JacksGirlz
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2007
- Messages
- 662
DAY SIX - Ireland ABD Trip Report
Today was entirely free to do as we wanted. We had breakfast at the hotel. They have a small buffet and then a menu of hot items as well. DD and I both really liked the french toast.
The first thing we had signed up for is an hour long pony trap ride around the castle grounds. Our driver was Sean and he was very friendly and informative about the castle. The grounds were beautiful and very green.
At 12:30pm we met with our Halk Walk guide, Jim. One of our fellow ABD families was with us so there was a total of 7 guests in our group. We were all given a glove and everyone got multiple turns having the hawk land on our gloved hands. This is the activity that our Germany ABD guide, Kim, said wasn't to miss as she had been a guide for the Ireland ABD before. I trusted her recommendation and I'm glad I did. It was a great experience and now I can say I had a falconry lesson at an actual castle.
We walked around the grounds with Jim while he explained different facts about hawks and our hawk in particular.
Here is the hawk in action. DD was a little nervous.
We went to visit the castle's School of Falconry and got to see some of the other hawks and even a little owl named Pickles.
As part of the ABD I think you could meet up with the ABD guides and do a tour of the School of Falconry and see the birds. Since we wanted to do the Hawk Walk which included a visit to the school we did not go with the ABD group.
After the Hawk Walk we spent some time exploring the castle and the grounds and taking in the sights.
Random giant chess set in a courtyard while walking in the castle halls. DD said it was very Alice in Wonderland.
There is a walled garden which had a pond and a bridge that was just perfect for pictures.
We looked in the gift shop and it is quite small. Don't expect to find much for souvenirs here.
Around 3pm we decided to enjoy afternoon tea. We chose the light tea since we were going to be having dinner a few hours from now.
We met at 5:50pm in the lobby and drove to our medieval dinner at Knappogue Castle. We were greeted by some of the lords and ladies of the castle.
There was a short reception in the courtyard where mead was offered for those 18 and over and fruit punch for the kids. I did not particularly like the taste of the mead but then I am not much of one for alcohol anyways.
This castle had a tower house - this is described in the picture below.
The lords and ladies treated us to some harp music and a song before leading everyone in to the banquet.
This dinner had multiple other groups there, not just ABD and it was a full house. While dinner was served we were treated to a show on stage including traditional Irish dancing.
We took the bus back to Dromoland to rest up for our last full day of this ABD&.DAY SEVEN.
Today was entirely free to do as we wanted. We had breakfast at the hotel. They have a small buffet and then a menu of hot items as well. DD and I both really liked the french toast.
The first thing we had signed up for is an hour long pony trap ride around the castle grounds. Our driver was Sean and he was very friendly and informative about the castle. The grounds were beautiful and very green.
At 12:30pm we met with our Halk Walk guide, Jim. One of our fellow ABD families was with us so there was a total of 7 guests in our group. We were all given a glove and everyone got multiple turns having the hawk land on our gloved hands. This is the activity that our Germany ABD guide, Kim, said wasn't to miss as she had been a guide for the Ireland ABD before. I trusted her recommendation and I'm glad I did. It was a great experience and now I can say I had a falconry lesson at an actual castle.
We walked around the grounds with Jim while he explained different facts about hawks and our hawk in particular.
Here is the hawk in action. DD was a little nervous.
We went to visit the castle's School of Falconry and got to see some of the other hawks and even a little owl named Pickles.
As part of the ABD I think you could meet up with the ABD guides and do a tour of the School of Falconry and see the birds. Since we wanted to do the Hawk Walk which included a visit to the school we did not go with the ABD group.
After the Hawk Walk we spent some time exploring the castle and the grounds and taking in the sights.
Random giant chess set in a courtyard while walking in the castle halls. DD said it was very Alice in Wonderland.
There is a walled garden which had a pond and a bridge that was just perfect for pictures.
We looked in the gift shop and it is quite small. Don't expect to find much for souvenirs here.
Around 3pm we decided to enjoy afternoon tea. We chose the light tea since we were going to be having dinner a few hours from now.
We met at 5:50pm in the lobby and drove to our medieval dinner at Knappogue Castle. We were greeted by some of the lords and ladies of the castle.
There was a short reception in the courtyard where mead was offered for those 18 and over and fruit punch for the kids. I did not particularly like the taste of the mead but then I am not much of one for alcohol anyways.
This castle had a tower house - this is described in the picture below.
The lords and ladies treated us to some harp music and a song before leading everyone in to the banquet.
This dinner had multiple other groups there, not just ABD and it was a full house. While dinner was served we were treated to a show on stage including traditional Irish dancing.
We took the bus back to Dromoland to rest up for our last full day of this ABD&.DAY SEVEN.
The hawks looked amazing, what an experience!!
