This short video about beekeeping has been developed in conjunction with students of the Kerry ETB (Education Training Board) and the Beaufort Beekeepers Association. The video features 2 of our founding members (Dan and Tuddy) and the chairperson (Ulrich) and reflects our mindset at the Beaufort Beekeepers - being focused on natural beekeeping, preserving the craft and the honeybee! Enjoy the video and contact us, if you have any queries or want to join a vibrant honey bee association in Co. Kerry. Finally, we thank Seamus and Peter for their work and time invested in this educating video clip. It was a pleasure working with you in the apiary. You are pure professionals.

Beekeeping has always been an important activity in Beaufort, Co. Kerry and has been practiced by people in the area for hundreds of years.

The Beaufort Beekeepers are a friendly bunch of people who are interested in bees and beekeeping and of course, everything associated with it, from using the wax and propolis, to producing honey and helping to conserve our native black honey bee (Apis mellifera mellifera).

We are 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!

Over 70 beekeepers attended the 1st Kerry Beekeepers’ Gathering at the Beaufort Bar in Beaufort last night. The Beaufort Beekeepers hosted the event and are delighted with the turn out with beekeepers representing their respective clubs travelling from Dunmanway, Beara Peninsula, Killorglin, Castleisland, Dingle and Tralee. The night was a great success and hopefully a precursor to future gatherings of Beekeeping associations in the West-Cork/Kerry area. The event was attended by Beekeepers of all levels and as intended, information and practices shared amongst the clubs.

The first speaker was Tom O’Sullivan of Collis Sandes Beekeepers, Tralee. Tom explained how he recycles all his old wax and cappings to make his own foundation sheets for brood frames and supers. Next up was Donal Kelleher from Dunmanway & District Beekeepers.

On the Thursday the 6th of February the Beaufort Beekeepers invite all Kerry Beekeepers Associations to join the 1st Kerry Beekeepers Gathering at 8p.m. in Beaufort Bar, Beaufort, Co. Kerry.

The evening is under the motto: “Show and Tell"

A couple of our very own Beekeepers will show and explain tried and tested but new methods in
Beekeeping. Learn how to make your own foundation or wire your own frames. Of course, there will be
plenty time to have chat on/about our favourite buzzing hobby during and after the Show & Tell sessions.

Show & Tell 1: Roll your own foundation
Speaker: Tom O’Sullivan (Collis Sandes Beekeepers, Tralee)
Tom is beekeeping since 1977. For the past couple of years, he makes his own foundation. He says: ”It is
too simple, not to do it!.” All his foundation is wire free and it works best for him. Why? – Ask him on the
night.

Show & Tell 2: A brood and a half
Speaker: Donal Kelleher (Dunmanway & District Beekeepers)
Donal is a beekeeper with the past decade. He will give a brief presentation on brood and a half and
increasing the stock of bees for the honey flow. Do you raise your own queens? If yes, Donal has some
tips for you on raising queens.

NEW Courses for 2020

This beginners course is designed for new beekeepers or those who planning to start beekeeping. The course is design and presented by beekeepers of the Beaufort Beekeepers Association. In a practical and fun way (showing video clips and practical tasks (e.g. assembling a frame), quizzes etc.), you learn the basic about bees and beekeeping: