'Part of the family' - passing of beloved bird mourned at luxury Mayo estate
Dingle lived to the great age of 27 and was at the Ireland School of Falconry on the grounds of Ashford Estate since the very beginning
Ireland’s School of Falconry based on the grounds of Ashford Estate has sadly announced the passing of their beautiful Eurasian eagle owl, Dingle, at the age of 27.
Dingle had been with the School since the very beginning and for 27 years watched the school grow into something extraordinary and met generations of visitors to the iconic Estate and Castle.
The School paid a fitting tribute to the beloved bird who was “part of the family.”
“He wasn’t just an owl people came to see. He was a familiar face, a constant, and for many people, a treasured part of a memory they made here years ago.”
“To us, he was one of the originals. He was part of the family. Dingle had an incredible life, and we feel incredibly privileged to have shared it with him.” “We say goodbye to a very special bird who leaves behind an enormous legacy.”
Dingle's beauty and majestic spirit even inspired a work of literature and he was the main character of a children’s book written by Lisa Kelley. Lisa had a strong West of Ireland connection and felt like this setting of the castle and beautiful grounds was perfect for the book titled Dingle’s Christmas at Ashford Castle.
After spending Christmas at Ashford Castle in 2021 with her family, she had found the main character of her book. The people of Galway and Mayo, and especially Dingle, helped Lisa ‘bring her story to life, cover to cover’.
