Tony's Story

My name is Tony Maher and I began beekeeping in 2014 after attending a Beginners Beekeeping Course run by Banner Beekeepers Association the previous autumn. I was immediately bitten (or should that be stung?) by the beekeeping bug and have been fascinated by beekeeping ever since.

I started off with two hives in the forest outside Ballynacally along the Shannon Estuary and began learning the craft of beekeeping, mainly by making mistakes! With the help of local beekeepers, I gradually learned to work with the bees, rather than trying to make them work for me, and further developed my interest in the craft.

I realised that knowledge is crucial and attended Beekeeping Summer Schools run by the Federation of Irish Beekeepers Associations (FIBKA) and achieved FIBKA qualifications in beekeeping. There is a myriad of topics related to the craft, ranging from husbandry, queen rearing, pest management, honey processing and marketing, all of which are fascinating and interesting.

In my 10 years beekeeping, I have achieved National and local awards for my honey and am proud to say that Paradise Honey is a fitting example of pure, natural honey from the Irish countryside. I continuously strive to improve my skills and knowledge to do what I can to promote beekeeping in Co. Clare and to produce local honey for my customers.