Ireland's School of Falconry

Ireland's School of Falconry operates on the grounds of Ashford Castle, a 13th-century castle estate on the shores of Lough Corrib near Cong, County Mayo. The school has been operating since 1999 and is the oldest in Ireland, offering Hawk Walks — a one-hour guided experience where participants carry and fly a Harris hawk through the estate's ancient oak woodlands.

The experience is accessible to anyone over eight years old with no prior falconry knowledge. The instructor provides full instruction on handling, calling and flying the bird. The setting — mature woodland, open parkland, views of the lough — gives the experience a quality that is difficult to replicate. Harris hawks are sociable birds that return reliably to the glove, making them ideal for introductory falconry. The school also offers longer sessions including hunts with the estate's peregrine falcons.

Ashford Castle itself is a five-star hotel and the estate is also open for non-guests to access certain activities. The falconry school can be booked independently of hotel accommodation, making it accessible to visitors staying in Cong village or Westport. Cong village (famous as the location for the 1952 film The Quiet Man) is 2 km from the castle and has pubs, cafés and access to the ruins of the medieval abbey.