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NEWS Jan 12th
Happy New Year to all
Check out list of events for this year on Events Page. Try to attend as many as possible. They are always informative and fun.
Our new committee elected is updated on contacts page
We have added some new fact sheets. Great educational material for preparing for the active season or exams.
For
Beginners - don't forget free information night in Raheen House Hotel
Clonmel on 23rd Jan and upcoming Beginners course - full details on Education page
Dec 20th
Wondering what to buy your loved one or maybe yourself for Christmas, how about a 6wk Beekeeping Course for Beginners.
STBA run a very successful course every year. Come along
to our free information night in Raheen House Hotel Clonmel on 23rd
Jan. For full details of the course click our Education Page
We
will have an outdoor demo on Varroa treatment using the new Api-Bioxal
product in January, date is weather dependent so check back for details.
Our new committee elected will be updated shortly on the contact's page. Coming
soon - 2012 events update, check back regularly to see what
interesting lecturers & demonstrations are planned for the new year
Merry Christmas to All
October 23rd
2011 Honeyshow results now availabel on Honey Show Link
Our Autumn series of lecturers are under way, check events page for details.
The
department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have recently sanctioned
the use of Api-Bioxal as a medicine for bees. More information here.
For FIBKA 2012 Examination details click here.
August 16th
Beautiful short video of bees drinking water. As the video maker suggest watch it in full screen mode for best effect:
Bees Drinking Water: youtube
August 15th
This year's Clonmel Honey Show takes place on September 24th & 25th. See schedule and entry form details on Honey Show Link.
Show is open to the public on Sunday 25th 2pm - 4 pm. There
will be a candle making demonstration, flower display and ICA Craft
stand. Someting for everyone including a demonstration hive of bees and
honey for sale. Why not
exhibit your products or if you don't feel up the competition just come
along on Sunday 25th and soak up the atmosphere and meet our friendly
beekeepers.
June 13th
STBA Fact Sheets have been added to our articles
section. A full compliment will be added over time, check
back regularly to collect them all. These are educational and
informative and great reference documents.
May 25th
Please
participate in this year's colony loss questionnaire. It provides
valuable information. All details about this important survey can
be found hereTo complete the Questionnaire online you can use
the Word document available here. Type your answers directly
into the Word document and when you have answered all the questions,
save the response file and attach it to an e-mail to Dr. Mary Coffey, e-mail
address:- Mary.Frances.Coffey@ul.ie Alternatively, A print version (Adobe PDF) of the COLOSS 2009 - 2010
Questionnaire is available here, complete and post to Tom Prendergast or directly to Dr Mary Coffey.
May 16th
Our native black bee hits the National newspapers recently, have a read by clicking the following links:
Irish Bees untroubled by colony collapse
Irish bees still flying high despite threats
Best of luck to all beginner beekeepers who are going to take the FIBKA Preliminary Exam next Saturday 21st.
May 2nd
The April Edition of our newsletter is now available here & on our Articles Page
The
outdoor demonstrations are well underway and attracting a large
audience, it's a great way to learn from experienced beekeepers in a
relaxed and friendly environment. All are welcome to come along.
See details of times and dates on our Events Page
March 26th
The Federation of Irish Beekeepers' Associations has declared 2011 The Year
of the Honeybee. We are launching "The Year of the Honey Bee 2011, at a free
event open to the public in the National Botanic Gardens this weekend, 26th and 27th of
March.
Details of the launch programme and some follow-on events are available here
February 7th
South Kilkenny Beekeepers Association Events now available here and on our events page. As like our hurlers we have a long standing tradition between Kilkenny & Tipperary - All are welcome to attend. Venue: Kildalton College, Piltown,
For registration of all our member beekeepers with the Department of Agriculture, we have added a link to the DAFF website on our links page. There you will find frequently asked question & Registration Form.
Spring
at last, important time for our bees with the beginning of brood
rearing. If they have made it through the winter they may need a
helping hand with feeding of fondant. Heft the hives & feed if
necessary. Also ensure a supply of water is available to them. During the spring a
colony can use 150mg/day for honey dilution during brood rearing. Hence the
importances of providing bees with a water supply. It is also good practice at this time to monitor the mite drop.
