This year's iconic image for Kerry GAA supporters in advance of Sunday's All-Ireland football final against Tyrone, of painted and clothed farm animals on the foothills of the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, has attracted the ire of some animal lovers.
Some 43 calls were made to the Kerry branch of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) after images of the painted and waistcoated animals appeared in newspapers on Wednesday, a spokesman said yesterday.
A small number of calls were also received on the matter by the IFA's national office. Radio Kerry has also received a number of complaints. Many were about the changing of the animals' natural colour and about forcing them to stand still while being painted.
Farmer Brendan O'Connor (36), a Kerry fan, used liquid animal marking fluid to paint 30 ducks, 10 sheep, two cows, three goats and several geese in the kingdom's colours on his farm at the foot of Ireland's highest mountain, Carrauntoohil.
John Carmody, campaign coordinator of the Animal Rights Action Network, said yesterday it was "absolutely appalling" to do such a thing.
"Animals are sentient creatures capable of experiencing fear and pain," Mr Carmody said. "The message being sent out is that we can use these creatures any way we want, but animals should not be used for entertainment."
Kerry ISPCA inspector Harry McDaid said he understood people's concerns, but the animals were not harmed.
"I can sympathise a lot with the way people are thinking, but there's actually no harm in this," Mr McDaid said. "I can give an assurance that if anything was wrong, we would put it right straight away."
Mr O'Connor said yesterday the row was "a bit over the top". The colours he used washed off readily. He had received very good reaction to the photographs of his animals and people were delighted.
"People are talking an awful lot of rubbish about this. It's way worse to dye your hair, the dye would burn the hair off you."