Falconry Experience at Ashford Castle

Nestled within the enchanting landscapes of Ireland, Ashford Castle stands as a regal testament to centuries of history and elegance. This ancient stronghold offers more than just lavish accommodations and stunning views. Ashford Castle offers a chance to embark on a remarkable falconry experience. Be captivated by the art of the hunt and the magic of this unique Irish adventure. This falconry experience at Ashford Castle was one of our favorite things we did in Ireland, and we’d highly recommend it!

Falconry

Falconry, the age-old tradition of training birds of prey to hunt, has been cherished by cultures across the globe for millennia. At Ashford Castle, you have the opportunity to step back in time and embrace this time-honored practice firsthand. The castle’s Falconry School invites guests to become modern-day falconers, connecting with a lineage of hunters that dates back to medieval times.

There are a number of different birds used in falconry with Harris’s hawks being a popular modern choice. This is a species renowned for their easy-going temperament and unusually sociable nature. The Falconry School is home to the largest and most diverse collection of Harris’s hawks in the world. Along with your exciting hands-on falconry experience at Ashford Castle, you’ll get the opportunity to learn about how the Falconry School cares for and rescues hawks. They have one of the top falconry vet programs in the world and deeply care for their birds.

What To Expect

Don a traditional falconer’s glove and watch in awe as majestic birds take flight from your hand. Here’s what you can expect on your falconry experience at Ashford Castle.

The Basics

• You can book a standard 60 minute experience or opt for an extended 90 minute option. The best part is that these “Hawk Walks” are privately booked for you and your group. Because of this, the price per person changes based on how many people you have in your group. Yes, you can book individually if it’s just yourself on the experience.
• You can check out prices, availability, and book online at the Falconry School’s website.
• The Falconry School is located right on the grounds of Ashford Castle. This gives you the opportunity to explore the castle before or after your experience.

The Experience

• Once completing orientation, the experience starts out by introducing you to a variety of birds in the school. This includes owls, hawks, and other birds of prey. You will have the opportunity to interact with these birds and watch them fly.
• Next you’ll take your Harris’s hawk out on a path through wooded areas and around the castle grounds. This is where the excitement of the tour really picks up! You get to experience releasing your hawk to the skies before calling it back with a treat. Feeling the whoosh or these powerful birds as they fly by you is certainly an exhilarating experience.
• As you go through this experience you’ll notice that these Harris’s hawks have free reign. If you’re lucky, they may decide to take off on a hunt of their own. We had one of our hawks do this during our adventure and it was fun to chase after it watching their astonishing speed, agility, and predatory instincts.

Book your falconry encounter today and soar to new heights of wonder and awe in the realm of Ashford Castle. We hope this blog post helps you get the most out of your time in Ireland. For more travel inspiration, check out our additional blog posts on international travel.