January 17th
Spring Lecture Tour 2011
Venue: Raheen House Hotel, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.
Date: Thursday 17th February 2011 at 8.00pm
Topic: ''Maintaining healthy colonies in spite of Varroa - Varroa problems and
associated solutions'' By
Clive de Bruyn NDB who is a lecturer and author as well as a professional
beekeeper managing one hundred colonies in England.
January 5th
Looking
for a bit of "BUZZ" in the new year? If you are interested in
beekeeping STBA have the answer with our course for beginners. Come
along to our free information night in Raheen House Hotel Clonmel on
25th January at 8pm. For full details click here.
Keeping
up to date, improving your knowledge and staying in touch with your
beekeeping friends is easy with all the organised events for the year.
Mark your calendars, join in the fun, all are welcome. For
list of STBA event dates click here.
December 22nd
An
enjoyable evening was had by all those who attended our AGM, the
evening included an informative presentation on wax recovery by
Gerry Ryan. It was clear from listening to the the Secretary's
& Chairman's report that our association is one to be proud of with
lot's of achievements and events and active members. The
President of FIBKA, Denis Ryan handed out certificates to some of the
begineers who successfully completed their exams - see their photos in
"Images" page under Miscellaneous. Well done to all. Some photos of the 2010 honey show are now also included in "Images" page under Honey Shows.
Our new committee elected will be updated shortly on the contact's page Coming
soon - 2010 events update & details on begineers course - check back regularly to see what
interesting lecturers & demonstrations are planned for the new year. Finally, heavy snow falls can cover the
hive entrances; any snow should be very quietly cleared away without alarming
the colony in order to maintain the ventilation at the bottom. Bees
can survive long
periods of cold – the real danger is dampness. Cool temperatures
in the winter can be better for bees than warm as they tend to cluster
tighter and use less food, let's hope our bees do well throughout
this very cold winter.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOUR LITTLE FRIENDS
December 12th
Banner Beekeepers upcoming conference,
“Improving your local bees” – a conference on Bee Improvement and Queen
Rearing 5th/6th February in Ennis.
Looks like it will be well worth a visit with a great line-up of expert speakers including some of our own
– click here for further information. Our
AGM will be held this Wednesday 15th, 8pm Raheen House Hotel.
It will include a short presentation by Gerry Ryan on wax
recovery. It is always an enjoyable evening with time for tea and
chat, so please support your association & come along!
December 1st
Our
beloved Secretary Tom Prendergast has many talents and is now making
television appearances. He gave an expert account of beekeeping
to Helen Carroll, Ear to the Ground TV Presenter and beginner
beekeeper. If you missed the episode it can be viewed by clicking
on the attached link TOM ON TELLY. Well done to all!
November 16th
Planning
for next year & looking for a bargin - Thorne's online winter sales
starts 9am on 29th November. Check their website for details
www.thorne.co.uk
November 11th
Intermediate & Senior study groups commence Monday 15th November at 8pm in the band room in Cahir. It
is a great way to increase your knowledge & prepare yourself to be
a more proficient, successful beekeeper next year. All are
welcome. Group meet every second week.
October 15th
Beginner,
Intermediate and Senior Study groups will be held throughout the
winter. These classes prepare
candidates for exams held in May & July. We welcome all to this
group, including neighbouring association members. Dates for
commencement of study groups will be posted to our education section shortly -
check back regularly
October 8th
Mark
your diary! At our winter lectures you can pick up nuggets of
information, relax and drink tea and join in the chitchat with other
beekeepers. Our first lecture begins next Tuesday 12th October
8pm, with Eddie O'Sullivan from Cork BKA speaking to us about Apiary
Hygiene. New venue is Raheen House Hotel.
Next lecture will be November 9th with Michael Gleeson from Offaly BKA (also Secretary of FIBKA)
September 30th
Our annual Honey Show proved an outstanding success with 246 entries in the beekeeping classes. Congratulations again to all our winners and a big thank you to all who
participated! For a full list of winners, please click here
September 14th
It's
not yet time to hang up your beesuit. To get your bees through
the winter & to give them a good start next spring some essential
activities need to take place:
1. Ensure your colony is queen right
2. Ensure they are well fed
3. Check for diseases
4. Treat for Varroa
5. Fit mouse Guards & ensure you have a weatherproof hive.
To Read more Click Here
August 30th
Now
available by clicking links: Honey Show Schedule; Honey show
entry form; and our September edition of newsletter.
