Special to The Irish American Post

Ireland's largest public falconry center has been opened at one of the country's leading tourist sites.

Burren Birds of Prey Centre, located at Aillwee Cave in Co. Clare, features the largest display of falcons, Harris hawks, owls, American kestrels and white-tailed sea eagles in the country.

Falconry is reputed to be the oldest sport in the world originating in the Far East around 2000 BC, as a means of catching food. The art of falconry spread westwards reaching the shores of Europe long before the end of the first millennium.

"The Burren Birds Of Prey Centre houses birds that cannot be seen anywhere else in the country and the aim is to provide a first class stock of birds," explained Barbara Faulkner, marketing manager of Aillwee Cave.

Commenting on the biggest and most exciting development to happen at Aillwee Cave in over a decade, Ms. Faulkner said, "It has a broad appeal to many people and provides visitors with the opportunity to see close up, birds from all over the world housed in open fronted aviaries. The Centre also provides a breeding station and rehabilitation center for indigenous birds of prey, providing educational and environmental information on all aspects of birds of prey and falconry."

She indicated that the new facility would affiliate with bird release programs on a national level, including the white- tailed sea eagle release program in Kerry and the reintroduction of red kites to central Ireland.

One important aspect of the new center is the development of flying displays of eagles and falcons from Aillwee Mountain to a designated area within the center. Visitors will have the opportunity to see the birds in free flight, be able to handle and photograph rare birds of prey in a purpose built flying arena.

During the breeding season visitors will be able to see young birds of prey being hand reared, learn about falconry as an ancient sport and be made more aware of indigenous species and the environmental issues involved in their protection and conservation.

The new project is being managed by Darren Reddington and Ben Johnson, who both are experienced handlers of birds of prey.

Darren Reddington is a professional falconer and is already contracted by several county councils and state bodies using birds of prey to clear landfill sites, airfields, recycling plants and food and chemical companies of other birds and rodents which cause potential harm, directly or indirectly. He has considerable experience in the training and handling of birds of prey for display purposes.

Ben Johnson of Aillwee Cave has been involved with handling and keeping birds of prey for the past twenty years and has in the past kept birds of prey on display to the public on a small scale.

In addition to hosting Ireland's premier show cave, the Aillwee Cave currently offers visitors a well serviced 24-acre site including Cheese Making at the Farmshop, Coppice Woodland and Mountain Walks, and attracts over 150,000 visitors a year.

"The addition of the Birds of Prey centre keeps with the image of whole complex. It provides a new and innovative tourism product in North Clare that further encourages visitors to stay in the region longer. We anticipate that this project will attract a different sector of the tourist market and raise the profile of the Burren and the region from an environmental, educational and conservational viewpoint," concluded Faulkner.

Aillwee Cave is one of the many thousands of ancient caves beneath The Burren with over one kilometer of passages. Its features include an underground river and waterfall as well as stalactites and stalagmites. The remains of bears can be seen inside the caves. Unlike many other caves there is no evidence that cave has been used by humans.

Jacko McGann, who discovered the cave while searching his dog and explored much of the cave by candlelight, was perhaps the first human who set foot in it. The cave, which is privately owned by two local families, first opened to the public in 1976.
 
 

For further information on the Burren Birds of Prey Centre, contact Barbara Faulkner, Marketing Manager, Aillwee Cave on 065-7077036 or e-mail: barbara@aillweecave.ie.