Ballina Beekeepers Club puts on a brilliant show, workshop and demonstration at Gervaise Paddens apiary Bonniconlan, Sunday 10th July 2011.
As we approached Ballina Henry from the front seat quipped, “Thank God I brought my jacket” as he glanced around at the passengers in the back seat dressed in short sleeved shirts, not sure was it the thunder shower and the pounding rain on the windscreen, or his comment that brought goose pimples out all over me! Never dreamt of rain! I had only packed a bee suit and gloves.
As we turned into Gervaise Padden apiary, Bonniconlan less than two miles away we noticed it had not rained here at all. Yippee.
We dressed into the bee suits and was just in time for the theory part of the workshop, Gervaise a man of immense knowledge gave a running commentary as he explained his every move about Queen rearing and the operation and uses of the‘little Apidea box’. It is true to say that ‘published books are only guide lines’because what Gervaise practices and demonstrates made more sense and easier understood, a lot of this knowledge I am sure Gervaise will admit was learned from his ‘side kick and master of crafts’ one of the oldest, keenest and best beekeepers here in the west of Ireland, the one and only “Matt Moran, Bonniconlon” Yes Matt was there asking all the right questions may be overlooked by Gervaise but not missed by the master, for the beginners benefit of course.
It was a joy and an education to watch and listen to the expert as he explained his every move.
The second part of the workshop involved the introduction of a newly mated queen to her newly adopted family behind the protection of a steel mesh cage, used until the bees become familiar with her pheromone and eat the barrier plug inserted at the end of the cage to release her, usually about twenty four hours later.
We witnessed her been marked (for identification on the frame at inspection times) between bare fingers and caged.
The cloak board method of queen rearing was demonstrated, a more modified cloak board was explained and practiced using two brood boxes and an ingenious revolving floor method (will be helpful to those of us with the painful back). Gervaise explained why he designed his cloak board with the extras; it made perfect sense when he explained why.
To finish of a wonderful day “YES without a drop of rain”, the group of forty plus ‘students’ were treated to a beautiful selection of freshly made sandwiches, tea and plates of cakes.
The workshop was a brilliant success for the ‘Ballina Beekeepers Club’ and great credit is due to all involved in the endeavour.
Pictured are members of the Ballina Beekeepers Club and some Beekeepers from the surrounding area’s.
