I’m a gardener who keeps bees – or vice versa. When I’m asked to name the plants my bees love best, it’s a pleasurable challenge. My garden is in an exposed seaside site in southwest Kerry, with howling gales, drenching rain and a soil short on nutrients, heavy in acid and water. All the plants […]
January Periodically heft the hives to assess the stores and feed fondant if necessary, avoid moving the crown board by using an eke or empty super if needed. Buy and build any equipment for the coming year and paint and repair any spare equipment. [Keep an eye on sales from suppliers.] Attend any Association meetings. […]
Blackwater Honey were co-founded by brothers Andrew & John Shinnick who hail from the parish of Ballyhooly near Fermoy, Co. Cork. Both began their beekeeping careers at a very early age with their uncles Dan & Andy as teachers and mentors. They are now the 3rd generation of beekeepers in the Shinnick family to carry on the art of beekeeping. Between […]
The Munster Agricultural Show is a multi-category competition that has been running for over a century. For 2021, the organising Committee decided to add a honey tasting event to their autumn schedule, specifically, a honey tasting competition known as the ‘Black Jar’ honey competition. The Black Jar honey competition is a “taste only” judgement, where […]
60th Anniversary of North Kildare Beekeepers Association North Kildare Beekeepers Association (NKBKA) was proved in 1961 with a membership of 8. In 2021 – 60 years later, that membership has risen to 350. Michael Sloane and Peter O’Reilly were key members of the Association’s Founding group. They were both Horticultural Instructors and through their great […]