Kylemore Abbey

Tauck Tour hosted our dinner and drinks Monday evening.  The Ashford Castle was our home for both Monday and Tuesday.  We took a long bus ride to Kylemore Abbey.  The last classes for children are being offered now.  The Abbey is located on Kylemore Lough.  It was a Benedictine Abbey years ago and is a girls boarding school now.  Residents maintain extensive gardens.

In the afternoon we returned to Ashford Castle.  Several of our "People" signed up for a falcon experience.  The staff maintains about a dozen falcons.  They train the birds to hunt but guarantee them a full meal every day.  The falcons live twice as long as those in the wild.  I think the pictures tell it all.  Once our People got over the fright of it all, they relaxed and enjoyed the experience of a bird taking off to the trees, and then returning for meat placed on their glove.  The flacons bite is barely as strong as a humans, their talons are quite another thing!   The staff take the falcons out daily.  On some occasions they take them hunting for rabbits and other small land animals.

We had a rainy morning, took this picture out of the bus window.

Jack took a walk as the rest of us took photos.

The terrain changed from flat to hilly once we left Ashford.

The buoys are holding traps below for fish.

Kylemore Abbey

Dinner anyone?

Hydrangea still in bloom!

All sheep are branded with paint to identify ownership

Here's a smile on a rainy, cool day.

Zoe and Chuck Bassos

Anyone know this flower?

It was definitely a rain coat day but it cleared up now and then.

The falcon will clasp its talons into the heavy leather glove, just hold your arm steady.

Zoe had no fear of the falcon

Bill is getting acquainted with a female -- they are 1/3 LARGER than the males.

He has it mastered!

Theresa was ready for the challenge.

Hey babe, want me to fly away? 

I'm coming in for a landing -- don't move the runway!

Aha! A treat!

Here I come, but wait, you beat me to the meat!

What, me afraid of a little birdie?

Why am I doing this???

Here I come for my treat!

Ok friend, just eat the treat and leave me alone.

Now that wasn't so bad, I think Ill adopt this falcon!

Diane and Phil Anselmo -- both have mastered the falcons!

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