Lost Kilkenny parrot has ceased to be

IN THE words of the famous Monty Python sketch, Kilkenny’s missing “kissing parrot” has expired, ceased to be, gone to meet his…

IN THE words of the famous Monty Python sketch, Kilkenny’s missing “kissing parrot” has expired, ceased to be, gone to meet his maker and is, now, an ex-parrot.

Dutchwoman Vyonne Kleijn (46) told The Irish Timesthat "it's definitely RIP for Catch", her bilingual parrot.

The eight-month-old South American parrot that spoke English and Dutch, "loved giving kisses" and "used to sit on the coffee table watching The Simpsonsrolling around with laughter" had flown away from home 10 days ago.

The male bird had only recently started to talk but his vocabulary was expanding rapidly and his favourite phrases included “give me a kiss” and “night, night”.

As feared by Ms Kleijn, the tropical bird did not survive the cold Irish weather.

She said that “the little body of Catch” had been found in a bog by a farmer “less than one kilometre” from her home in the village of Stoneyford.

She collected the remains of “the wonderful little bird” and “the funeral” took place on Wednesday evening.

Catch was “buried beside the snowdrops in the garden with little daffodils on top”, she said.

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Michael Parsons

Michael Parsons

Michael Parsons is a contributor to The Irish Times writing about fine art and antiques