August 18th
Congratulations to Jim Power Carrick on Suir who was awarded Beekeeper of the Year at Gormanston. This is a worthy award as Jim makes a huge contribution to the craft both at local and national level.
Reminder
that our Clonmel Honey Show will take place on 25th and 26th September
in the Central Technical Institute, the Mall, Clonmel. We encourage all
beekeepers to enter & participate in the show as it is a great way
of improving the standard of your beekeeping products. For those
of you who do not yet produce honey but have an interest, do come along
on Sunday 26th (2pm - 4pm), and you will not be disappointed.
Exhibits on display range from beautiful decorative ornamental
displays of all beehive products from honey in all its forms, to wax
candles & models, paintings by school children, photography
displays & beautiful flower arrangements. This year you will
also have the opportunity to see a professional crafts person making
baskets & traditional beehive skeps. Also on display will be
a demonstration hive of bees. Mark the date in your diary!
Check back as schedule & details of show will be posted shortly.
June 24th
Our
Association Apiary Managers have been doing some great work, building
up, spliting & making increases and as a result Nucs are
now available for Sale, contact Tom on 087 9109360 or Redmond on 052 7142617 if you are interested in acquiring a good, healthy stock of bees from known source.
May 27th
"The
Hive" A Beekeeping project completed by transition year students
from CBS Carrick-on-Suir wins prizes at the National Finals of "TY
Get & Go" mini company competion. Alex Lonergan and
Evan Ryan operated as a mini company making Beeswax rolled candles and
Beeswax funiture polish. They sold their produce through local
shops. Alex and Evan received a helping hand from their local
beekeepers Jim and Bridie Power. Well done boys! We hope
you keep up the beekeeping interest. See their photo in the images section under Miscellanous
May 26th
Vita (Europe)
Ltd is launching a photography competition. Anyone can submit up to three
photos relating to bees or beekeeping to try to win a cash prize, check out their website for details
May 24th
Great
opportunity to find out if you have got Native Bees. Galtee Bee
Breeding Group have summer students employed to do morphometric
analysis, that is the mounting of bees wings on glass slides, scanning
them on computer , enabling the measurement of the ratio & angles
of various veins in order to establish the racial type.
All
you have to do is send in fifty to sixty bees in an airtight glass jar,
label jar with name & address & hive number. Do not put
holes in the lid & do not put any substances in the jar eg. honey
or sugar syrup, as this can damage the bees wings. Store in a
deep freeze & give Micheál Mac Giolla Coda a ring on 052 7467205 & he will arrange a collection.
For further information read the article Micheál wrote in our Sept Edition Newsletter & also Aritcle "Got Native Bees" in our article section.
Send in your samples now & let's line up the work so we will have "Busy Bee Students"
May 9th
STBA
outdoor demonstrations are now in full swing & attracting a large
audience, you can find time & date details on our events page
The demonstrations include queen rearing, nuc production, swarm control & bailey frame change. Learn to identify if your brood is healthy. Some photos have been added to our image section (Bees n Things)
to help identify AFB. Take a look so you will be able to
recognise this disease. Also added to the articles section is
some information about AFB & EFB.
April 13th
You
should all have received at this stage your copy of the April edition
of our newsletter. If not don't fret, it is now available on our
website in the articles sections, have a read. Also posted is last September's edition.
We think that the newsletter is very entertaining &
informative but would welcome your feedback & if you have any
articles you would like to submit for the next edition please let Tom know.
March 30th
Who best to write about the Native Black Bee but Micheál Mac Giolla Coda of Galtee Bee Breeding Group. Check out his article Got Native Bees & for a little more reading have a look at Origin of Bees - these new articles & others in our article section are worth a read.
