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blowin · Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 11:10 pm Post subject: bee keeping

Does anyone keep bees , or know of a club or beginners' course in Co's Sligo or Mayo ?
Alternatively , why aren't there many ( if any ) keepers around ? I know there is a considerable demand for local honey .
Maybe it is true that the bees just get blown away ?

wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1171 Location: Campile. Wexford

I have kept Bees for many years in the UK. I will keep them here in Ireland this next year, and there is no reason why we should not be very successful here with the native flora etc. If any of you guys feel that you would like to try this enterprize and I can be of help. Then please just ask. Home produced honey in Ireland commands a premium price compared to the UK. Wink

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Camile · Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:49 am Post subject:

Hello,

We are going to keep some bees next year ..

We are now official members of the "Suck Valley Beekeeping Association", and we attended the workshops in Roscommon from October untill December (something around those lines).

And I think the next meeting is due for February .. so if you are interested (the suck valley is not far from Tubbercurry I think) .. I can let you all know ..

I know have to build my hive and we will place it on our bog .. humm ... heather honey !

Camile

wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1171 Location: Campile. Wexford

Heather honey is lovely. More like a jelly but can be a bit of a bugger to extract. It wont be a problem for you with the good people of the Suck valley to show you how. Good luck with your bees Camile
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atholl gow · Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 8:19 pm Post subject: Bee Keeping

Fermanagh Bee Keepers run a course starting in January at the Agricultural college. I started keeping bees last year, too late for any honey but interesting stuff. I found a bloke in Co Armagh who sells second hand hives, sometimes with bees. This is a far cheaper way to start. If you are interested I can find out if he has any for sale. They are Modified Dadant hives,
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Atholl and Diane Gow
Gloucestershire Old Spots, White Parks and Highlands

admin · Site Admin Joined: 13 Dec 2006 Posts: 227

Thanks for that , Atholl . Several people have shown a bit of interest so if it would be easy for you to post up a link that would be great .
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blowin · Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 12:19 pm Post subject:

Camile · Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 12:22 pm Post subject:

Don't worry ...

They wouldn't have a website of course .. it's a bunch of retired people so not up to date with technology.

Once I know exactly when the next meeting will be .. I'll post it here if you're interested in joining us.

Camile

wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1171 Location: Campile. Wexford

Do any of you guys know if there is a Bee keeping equipment supplier in Ireland that does mail order?
Cheers.
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atholl gow · Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:13 pm Post subject:

The firm I use is www.thorne.co.uk most if not all bee keepers I know use this one. I know a local shop in Enniskillen that sells some stuff but they are expensive and its fron thornes anyway.

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Atholl and Diane Gow
Gloucestershire Old Spots, White Parks and Highlands