Joe offers to bring snow white doves into Mayo classrooms

By Tom Gillespie

JOE 'Doves’ Freeley, who provides a professional snow white doves release service nationwide for special occasions, wants to bring his flock of 70 birds into the classroom.

The retired Ballyhaunis taxi driver has written to 18 national school principals within a 20-kilometre radius of Ballyhaunis offering to give a 30-minute talk and question and answer session on his doves to pupils - free of charge.

Joe said: "As our natural world is under such pressure from us humans beings I believe it is so important to inform and educate our youth on the pending dangers we face.

"The majority of students would never had handled a dove so I will bring a few doves with me to let the students hold and handle these beautiful birds and explain everything about these birds."

When Joe retired three years ago he decided he wasn’t going to be sitting on a couch just watching TV.

He added: "I always had a great interest in nature, especially garden birds. I decided to try my hand at breeding and training snow white doves. I started with six doves and now have over 70, all trained to return home safely after release without stress, harm or cruelty, up to a distance of 200 miles - as the crow flies.

"My methods of care and training is approved by the ISPCA, Birdwatch Ireland and all my doves are IHU registered.

"Now, by total accident, I’ve turned my pastime and passion into a small business."

Joe releases doves at weddings, funerals, memorials, anniversaries, birthday parties, divorce parties, etc., all over Ireland.

After 15 years working with Midwest Radio and a further 13 years on the road with a taxi and touring company, Joe and his feathered friends are back on the road.

Following a serious fall and suffering four fractures to his forehead in June 2017, Joe had to quit the taxi business.

He explained: "I had no choice but to give up taxiing. But I needed something to keep me occupied. I am not one to sit back so I decided to get into the dove release service.

"I purchased six four-week-old young doves. It took two months to get the birds adjusted to their new home.

"Then I trained them to return to their home by releasing them, firstly within sight of their home, then gradually increase the distance in every direction."

Born and raised in Ballyhaunis, Joe’s parents owned the now closed Central Hotel in the town.

Joe Freeley can be contacted on Facebook, Joe Doves, or on (087) 3319944, or visit www.joedovesrelease.com.