Blessing of the Apiary on 20/08/2022

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Many who attended the opening formalities were impressed by the ecumenical blessing delivered jointly by Rev’d Christine O’Dowd and Fr Richard O’Halloran PP.
‘Almighty God,
You hold all creation in the palm of your hands; You possess the heavens, the earth and all that is them. 
You compassionately grant unto all created things that which is beneficial for them. 
 
Therefore today we ask: 

 

As in ancient times You granted the Israelites a land flowing with milk and honey, and as you were well-pleased to nourish John the Baptist in the wilderness with wild honey, so now by Your good pleasure and caring for our sustenance, bless the beehives in this apiary.

 
Greatly increase the number of bees in them, preserve them by Your grace, and fill us rich with honey. Let none of these beehives which You have fashioned be deprived of bees, but let them always be filled with honeycombs of honey. 
 
And according to Your great benefits and invincible might, let them be kept free from all danger. Rather, fenced round about by Your all-powerful might, let them always remain unharmed and do what you created them for.

 

Through Christ Our Lord. 
Amen
.’

Official Opening of EWBA Teaching Apiary

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Mr Malcolm Noonan TD, Minister for Heritage officially opened the Waterford Leader Partnership
supported new East Waterford Beekeepers’ Association Teaching Apiary in the Dunhill Ecopark on
Saturday 20 th August 2022. Mr Noonan gave a very passionate speech about the need for protection
of our Biodiversity and heritage.

Also in attendance were Cllr John O’Leary Mayor Waterford City and County Council, Grace
O’Sullivan MEP, members of the Federation of Irish Beekeepers’ Association Donal Lehane and Karen
Sterlie, members of the Irish Beekeepers’ Association P. J. Curran and Colette O’Connell, The Rev
Richard O’Halloran and Rev Christine O’Dowd, , supporters and members.

Committee members Donal Lehane, Anne Marie Fogarty, Willy O’Brien, John Cunningham, and Mary
Madigan thanked all our guests and sponsors for their contribution to this project. They also spoke
about the trees of benefit to our pollinators, the importance of maintaining our Native Irish Honey
Bee, the need to include Apiculture as a curriculum subject and the safeguarding of our hedgerows

The Apiary development has taken three years to come to fruition and this could not have happened
without Waterford Leader Partnership Funding through their C.E.O. Mr Jimmy Taaffe and Claire
Connors who gave endless support to us and our members who provided funding.

Waterford City and County Council continue to provide funding for teaching equipment which
enables the Association to be at the cutting edge with our education programmes to educate
beekeepers on the most modern and improved standards.

Other people who supported us were thanked namely Dunhill Ecopark, Suir Engineering, South
Tipperary Beekeepers’ Association for their ongoing support and advice, the Native Irish Honey Bee
Society who are mentoring our Native Irish Honey Bee Queen rearing programme and Dunhill
Ecopark through Dr Senan Cooke and Willy Moore who provide the Apiary site and helped develop it
with us, David Ennis from the Department of Agriculture, Waterford Humanist Society, Waterford
Lions Club and Orchardstown Garden Centre who donated and planted many pollinator friendly
trees.

The weather while very windy was affable and the opening was followed by a BBQ and great
conversation with all our members and distinguished guests.

Minister Martin Announces State Recognition of Beekeeping as a Key Practice of Ireland’s Living Cultural Heritage

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Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, has extended the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage, giving State recognition to Beekeeping as a key practice of Ireland’s Living Cultural Heritage.

 

Minister Martin said:

“…living cultural heritage practices require knowledge and skill, and foster our sense of community and place. These practices thrive through the dedicated communities who sustain and pass on their skills and way of life to succeeding generations ensuring the continuance of these important traditions. Official State recognition and inscription onto the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural will raise awareness of these practices and traditions.”

 

The development and extension of Ireland’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage is an integral part of the work of the Department under the UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage which requires States to recognise, protect and promote the living cultural heritage of their countries. There is now a total of 38 practices on Ireland’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage, all of which were included following rigorous assessment by an expert advisory committee.

 

Paul O’Brien, Chairman of the Federation of Irish Beekeepers’ Associations said:

“This is a great day for Beekeeping in Ireland. We are indebted to the many generations of Beekeepers who came before us and to those who continue today to pass on the knowledge and skills of our ancient craft. We are proud to have achieved this milestone and would like to thank the Department for recognising the significance of Beekeeping in the Irish cultural landscape.”

 

For more information, please check the website of the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage at https://nationalinventoryich.chg.gov.ie/

EWBA Apiary Registered as a Food Producer.

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As of 16/07/2020 the EWBA Apiary is registered with the Department of Agriculture as a food producer and therefore can sell Apiary honey to the general public.

EWBA is the first Beekeeping Association in Ireland to have their Apiary registered as a food producer.