A Special Delivery for Harry the Hawk at Ashford Castle
Not every Kennel Klub member has a castle address! Harry the Hawk, who makes his home at Ireland’s School of Falconry at Ashford Castle, has a special place in our Kennel Klub family—and a beautiful framed keepsake to celebrate it.
Making the special delivery were Mark and Gay Maloney of Decatur, Alabama. Mark is a Past President of Rotary International and Past Chair of The Rotary Foundation, and his wife, Gay, is also a Rotarian. We’re grateful to them for helping bring this tribute to Harry’s home in Ireland.
The framed pictures feature Rotarian Bruce Solari and a striking portrait of Harry sporting his red End Polio Now bandana. Together, the images tell a story of friendship, generosity, and the unexpected ways our animals can connect us to a cause that matters.
A Feathered Friendship with a Purpose
Harry’s Kennel Klub story began when Bruce met him during a visit to Ireland’s School of Falconry. Bruce and his wife, Johrita Solari, a Past Vice President of Rotary International, sponsored Harry’s membership, welcoming him into our worldwide family of animals and people supporting Rotary’s mission to end polio.
It’s a wonderful setting for such a connection. At Ireland’s School of Falconry, visitors can experience private hawk walks through the gardens and woodlands of Ashford Castle, learning about the birds while watching them fly and return to a gloved hand.
For our Kennel Klub, the connection between Bruce and Harry represents something especially meaningful: an encounter with an animal can become an opportunity to do good far beyond that moment. Through Bruce and Johrita’s sponsorship, Harry’s story now carries a message of hope for a polio-free world.
More Than a Name, More Than a Bandana
Although “Kennel Klub” might bring dogs to mind, our family welcomes animals of every kind. Through donations to PolioPlus made in their honor, and the sharing of their photographs and stories, these animals help us introduce more people to Rotary’s polio-eradication mission.
Harry’s red bandana is an invitation to ask a question, hear a story, and discover a way to help. We hope his framed tribute sparks those conversations at Ashford Castle and inspires others to become part of the Kennel Klub.
Thank you, Past President Mark and Gay, for making this special delivery, and Bruce and Johrita, for bringing Harry into our family. Your thoughtfulness shows how Rotary friendships can turn a simple idea into something worth sharing across the world.
Help Our Family Grow
Honor an animal you love by committing to a donation of at least $100 annually—or $10 a month—to Rotary’s PolioPlus Fund until the world is declared polio-free. Complete both steps on our Join page: make your donation commitment and submit the Kennel Klub membership form. You don’t have to be a Rotarian to participate!
Fur, feathers, or scales—there’s a place for everyone in the Kennel Klub.