Practical beekeeping and queen rearing continue to remain the focus of the Co. WBKA, all in a done in an easy and relaxed atmosphere, with practical hands on work with the bees at the association apiary. Members hail from around Co. Waterford and the adjacent Counties of Cork, Tipperary etc.
Photo: Co. WBKA Apiary: Official opening with Mayor Pratt of Co.Waterford,
Micheál Moynihan who officially opened the Apiary,
with Colette O’Connell, then Chairperson of the Co. WBKA,
26th August, 2018.
Summer of 2022 shows members working hard in the Association apiary to ensure that bees
did not swarm and that we could use colonies for cell raising and working our queen rearing grafts.
Zsolt Borszali to the fore taking a selfie, showing a very strong colony being readied for Queen rearing.
Official Opening of the Co. Waterford Beekeepers’ Association.
Sunday, 26th August 2018, saw the official opening of the Co. WBKA Demonstration Apiary, with beekeepers from far and near coming together to show support to members. Representatives of the Native Irish Honey Bee Society, (NIHBS), the Galtee Bee Breeding Group, (GBBG), the Claire Chavasse Research Project, Deise Bee Breeders, and the Irish Beekeepers’ Association CLG, all attended. Former members and new members were also present. Many messages of support were received from those attending the Papal mass in Dublin that day.
Chairperson Colette O’Connell, welcomed all acknowledging those present and those unable to attend. Papal blessings were obvious with the cessation of the rain and the appearance of the sun, just before 2 pm. Colette acknowledged the support and good will from all; in particular Waterford City and County Council officials and employees on the ground. Co. WBKA is a native Irish honey bee supporter.
Co. WBKA has always been a supporter of our Native Irish honey bee, more commonly referred to as the “black bee”. The special genetic diversity of this honey bee, refined by nature over many generations and assisted more recently by various groups in Ireland and abroad, has been acknowledged in the constitution of the Co. WBKA and more recently reaffirmed by a recent motion to the same constitution. Members, ever mindful of the threat of extinction of our native honey bee have embarked on breeding programmes, the supply of bees and queens, advice to the public and advocate against the importation of bees from abroad. As well as negatively impacting on the genetic pool in this country, risk of disease and pests being imported is very real. The presence of representatives of NIHBS, the GBBG and the Deise Bee Breeders, who are all supporters of the native Irish honey bee was reaffirmation of the Co. WBKA as a black bee association.
Chairperson Colette O’Connell, spoke of the vibrancy of the Co. WBKA when she took up beekeeping in the nineties. Taught by some of the best in the nineties, many no longer with us, their memories, smiles and laughter will always be with us; Martin Curran, Michael Moynihan Snr, and former President of the Federation of Irish Beekeepers’ Association, the Tailors, Noel and Tom Lonergan, Claire Chavasse, Jim Moloney, Fr. O Farrell and so many more, she was always determined to give back some of what she got in those early years.
Acknowledging the many messages of support from all around the country, with many of those missing due to attendance at the Papal mass in Dublin, Colette stated the hope of many that the Apiary will continue as a living testimony to those who have done so much for Irish beekeeping and getting beekeeping to where it is today.
Colette gave praise to the active committee members of the Co. WBKA, and the “silent” members behind them. The success of the opening would not have been possible with out the time and energy of each. Special thanks to members who are always at hand to assist, too many to mention.
Colette also acknowledged the support of Waterford City and County Council to the Co. WBKA.
Not one for speeches, Colette happily handed over to Micheál who was guest of honour on the day.
Micheal Moynihan, whose father Michael Moynihan was one of the founding members of the Co. WBKA, kindly agreed to open the apiary. Micheal, who will always hold a crowd with talk of his childhood memories of his earliest beekeeping experiences, lived up to the task on the day.
With pride, Micheal told us that his memories of the Co. Waterford Beekeeping Association go back to his earliest memories.
“The Association was revived in the mid/late ‘50’s at Two-mile Bridge. Those involved were Michael Moynihan, Martin Curran, Paddy Morrissey, Ballycoe House, and Mossie Brennock.
Micheal points to PJ Curran, whose father Martin was one of the founding members of the Co. WBKA at Two mile bridge.
They were later joined by the late Fr. O’Farrell, Mrs. Connolly from Melleray, Tom and Noel Lonergan, the Tailors from Cappoquin, and John Cunningham.
The Co. WBKA has a long heritage in Co. Waterford and the Déise area, spanning sixty plus years. Regular beekeeping demonstrations, lectures, meetings and outings are part of the regular activities hosted for members. Visits to schools, assistance with projects for example the BT Young Scientist, Eco Unesco etc as well as beginners courses in beekeeping held each February in partnership with the local VEC.
Colette brought a new dimension when she entered the association to the Waterford City and County Community and Voluntary Awards and secured funding for the establishment of the Association Apiary, where beginners can get used to handling and learning about bees. Michael expressed his pride when Co. WBKA won the Environmental section of the awards, having been entered as acknowledgement to past members who had brought the association to where it is today.
My father used to say that there are three Michael Moynihans here now. One of us is going to have to go soon…..My father is now dead. There are three Michael Moynihans here now, myself, Michael and his sons Michael and Gavin. One of us will have to go soon and my wish is that those remaining will continue in the beekeeping tradition for many years.
I am truly honoured to open the Co. Waterford Beekeepers’ Demonstration Apiary.”
Micheal cuts the ribbon!
Three generations of Moynihans attend the opening
of our Apiary, Micheal and son Michael
with his twin sons, Gavin and Michael,
enjoying a pre-ceremony laugh.
Micheal Mac Giolla Coda of The Native Irish Honey Bee Society and The Galtee Honey Farm, and the Galtee Bee Breeders Group, is given a warm welcome to Waterford by Mary Curran and Colette.
Pat Deasy, of the Deise Bee Breeders Group assesses the Co. WBKA’s native Irish honey bees. Note that Pat is able to go quite close to the hives, and even though bees were flying, not one attempted to sting him.
PPN Environmental Representative, Alan Walsh, chats to Cllr. Pratt
Honey bees and other pollinating insects, on which so much of our food and crop pollination depends, continue to decline. Check out how you can help them by visiting:
The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan
http://www.biodiversityireland.ie/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/All-Ireland%20Pollinator%20Plan%202015-2020.pdf
Anyone interested in finding out about honey bees can contact the Co. Waterford Bee Keepers’ Association by email at waterfordbeekeepers@gmail.com
Members are only too happy to visit schools, groups and welcome interested members of the public to our lectures and talks.
Micheál poses proudly with his grandsons, the future of Moynihans’ Honey to come!