Ashford Castle

In early morning we're off in a rental car for Ashford Castle about an hour north of Galway.  This lodging was booked for the falconry experience.  Later we discovered it was the location and staging area for the filming of The Quiet Man.

Very narrow roads and heavy traffic deliver us to the castle. The first sighting is spectacular.

 

 

The staff are over the top, the facility beautiful in every way, the grounds well kept, and its sighting on the lake picturesque.

 

 

 

CJ finally makes good on his 2007 Anniversary gift to Carol with an afternoon at the falconry school.  For an hour and a half we fly our personal Harris hawks, Rau and Cara; and for a short time an eagle hawk, Bingley.  This is up there with riding elephants.

 

 



An afternoon walk through the grounds and into Cong provides many photo opportunities and an excuse for a pub call.

Dinner is sensational. The oysters the best in a long time, an unusual monkfish casoulet, and the most incredible rice pudding of all time.  In the tank are something we've never seen; blue lobsters.



At 1000 each morning the Irish Wolfhounds come into the lobby of the castle.  One is named Gavin.