Dromana Gate Lodge and a Peregrine Falcon

I've been so busy these past few months that i haven't even had time to bless myself  (as they say in Ireland) and my poor blog has been a bit neglected. I haven't been very far on my jaunts either, as i do tend to hibernate a bit during the winter months, so for this post i've dipped into the archives so to speak and found a few photos of this little surprise we came across one Sunday afternoon down a country lane near the little village of  Villerstown, in Co. Waterford.

The Hindu-Gothic Gate Lodge was designed by local architect Martin Day and was built to greet the owner of the Dromana Estate, Henry Villiers-Stuart and his Austrian bride, Theresia Pauline ott of  Vienna, on returning from their honeymoon in 1826.

It was inspired by John Nash's Brighton Pavilion and was originally built from wood and papiér maché, then in later years reconstructed in stone. 

A little peek inside.

Changing the subject completely, i found these older photos my OH took of a young Peregrine Falcon, who came right up to him to say hello.

He was so close and wasn't the slightest bit bothered by my OH and his camera.

Ill leave with this busy little fella, going in...

and coming out again. If you click on the photo to enlarge it you can see the bee's little tongue.

Thanks for dropping by.