Affiliated
Associations
Below you will find the constituent associations that are affiliated to the IBAclg.
If you are looking to join your local beekeeping association, you will find contact information below.
You can review these associations via interactive map here.
If you do not find an association suitable to your location below, you can join the IBAclg as part of the Independent memberships here.
Three Counties
Three Counties Beekeeping Association was established in 2016 in Knocklong, Co Limerick, from conception a Voluntary Black Bee Conservation area & Association.
We are an inclusive group which encourages all ages to partake in the learning of the bee husbandry. We have expanded in just under five years to ninety four members with 11 under 18 years which gives us great hope for the future of beekeeping and our association in the future. We also encourage mentorship and support for all members.
Our meetings take place on the second Saturday night of every month in Knocklong community centre at 7.30pm.
Our apiary meetings are held on Saturday mornings from April to October this is for members only location.
We hold a honey show in the autumn and encourage all members to take part. We are also lucky to be working with UL Physics department who are monitoring beehives with their SOPHia project.
The information from the hive is transmitted over the internet to the university who then send it on to the schools involved where it is used to promote physics and maths to the pupils. We were one of the founding Associations of IBA CLG in 2017
Beacairí Chorcha Dhuibhne
West Kerry Beekeepers Association are a small group of friendly beekeepers who try to meet once every two months to talk bees, beekeeping & honey. We live and tend our bees on the Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry. Our location on the western edge of Europe gives us a damp maritime climate, hardy bees & hardy bee keepers.
The association was formed in 2010 to promote beekeeping on the peninsula, we aim to support our members and our bees through training and mentoring.
We welcome new members and aim to train beginners annually, in the classroom and in the apiary.
Beachairí Chorcaigh
Beachairi Chorcaigh was founded in 2020. As a group of like-minded individuals, we decided to turn our shared Bee Keeping interests into an Official Club.
Their catchment area is Cork County, with apiaries within 20 minutes of the city.
Beaufort Beekeepers Association
Beaufort Beekeepers Association, is an association of hobbyist and semi-commercial beekeepers founded in 2011 by a small group and now our membership numbers stands at approx. 50.
We don’t limit ourselves to beekeepers from Beaufort, as we have members coming to us from as far south as Waterville, from Tralee to the north and Gneeveguilla in the east!
Carbery
Carbery Beekeepers’ Association, based in Skibbereen, Co Cork. Serving Beekeepers from Goleen to Rosscarbery. We have lectures during the winter months in The Sutherland Centre, Skibbereen, as well as demonstrations in our association apiary during the spring and summer.
Collis Sandes
Collis Sandes Tralee Beekeepers was formed in 2017.
Dunmanway and District
Dunmanway & District Beekeepers Association, is a beekeeping association based in the market town of County Cork.
Eblana
Eblana Beekeeping Association was founded in September 2019 to further the interests of beekeepers in Dublin and the surrounding counties.
We are based in Lucan Co. Dublin and meet and run courses in St. Mary’s Parish centre. We have a good mix of experienced and new beekeepers as members.
Our main focus is on beekeeping but we also support the need for greater biodiversity. We are willing to participate in public events such as National Heritage Week and undertake educational visits to schools and community groups as part of our efforts to promote beekeeping.
We run training courses and educational events for new and experienced members. Eblana is a member of South Dublin Council Public Participation Network. Eblana is the oldest known name for Dublin, you can read about it: here.
Contact by email
Eblana on Facebook
Galway
Galway Beekeepers’ Association, formed in the 1960’s, GBKA serve their membership faithfully in the Galway area. They have a wealth of information at their website below.
Kerry
Kerry Beekeepers Association, welcome new members in co Kerry.
Killorglin
Killorglin Beekeepers Association, are based in Killarney, Co Kerry.
Longford
Longford Beekeepers’ Association is dedicated to being the voice for our members & we promote and share our insights and passion for beekeeping.
We aim to foster efficient beekeeping, honey production and marketing.
We also hold beginner courses as well as promote and facilitate lectures and field days.
With over 70 members presently, Longford beekeepers has its own Apiary which is used as an outdoor “classroom” to teach the craft of Beekeeping.
We promote Beekeeping to the public in the local paper and in social media. Before the Covid 19 Pandemic we attended the Co Longford Show every year with our demonstration hive which contains a small colony
accompanied by the queen.
We held meetings every third Monday of the month in the Longford Teagasc Office in Longford town. We help the community by removing swarms where possible and rehome the new colony.
Midlands
Midlands Association, is a beekeepers association based in Mullingar.
Contact IBAclg Secretary
North Cork
North Cork Beekeepers’ Association was formed in 2018 at a meeting in Fermoy. This was the first new association to form under the IBAclg umbrella. We started with 10 members and we are now heading towards our 40th.
We have a beautiful outdoor apiary where our beginners are shown all the equipment, including: the honey house, extraction machines, how to prepare honey for packaging and most of all how to protect oneself from stings. This is usually done after members have completed the beginners course.
We also have a group extractor which our members can use to extract their honey at the end of the year.
North Kildare
North Kildare Beekeepers’ Association, founded in 1961 with 8 members, including Ireland’s first honey judge, Mr Peter O’Reilly, NKBKA is now Ireland’s biggest beekeeping association by membership.
NKBKA run their beginners course in Feb\March. New and experienced beekeepers are always welcome.
South Kildare
South Kildare Beekeepers’ Association, founded in 1930, South Kildare Beekeepers is one of Ireland’s oldest beekeeping associations. Members meet in Athy, Co Kildare on the 1st Thursday of the month. New members are always welcome.
Menapian Beekeepers
Menapian Beekeepers and Menapian Bee Breeders’ Association, is based in Co Wexford. They are a collective of beekeepers interested in the practice of the craft of Apiculture. They believe in open, honest and respectful interaction
Sliabh Luachra
Sliabh Luachra Beekeepers’ Association, is a group of beekeepers serving the borders of Co Cork, Co Kerry & Co Limerick.
Peter Carter Sligo & Leitrim
Peter Carter’s Sligo Leitrim Beekeepers’ Association, is a growing association of beekeepers supporting members in Sligo and Leitrim
Sneem
Sneem Beekeepers’ Association has been running for about 12 years. We cover a wide area of South Kerry with members in all parts of the Iveragh Peninsula from Kells to Kilgarvan and beyond.
We are a small but enthusiastic group of generally around 20 – 25, and we are an all-inclusive ‘broadchurch’. Our members interests range from commercial to natural beekeeping, from the native black bee to Buckfast, to those who don’t have bees at present.
Sneem Beekeepers’ were one of the first groups to join the IBA clg.
South West Cork
South West Cork Beekeepers’ Association, is an association based in South West Cork.
West Cork
West Cork Beekeepers’ Association was formed in 2016 with the inception of the Irish Beekeepers’ Association clg. It’s area of catchment is the Beara Peninsula, Bantry & Sheeps Head Peninsula.
Waterford
Co. Waterford Beekeepers Association, or Co. WBKA, was revived in 1958.
Education, practical beekeeping and queen rearing continue to remain the focus of the Co. WBKA, all done in an easy and relaxed atmosphere. Members hail from around Co. Waterford and the
adjacent counties of Cork & Tipperary.
WBKA has been to the forefront in assisting local students with projects involving bees as
well as planting trees in the community.
WBKA promote the conservation of the Native Irish Honeybee and is part of the Voluntary Conservation Area scheme.