The Federation of
Irish Beekeepers' Associations
The Federation of
Irish Beekeepers' Associations
Preliminary information is available here.
Register now to secure your place at the International Bee Health Symposium 2012!
Further information regarding the symposium and on how to register is available here
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine's grant aid scheme for the Conservation of Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture has been in place since 1996.
The Scheme has an annual call for projects aimed at supporting the conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources for food and agriculture.
Projects are evaluated by an advisory committee, representing broad national stakeholder interests.
Further information on the Genetic Resources Grant Aid Scheme including information on the forthcoming 2012 Scheme is available here.
Shane McEntee TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for Horticulture, has announced details of the fifth round of the Grant Aid Scheme for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector under the National Development Plan (2007-2013).
The closing date for receipt of applications is 10th February 2012 and only investments commenced after the issue of letters of approval will be eligible for aid.
A minimum investment of €2,000 applies in the case of beekeeping.
Further details may be obtained via the DAFM website or by phoning: 01-5058797 or 01-5058801.
The voice of Irish Beekeeping, 11 issues yearly posted to your home, Subscribe today, €25 per annum. The January issue will be on sale soon.
If you would like a sample copy contact the Manager Mr David Lee, Scart, Kildorrey, Co Cork, Tel No (022-25595) & (087 0904646). E-mail davidleej@eircom,net
The cover and table of contents of the January 2012 issue are available here
The Laboratory of Apiculture and Social Insects at Sussex University is recruiting for the position of Honey bee Research Facilities Manager
Further information regarding the position and on how to apply is available here
The FIBKA Handbook for the Guidance of Affiliated Association 2011-2012 is available here in pdf format
You may also access the Handbook by following the link to "The Federation" (above) and then the link to "Federation Handbook"
Firstly I would like to congratulate all the candidates that sat the various FIBKA examinations in 2011. A total of 574 candidates from both North and South sat the various examinations most of whom were successful. To those that didn't make it this time, I know that you will be successful in 2012.
I wish to express my sincere gratitude to Dennis Ryan for his role as Education Officer in 2011. In addition to his duties as President he carried out the duties and responsibilities of Education Officer in a thorough and professional manner.
As you may be aware there were no nominations for the position of Education Officer at Congress this year and nobody has come forward since to undertake the role. So that there will be no disruption to our examination, I have decided to take on the role of Examination Coordinator for 2012. All FIBKA examinations will be available as in previous years and all enquiries for the 2012 examinations should be addressed to me as below.
The Provincial Intermediate Scientific Examination will be examined in 2012 and will be held on Saturday 31st of March 2012. The closing date for receipt of application forms is Friday 2nd of March 2012. The minimum number of candidates for a centre is five; neighbouring associations may combine in order to reach the minimum number of five.
The Provincial Preliminary Examination will be held on Saturday 19th of May 2012. The closing date for receipt of application forms is Friday 20th of April 2012. The minimum number of candidates for a centre is ten; neighbouring associations may combine in order to reach the minimum number of ten.
For those wishing to sit the Senior Apiary Practical Examination, the Intermediate Apiary Practical Examination, the Practical Beemaster Examination, the Microscopy Examination and the Lecturer Examination the closing date for receipt of application forms is Friday 4th of May 2012. For those wishing to sit the Honey Judge's Examination the closing date for receipt of application forms is Friday 3rd of February 2012.
The Senior Apiary Practical Examination, the Intermediate Apiary Practical Examination and the Practical Beemaster Examination are held at the candidate's apiary, usually on a Saturday in June or by arrangement of a convenient date between the Examiners and the candidate, there will be two Examiners.
The Microscopy Examination, the Lecturer Examination and the Honey Judge's Examination will take during the 2012 Summer Course.
For those wishing to take the Intermediate and Senior paper during the 2012 Summer Course the closing date for receipt of application forms is Friday 4th of May 2012. Those wishing to take the Preliminary paper during the 2012 Summer Course may apply at the Summer Course.
Full details and guidance including all application forms are available on the website http://www.irishbeekeeping.ie All fees are listed on the application forms and can be downloaded from the website.
