Today most of the group went on a three-hour walking tour of Kilkenny.  Kilkenny is a world-renowned as a center for craft and design.  My knees had enough walking and the cortisone injections were starting to wear off.  So, we decided to forego on the walking tour and just sleep-in and relax for the morning.

A few days prior to arriving at the Lyrath Estate we signed up for the Falconry Experience that is located on the Lyrath Estate grounds.  Even before recorded history, our ancestors flew birds of prey. From the Steppes of Asia to medieval Europe, from five thousand years ago to the present day, Falconry has become a way of life for Falconers around the world.  Lyrath Estate is home to the Hawkeye School of Falconry, the ancient sport of Kings. This Falconry School is a first of its kind in the Southeast of Ireland. The skilled falconers provided us with a memorable experience using a selection of birds of prey. Birds of prey at the Falconry School include Hawks, Falcons, Owls, and an Eagle.  This was the highlight of our stay at the Lyrath Estate Hotel.  This was the only time that we actually got rained on, during our entire trip and for about 10-15 minutes we really got a soaking.  Eventually the rain subsided and turned into a cloudy day with a little mist.

The Falconry Experience started with a short lecture (in the rain).  Then we were all introduced to an Owl that we could hold and touch.  The Owl was very accommodating, no biting.  Then we walked out to an open field to have a demonstration of a falcon.  Each of us had a falconry glove and were given food a small piece of chicken.  Then the falcon would swoop down, land on our glove and eat the chicken.  Then it would fly back to the tree top and wait for the next piece of chicken.  We each got to have the falcon retrieve the chicken from our hand three times.  The great part was that one of the falconry helpers was using our cameras and cellphones to take pictures and movies for each individual feeding.  She did a great job and was fully versed in how all cell phone movies and cameras worked.

After we all got a turn the head falconer asked for two volunteers. I jumped at the chance.  He put us shoulder to shoulder and had the falcon swoop down between our heads to get some food that was located behind us.  I had a great view and I got smacked in the face by one of the falcon’s wings in the process.  This was one of many highlights of our trip.

That evening we all joined together for a farewell dinner and celebration.  It included a great meal in the dining room of the old estate fantastic food, good conversation, a farewell harp solo from out tour guide Madeleine and a farewell toast by one of the fellow travelers that treated us all to an Irish Whiskey.  I think it was a 12 year-old Red Breast.  All-in-all a spectacular evening.

The next day many of our fellow travelers would make the 1-1/2 hour drive to the Dublin airport and head home.  We had previously decided to stay an extra day.