Coronavirus (Covid-19)
As part of the national response to Covid-19, the Department of Health, the Department of Rural and Community Development and the HSE are working closely to support stakeholders and community groups. We will be regularly updating our website with information as it comes to hand.
Today we are writing to you in the first instance to ask for your help in sharing important information in relation to COVID-19 with your fellow beekeepers. Below is information on the Government announcement:
The general public are being asked to follow this advice and keep informed of this ongoing outbreak. Details of these updated measures can be found here:
In the meantime, you can find information at:
- https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/coronavirus.html
- https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/
- https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/c36c85-covid-19-coronavirus/
As this situation rapidly evolves, we know there is an atmosphere of uncertainty as beekeepers wonder if they should change their plans. The prudent approach to this pandemic is to reduce social contact with others. With this in mind, each association must make their decision on suspending monthly meetings and any beginner courses that they may have started. FIBKA will review the exam dates for the preliminary beginners exam and will update all members via secretaries and our website. The intermediate and senior provincial exam due to be held on 4th April next will be postponed to a future date. All applicants may sit the next available exam and there will be no need to reapply. Those who wish to have a refund please contact FIBKA through their own association secretary.
During this crisis please do what you can and look out for your fellow members as some may not have enough support if they have to isolate themselves for 14 days.
Kind regards
Paul O’Brien
President
The Latest from The Federation
Coronavirus
There is much talk about Covid-19 (Coronavirus) among our members. FIBKA recommends that you follow the advice of the government in this area, as posted on the HSE web site
Information from Dept. of Agriculture About Lockdown
I received a clarification e-mail from DAFM on the position of beekeeping in the current situation…
New Regulations
To all FIBKA members, As beekeepers we fall under the control of DAFM. Please note that farming activities were named as exempt from a series…
FW: APIMONDIA Toxicity Records – English + Frence + Spanish
Please share this with your members – the idea is to capture as much information of bee poisonings as possible. I’ve removed the text of the…
FIBKA Keeping in Touch With it’s Members
While we are currently unable to come together as associations or meet up with individual beekeeping friends and colleagues, the FIBKA beekeeping Forum is a great way for us as beekeepers to keep up contact and support each other through these difficult times.
NOTICES
Hedge Cutting
FIBKA wishes to remind you all that it is prohibited to cut hedgerows or to burn gorse, etc. from 1st March until 31st August. You can report illegal hedge cutting to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (https://npws.ie/contact-us) and/or the Gardaí (https://garda.ie/en). Please give as many details as possible – photos are particularly useful. Remember to note the registration number of any vehicle involved, along with the date and time and the location.
Are You Looking for:
a. A Spot for Your Apiary?
b. Bees for Your Land?
Mooney Goes Wild
Pres. Paul O'Brien talks to Derek Mooney, Éanna Ní Lamhna and Dr. Richard Collins about Bumblebees. Listen here: RTE Radio1
The Federation of Irish Beekeepers Associations
Welcome to the web site of the Federation of Irish Beekeepers’ Associations.The Federation represents our 48 local member associations. 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.
Each Association has an Executive Council member assigned as a link between the Association and the Federation.
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!
Fáilte
Fáilte chuig idirlíon Chomhnascadh Cumann Beachairí na h-Éireann. In san comhnascadh seo, tá 48 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!
Gormanston Summer School 2020
The 2020 annual Summer Course at Gormanston College, Co Meath from Sunday 2nd to Friday 7th of August promises to be another exciting week in the calendar of Irish Beekeeping.
For those seeking residential accommodation at the College, we would strongly advise early booking as late availability of rooms may not be guaranteed. The College management have asked for the release of unreserved rooms early in the year so that they can allocate them to other groups(s).
There is no issue with day attendance as we will always be able to accommodate those.