March 22nd
Colony losses are a major problem worldwide and recent studies suggest that the
highest percentage of losses occur during the winter months. All
beekeepers can assist in the effort to collect reliable data for
Ireland by filling in a very simple survey, pioneered by Dr. Mary
Coffey, both members & non-members are invited to reply. For
further information & access to the survey click on the following
link:
COLOSS QUESTIONNAIRE. Please assist as it is in all beekeepers interest to understand the problems leading to losses. February 26th The
notes from the recent Irish Lecture Tour by Willie Robson of Chain
Bridge Honey Farm, Northumberland are now available in the Articles Section February 11th Studying for your Intermediate or Senior exam? Check out newly posted articles
on the glands of the honeybee, written by Tom Prendergast CFL.
Tom is
well known for his sample answers to exam questions in An Beachaire and
this month covers a question on the exocrine glands. Well worth a
read.
Reminder
Next Tuesday 16th Feb, we have a talk on "Preparing for the Honey
Crop", in Hearne's Hotel 8pm, by John Donoghue. You should pick
up some good tips for this year's Bumper Crop! All are welcome
Also - Bee Health Seminar in Limerick Sunday 14th Feb - details on FIBKA web - find link in links section.
January 25th
Minister Sargent Announces Grant Aid Scheme for Horticulture Growers 2010 - applies to Beekeeping Trevor Sargent, TD, Minister of State at the
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, with special responsibility for
Horticulture and Food today announced details of the third round of the grant
aid scheme for the development of the horticulture sector under the National
Development Plan (2007-2013). The closing
date for receipt of applications is 19th February 2010 and only investments
commenced after the issue of letters of approval will be eligible.
Details of the scheme and application forms
can be obtained from Crop Production and Safety Division, Department of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Administration Building, Backweston Campus,
Young’s Cross, Celbridge, Co. Kildare, 01 5058801/5058797 or at www.agriculture.gov.ie also visit
http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/farmerschemespayments/horticultureschemes/
Date Released: 19 January 2010
- Many thanks to Michael Gleeson of FIBKA for this information January 19th We
are pleased to announce that STBA is running a beginners course.
It will be starting on Jan 25th in Cahir Band Hall at 19.30 For more information check Education Link January 13th Events for 2010 updated
January 6th Wishing
you all a Peaceful & Prosperous New Year in 2010. Hopefully the long
awaited "Bumper Crop" will appear! In the meantime try to keep
uptodate & improve your knowledge of the craft. Click on Events Page to see details of upcoming Lecture Tour by Mr. William Robson of Chain Bridge Honey Farm, Northumberland December 20th Had to Buzz on by to wish you all a Merry Christmas! On Christmas Day, Legend states that the bees sing the Lord's Praise at midnight - be sure to wish them a Happy Christmas! The
practice of feeding candy on Christmas Day is nonsense &
unneccessary disturbance to the colony if it has been prepared properly
for the winter. For more information on Winter in the Apiary read short article in Article section. Dont
forget Thornes Winter Sales on-line from 29th December, beat the
January 1st rise in VAT, Phone orders from Jan 5th. Find
link to Thornes website in Links section December 16th An
enjoyable evening was had by all those who attended our AGM, the
evening included presentations, good discussions & a chance to have
a cup of tea & catch-up with friends afterwards. It was
evident from our Secretary's report that a lot has been achieved
throughout the year, nucs for beginners, newsletters, text alerts,
website, study group, exam & honey show successes to name a few.
Well done & a big thanks to our hard working committee members
& those non-committee members who also helped out where needed.
Our new committee elected can be found on contacts page Coming
soon - 2010 events update - check back regularly to see what
interesting lecturers & demonstrations are planned for the new year
Welcome!
The association represents 52 full members and 18 associate members and
is affiliated with the Federation of Irish Beekeepers.
On this website, you will find details about our programme of lecturers
and demonstrations and information on study courses which we run over
the winter months, amongst other updates and information. The
art
of beekeeping is constantly evolving and our association is proactive
in keeping our members well informed and up to date on bee related
topics.
Bees are fascinating, industrious creatures but BEE
warned, as what starts out as a passing interest may become something
of an obsession. You will find great enjoyment from keeping
one
of nature’s most wondrous creatures.
It
is well worth joining our association where we endeavour to encourage
and inspire you to bring bees into your life. HAPPY
BEEKEEPING.
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