What Visitors Can Do During a Falconry Experience at Falconry Ireland

At Falconry Ireland, a standard falconry experience is hands-on rather than a spectator demonstration: you handle a trained hawk yourself and watch it fly free and return to your gloved fist. The centre describes its focus as keeping the methods and practice of the oldest field sports alive and practising falconry in the traditional manner, so the session is built around active participation, close contact with birds of prey, and photography in the Wicklow countryside.

What the experience involves

• Hands-on participation. The centre invites visitors to engage hands-on in falconry, described as the most ancient of field sports. You are not only watching — you are taking part.
• Handling a trained hawk. Visitors get the opportunity to handle a trained hawk on the glove.
• Free flight and return. The stated highlight is the thrill of seeing the hawk flying free and returning to your gloved fist.
• Close contact with birds of prey. The centre keeps a variety of birds of prey used for falconry, and offers an educational and photographic facility where visitors can experience these birds up close.
• Photography. The photographic facility is presented as part of the offering, so bringing a camera fits the visit rather than competing with it.
• Traditional practice. The stated aim is to practise falconry in the traditional manner, which shapes how the birds are flown and handled.

Where it takes place

The falconry is set in rolling countryside on the banks of the historic Goldmines river at Woodenbridge, deep in the Garden of Ireland, in County Wicklow. The centre describes the surroundings as the beautiful Wicklow Hills, and notes the location is less than 2 hours from Dublin city centre. Woodenbridge and its environs have a long tradition in country sports and pastimes, which the centre presents as fitting for falconry.

The listed address is Falconry & Bird of Prey Centre, Rednagh Hill, Aughrim, County Wicklow, Y14N275, Ireland.

Session formats and prices

The centre lists the following adventures. All are described as 2 hours plus unless stated otherwise, and most have an 11:15 check-in or start time.

Prices and durations are as published by Falconry Ireland and can change; confirm at the time of booking.

Who it suits

• First-time visitors who want to touch and fly a bird rather than watch from a distance.
• Small groups and couples, given the 2-person and 5-person options.
• Private groups of up to 6 who want the session to themselves.
• Companies and large groups, with corporate formats scaled from 50 to 200+ people.
• Photographers, since the centre runs a photographic facility alongside the flying.

If you only want to observe birds of prey without handling one, the format here is built around participation, so a different kind of attraction may suit you better.

Practical points before you go

• Booking. The site lists each adventure with a "See more details & Book" link and a "Contact Us For More Info Now!" prompt, so booking runs through the site's contact and booking route rather than walk-up entry.
• Timing. Most experiences check in at 11:15, so plan your travel to Wicklow around a late-morning start.
• Getting there. The centre provides directions on its site and states it is under 2 hours from Dublin city centre; check the directions page before setting out, as the rural location is not a standard urban venue.
• What to expect physically. You will be holding a hawk on a gloved fist, so expect to stand and hold your arm up during the flying.
• Enquiries. A contact form is available for questions, and the centre also lists a phone number and a Facebook page.