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Co. Waterford Beekeepers Association, or Co. WBKA, was revived in 1958

Education, practical beekeeping, and queen rearing continue to remain the focus of the Co. WBKA, all done in an easy and relaxed atmosphere. Members hail from around Co. Waterford and the adjacent counties of Cork & Tipperary.

Co. WBKA has been at the forefront in assisting local students with projects involving bees as well as planting trees in the community.

Co. WBKA promotes the conservation of the Native Irish Honeybee, Apis mellifera mellifera, and is part of the Voluntary Conservation Area scheme throughout Ireland.

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The art of grafting for Queen rearing

The Co. WBKA committee for 2023

Honorary President – Micheál Moynihan
Chairperson – PJ Curran
Honorary Secretary – Antoinette Walsh
Honorary Treasurer – James Moloney
Education officer & PRO – Colette O’Connell
Micheál Moynihan, Paddy Moloney, Michael Moynihan, Shane Balfe, Zsolt Borzasi.

Apply for membership now

Beekeeping

Beekeeping courses

The Co. Waterford Beekeepers’ Association offers an annual Beekeeping for Beginners course to provide the foundational knowledge and skills needed to successfully keep bees.

BEEkeeping year

Beekeeping year starts in Autumn, when the honey crop has been removed and beekeepers ensure that the colonies have enough stores to take them through the long winter, until spring, when days are warmer longer.

Native Irish Honey Bee

The Co. Waterford Beekeepers’ Association will protect and conserve, propagate and promote the native Irish Honey bee, Apis mellifera mellifera.

Association Apiary

The Co. Waterford Beekeepers’ Association is dedicated to preserving the native Irish honey bee, also known as the “black bee.”

swarming

Swarming

Swarming is how bees make increases and populate. Beekeepers need to do regular colony inspections to ensure that their bees do not swarm.

HIVE PRODUCTS

The best-known primary products of beekeeping are honey and wax, but pollen, propolis, royal jelly, venom, queens, bees, and their larvae.