations on private property.
The Independent
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Florida considers controversial black bear hunt amid strong opposition
Ten years ago, Florida held a black bear hunt that resulted in more than 300 animals killed in just two days before it was halted early. It was controversial from the start and hasn't happened since — until possibly later this year amid strong opposition once again. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission met Wednesday in Ocala to consider a bear hunt for December and annually into the future, possibly allowing the use of up to six dogs to corner the bears. Methods could include bowhunting, similar to rules for hunting deer, and bear hunting in baited areas. The commission staff says the goal is to 'begin managing population growth' for bears, which number about 4,000 in Florida. 'Managing population growth is important to balance species numbers with suitable habitat and maintain a healthy population,' the staff report says. Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods, whose fast-growing county hosted the meeting, said his office has received 107 calls about bear encounters with humans over the past nine months — likely only a fraction of actual encounters because many rural residents don't report them. Woods said he supports the hunt. 'It needs to be regulated and it should be regulated. I think we keep not only our citizens safe but the state of Florida's citizens safe," Woods told the commission. Several hunters and representatives of outdoors groups urged the commission to approve the hunt, noting Florida is one of only six states with significant black bear populations that does not allow it. 'Bear is a game species. It's time for us to have some level of bear hunt," said Travis Thompson, executive director at the All Florida conservation organization. Hunt opponents contend there isn't enough scientific evidence to justify killing bears and that the most reasonable approach is to convince people in Florida's ever-sprawling developments to secure garbage and take other non-lethal steps to limit human-bear conflicts. 'I implore you to not allow the slaughter of these majestic animals we have in Florida,' said Leslie Carlile, an opponent whose family goes back several generations in Florida. 'Trophy hunting is pure evil in my opinion.' The FWC has received more than 13,000 online comments about the proposal, about three-quarters of them opposed. At Wednesday's meeting, 170 people signed up to speak on both sides of the issue. Hunt opponent Janet Osborne told the commission it would 'take a step backward' by approving the bear proposal. 'The problem is the overpopulation of people,' she said. A final decision on whether to hold the bear hunt is expected in August. Among other things, supporters of the hunt point to a black bear's extremely rare, fatal attack earlier this month on 89-year-old Robert Markel and his dog in a rural part of Collier County, in southwest Florida. Bears are also frequently seen in neighborhoods that stretch into their habitat, one even wandering onto Disney World's Magic Kingdom in 2023. In the 2015 hunt, hunting permits were for anyone who could pay for them, leading to a chaotic event that was shut down days early. The 300-plus bears killed then included at least 38 females with cubs, meaning the little bears probably died too. This time, the plan is to have a random, limited drawing of permits with a limit of 187. Hunters could kill only one bear each and only in certain parts of Florida where the bear population is large enough. There would be no killing of cubs and none of females with cubs, according to the FWC staff. A permit would cost $100 for a Florida resident and $300 for a nonresident. For 2025, the plan is to hold the hunt from Dec. 6 to Dec. 28. In the future, the FWC foresees a bear hunt between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, subject to more studies about the effect of hunting and the population of the animals. Private landowners with 5,000 acres (2,023 hectares) or more could hold what the FWC calls a 'bear harvest program' on their property under the proposal. Bears could be hunted at bait feeding stations on private property.
Associated Press
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Florida considers controversial black bear hunt amid strong opposition
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Ten years ago, Florida held a black bear hunt that resulted in more than 300 animals killed in just two days before it was halted early. It was controversial from the start and hasn't happened since — until possibly later this year amid strong opposition once again. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission met Wednesday in Ocala to consider a bear hunt for December and annually into the future, possibly allowing the use of up to six dogs to corner the bears. Methods could include bowhunting, similar to rules for hunting deer, and bear hunting in baited areas. The commission staff says the goal is to 'begin managing population growth' for bears, which number about 4,000 in Florida. 'Managing population growth is important to balance species numbers with suitable habitat and maintain a healthy population,' the staff report says. Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods, whose fast-growing county hosted the meeting, said his office has received 107 calls about bear encounters with humans over the past nine months — likely only a fraction of actual encounters because many rural residents don't report them. Woods said he supports the hunt. 'It needs to be regulated and it should be regulated. I think we keep not only our citizens safe but the state of Florida's citizens safe,' Woods told the commission. Several hunters and representatives of outdoors groups urged the commission to approve the hunt, noting Florida is one of only six states with significant black bear populations that does not allow it. 'Bear is a game species. It's time for us to have some level of bear hunt,' said Travis Thompson, executive director at the All Florida conservation organization. Hunt opponents contend there isn't enough scientific evidence to justify killing bears and that the most reasonable approach is to convince people in Florida's ever-sprawling developments to secure garbage and take other non-lethal steps to limit human-bear conflicts. 'I implore you to not allow the slaughter of these majestic animals we have in Florida,' said Leslie Carlile, an opponent whose family goes back several generations in Florida. 'Trophy hunting is pure evil in my opinion.' The FWC has received more than 13,000 online comments about the proposal, about three-quarters of them opposed. At Wednesday's meeting, 170 people signed up to speak on both sides of the issue. Hunt opponent Janet Osborne told the commission it would 'take a step backward' by approving the bear proposal. 'The problem is the overpopulation of people,' she said. A final decision on whether to hold the bear hunt is expected in August. Among other things, supporters of the hunt point to a black bear's extremely rare, fatal attack earlier this month on 89-year-old Robert Markel and his dog in a rural part of Collier County, in southwest Florida. Bears are also frequently seen in neighborhoods that stretch into their habitat, one even wandering onto Disney World's Magic Kingdom in 2023. In the 2015 hunt, hunting permits were for anyone who could pay for them, leading to a chaotic event that was shut down days early. The 300-plus bears killed then included at least 38 females with cubs, meaning the little bears probably died too. This time, the plan is to have a random, limited drawing of permits with a limit of 187. Hunters could kill only one bear each and only in certain parts of Florida where the bear population is large enough. There would be no killing of cubs and none of females with cubs, according to the FWC staff. A permit would cost $100 for a Florida resident and $300 for a nonresident. For 2025, the plan is to hold the hunt from Dec. 6 to Dec. 28. In the future, the FWC foresees a bear hunt between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, subject to more studies about the effect of hunting and the population of the animals. Private landowners with 5,000 acres (2,023 hectares) or more could hold what the FWC calls a 'bear harvest program' on their property under the proposal. Bears could be hunted at bait feeding stations on private property.
