The Native Irish Honey Bee, Apis mellifera mellifera book

We are very proud of the launch of our latest publication, the brainchild of a few but the product of many — in the spirit of the “Meitheal,” i.e., the ancient Irish system of working for and with each other. As in olden days, the Meitheal is alive and well here. It is the way of the bees: as the bees work collectively, so did we. Sincere thanks to all of the volunteer beekeepers and scientists who contributed to this creation. 

“The Native Irish Honey Bee, Apis mellifera mellifera” focuses exclusively on the native Irish honey bee, featuring narratives on its evolution, genetics, history and conservation, with practical “How-to” sections on bee improvement, plus real-life stories from commercial beekeepers. Its aims are to increase awareness of and appreciation for the precious resources imbued in the native black honey bee, to encourage beekeepers to choose native Irish honey bees and to discourage the buying and importation of non-native honey bees.