Family appeal for missing prized birds

The peacock (male) and peahen (female) went missing around three weeks ago and the local family have since reached out their local community, farmers and landowner to keep a sharp eye out for this distinctive pair of birds.

A Cavan family are appealing for the public's assistance in helping them track down the whereabouts of two rogue peacocks which flew the coop around three weeks ago.

The Reilly's from Bruskey had only just purchased the birds, and as per instruction, had kept them in a specially prepared pen for three weeks after in hope that the birds would successfully acclimatise.

However, the peacock (male) and peahen (female) later went missing and the local family have since reached out to their community, farmers and landowners to keep a sharp eye out for this distinctive pair.

“We tamed them we thought, had built pens at big expense, but they still headed off, and we haven't been able to find them since,” says Karen Reilly.

The birds belonged to Karen's son Jamie (18), but the family are well-known animal and bird lovers, and in the past have also kept pheasants on their land.

The Reilly family picked up the peacocks, with Karen always having wanted them after seeing them roam free in the grounds of Lismore House in Crossdoney.

“It was something that always caught my imagination. We went to a lot of bother to get them, so to lose them is shame.”

Karen adds that the male would be particularly distinctive, not just due to its eye-catching plumage, but also the fact that the bird's tail was broken.

“Who knows where they might have travelled by now. Hopefully we'll get them back safe,” adds Karen.