|
Beekeeping Courses
Beginners
preliminary
Intermediate
==============================================================
Harvest
Thanksgiving 2009
Milk and Honey.
The communion table in Randalstown
(OC) Presbyterian Church was decorated with milk and honey and the main
entrance porch had a lavish display of products of the beehive.
The rest of this beautiful old Church was decorated with fruit and
flowers in a more traditional Harvest style. The occasion was the
Annual Harvest Thanksgiving Service of the Ulster Beekeepers’
Association. This Service, which is unique in Britain and
Ireland, is held in different churches throughout Northern
Ireland. This year’s service, on Sunday evening 18th October, was
hosted by Randalstown & District Beekeepers’ Association and
beekeepers from all over Northern Ireland attended.
The special guests were Michael Gleeson, from Enfield, County Meath,
the secretary of the Federation of Irish Beekeepers’ Associations and
his wife Rosemary and Dennis Ryan, from Clonmel, County Tipperary, the
President of The Federation of Irish Beekeepers’ Associations and his
wife Carmel. Dennis read the first lesson and Rev. Margaret
Johnston, the immediate past President of the Ulster Beekeepers’
Association read the second. The Very Rev. Dr. Donald Patton,
minister of the congregation, conducted the service and preached a
sermon most appropriate to the occasion. The offering was divided
between “Bees for Development,” an International Charity which helps
groups in third world countries develop the production and marketing of
honey and beeswax and a beekeeping project in Zomba, Malawi.
After the Service a huge crowd of both beekeepers and members of the
congregation moved to the Church hall where they received a wonderful
supper provided by the Randalstown Beekeepers and the ladies of the
congregation, who also served it.
 
Photos: left to right.
Dennis Ryan, from Clonmel, Co Tipperary, President of the Federation of
Irish Beekeepers' Associations who read the first lesson. Also
Rev Margaret Johnston, from Killinchy, the immediate Past President of
the Ulster Beekeepers' Association, who read the second lesson.
Milk & honey beside a model bee hive on the Communion table in
front of the choir.
The display of beehive
products in the front porch to the Church.
Urban Beekeeping in Northern Ireland
Honeybees are under serious pressure
from new emerging diseases and perhaps use of pesticides. Recent news
about the world decline of honeybees is not myth, but a reality
experienced by many Northern Ireland beekeepers, which has enouraged
many nature lovers to take the plight of the honey bee under their
wing. It is great that so many people are now expressing an interest in
beekeeping and there are already many beekeepers keeping one or two
hives in Belfast back gardens. However, beekeeping is not something
that one can dive into without first gaining some background knowledge.
It is strongly advised that one takes a beekeeping
course such as that offered by CAFRE. The location of a hive is
also something that requires a lot of care or else you might find
yourself falling out with your neighbours. Your local beekeeping
association will only be too glad to teach and guide new beekeepers
both at a lecture and practical level. If you are considering
beekeeping then it would be in your best interest to join your local
club and experience practical beekeeping before investing in equipment
and bees.
============================================================== |
UBKA
Annual
Conference
26th -27th February 2010 at
Greenmount Campus,
Co Antrim.
“Empty Hives Make
No Money”
20% Early Booking Discount
Extended to 14th Feb!
Booking Form
Prepare for a successful
2010 Beekeeping Season
with lectures and advice from
experts-
Celia F Davis,
Richard Ball,
&Tom Prendergast
Programme will include
2 education streams
(mainstream and practical)
Friday Social Evening
(great craic )
En suite rooms
within conference centre
For more details contact-
Susie Turner
Conference Manager
Tel. 0044 28 94453892
|