There can are be no exceptions from the deadlines as set out above. I would ask for the fullest cooperation from all concerned as in addition to taking on the responsibility of Examination Co-ordinator, I also have my elected role of FIBKA Secretary.
Michael G Gleeson, Ballinakill, Enfield, Co Meath, Tel No (M) 087-6879584, e-mail mgglee@eircom.net
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have recently sanctioned the use of Api-Bioxal as a medicine for bees
More information is available here
How should beekeepers
respond?
How do we equip ourselves to respond effectively?
Friday 24th and Saturday 25th February
2012
Greenmount Campus
Co. Antrim
Northern Ireland BT41 4PU
The announcement notice including a booking form is available in full here in .pdf format.
Harper Adams University College
Campus
Newport
Shropshire
The announcement notice is available in full here
It has been pointed out that some lines of text are missing from Chapter 10 of the FIBKA publication "Bees, Hives and Honey".
The missing text is available here in Word format or here in .pdf format.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Please let us know if you have any difficulties in retrieving the update.
Fáilte chuig idirlíon Chomhnascadh Cumann Beachairí na h-Éireann.
In san comhnascadh seo, tá 53 cumainn áitiúla. Clic ar an léarscáil chun eolas ar an gceann is giorra dhuit a aimsiú. Bíonn clár léachtaí dá chuid féin ar siúl ag gach aon cumann comh maith le teaspáintaisí praicticiúla in san bheachlainn i rith an t-samhraidh. Bíonn cuid de na h-imeachtaí seo socraithe le fada roimh ré agus cuid acu a thárlionn d'aon gnó. Bíonn gach eolas le fáil ón rúnaí áitiúl. Bíonn ranganna ar siúl i rith an gheimhridh ag furmhór de na cumainn i gcóir daoine atá ar intinn acu beachaireacht a fhoghlaim. Is oiriúnach an slí seo chun eolas a fháil ar an gcéird.
Bíonn cúrsa samhradh á reachtáil ag an comhnascadh gach bliain ar gach leibhéil eolais i gColáiste Baile Mhic Gormáin i gCo. na Mí. Mór-chruinniú í seo de bheachairí as gach áird den tír seo agus as tíortha thar lear comh maith. Clic anseo chun a thuile eolais a fháil ar an gcúrsa.
Tá gach cumann sa tír faoi chúram ball áirithe de Choiste Feidhmiúchán Náisiúnta an Chomhnascaidh. Seo leanas ainmneacha na mball agus na gcumann atá faoina gcúram.
In san lá atá inniú ann, tá gach rud ceart chun tosnú ar bheaca a choimeád. Níl an oiread sin nitreáid á scaoileadh amach ar an dtalamh ag na feirmeoirí. Tá níos mó síol-ráibe á chur faoi láthair i gcóir ábhar ola chun comhacht a gnothú. Níl an méid chéanna de na clathacha agus na torthaí á leagadh mar tá níos mó tuisceana ag daoine go bhfuil siad an úsáideach o thaobh fothana agus chun an fiadhúlra a chaomhnú.
Ón méid seo ar fad, moltar dúinn leanúint leis a gceird ársa seo ag a bfhuil an toradh íontach - fíor mhil na h-Éireann.
Bígí ag baint taithneamh as!
Welcome to the web site of the Federation of Irish Beekeepers' Associations.
The Federation represents our 53 local member associations. Click on the map here to find details of your nearest Association. Each Association has its own programme of lectures and apiary demonstrations - some planned in advance and some on short notice. Your local Secretary can tell you what's on.
Many local Associations have beginners' courses over the winter and it's an excellent way to learn abut the craft. For all levels of experience, the Federation runs a one week summer course in Gormanston College. This draws beekeepers from all over the country and internationally not just to hear lectures. Read all about it here.
Each Association has an Executive Council member assigned as a link between the Association and the Federation. Here are the people involved in the Federation with details of Associations to which they are assigned.
It's a great time to keep bees. There's more clover with nitrates restricted, more oilseed rape grown for fuel, less destruction of hedgerows as people realise how much benefit they provide for shelter and wildlife. All this encourages us to continue with an ancient craft with such a wonderful product - pure Irish Honey. Enjoy it!