Connemara Beekeepers Association

Cumann Beachairí Chonamara

Connemara Beekeepers Association

Céad Míle Fáilte!

Welcome to the Connemara Beekeepers little corner of the web. Our Association was founded to promote and further the craft of beekeeping across the Connemara region through the conservation of the native Irish dark bee: Apis Mellifera Mellifera. We endeavour to achieve tis through the following main objectives:

A message from Connemara Beekeepers Association Chairman, Gerard Coyne.

Gerard Coyne, Connemara Beekeepers Association

Over hundreds of thousands of years the Native Irish Honeybee (Apis Mellifera Mellifera) has evolved so that it is uniquely suited to survive and thrive in our cool and often wet climate. Although once common, the Native Irish Honeybee has in recent years seen a serious decline in population due to a combination of factors including the destruction of habitat (hedgerows and wildflower meadows), the use of chemical pesticides, the arrival of invasive species and the spread of diseases. If our Native Irish Honeybee was allowed to die-out, it would mean not only a significant loss in food production (as fruiting plants and trees could no longer be pollinated) but also the loss of many native wildflower species that depend on bees for pollination. Protecting the Native Irish Honeybee is therefore crucial to preserving entire ecosystems. The Connemara Beekeepers’ Association is working very hard to help conserve the Native Irish Honeybee. Through our breeding programme we have helped develop honeybees which are docile and easy to handle, resistant to disease, produce a large honey-crop and are uniquely suited to survive in the difficult conditions of Connemara. We have also collaborated with universities in scientific research programmes designed to develop our understanding of the Native Irish Honeybee. It is hoped that in the future Connemara may be established as a special area of conservation for the Native Irish Honeybee.

Contact Us

If you have any queries please reach out to use and a memeber of Connemara Beekeepers will be in touch shortly

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