Dromore group embarks on a ‘trip to Tipp’

Association recently undertook a ‘trip to Tipp’ for its annual outing this year.

The return visit to Tipperary, prompted by its status as the Centre of excellence in Irish Beekeeping, began in Carrick-on-Suir.

Two of the apiaries visited were new to members, who later rated the level of beekeeping competence as high as in any apiary the association had ever visited.

A spokesman said, “The first visit was to the home apiary of Jim Power, where three generations of the Power family laid on most interesting and appropriate demonstrations. Jim Power was assisted by his daughter Irene, his son James, and his 12-year old grandson, Gavin.”

Tea and photographs were followed by a conducted tour of Ormonde Castle.

“The Sunday morning visit,” the spokesman continued, “was to Redmond Williamms; he and his daughter Emma took the party to a field of oilseed rape where he was strengthening some overwintered nuclei to replace winter losses . . .

“Redmond has a wonderful teaching style and he conducted a ‘teach-in’ by an open hive. The Dromore folk were a little reticent but still got a lot out of the discussion.”

The visitors next moved on to Redmond’s honey house, where three tonnes of honey are dealt with annually.

“The final visit,” the spokesman said, “was to the Galtee BBG workshop on Sunday afternoon where the large crowd of beekeepers from all over Ireland was divided into groups and escorted round all the workstations where the various aspects of colony evaluation and queen rearing were demonstrated.”