Beekeeping

Historically, before the advent of commercially produced sugars made from cane and beet, honey was the only natural sugar available and mankind has always loved and craved the sweet taste of golden honey. Collecting honey from wild bee colonies is one of the most ancient of human activities and many indigenous societies in parts of Africa, Asia, Australia, and South America continue this method of harvesting honey to this day.

Here at Fairmont, Carton House we are home to a colony of bees, every colony is a highly complex community made up of around 50,000 bees, each with a specific role to ensure the survival of the colony as a whole. Bees play an essential role in all ecosystems, pollinating the majority of flowering plants. In turn, they serve all other animals, accounting for around one-third of human food-producing crops.

The honey they produce boosts our immune system, provides protection from pollen allergies and has wound-healing benefits through its antibacterial properties. It is also a delicious and natural source of sugar which our bodies find easier to process. The bees produce honey to feed on and, more specifically, to store to ensure their survival through winter.

Our Beekeeper

Thomas Clancy was born in Glenfarne Co. Leitrim, married to Bridie, with four children and 9 grandchildren.

Educated in Saint Joseph’s Manorhamilton and the National College of Ireland, I worked all his working life with Dublin Bus, first as a driver and quickly graduated to the Training and Development School there. While in Dublin Bus he lectured for many years in Leadership and Personnel Management on a part time basis at my Alma Mater. Over several years he had articles and short stories published and I’m currently working on the completion of a book on his primary school experience.

In 2006, while thinking of something for his retirement he started studying Apiculture, the study and craft of beekeeping.

Having undertaken beekeeping courses at different levels he opened his first Apiary at Barnhall, Leixlip in 2007.

In 2018 he approached Carton House, Fairmont seeking a site for a private apiary.

Carton House honey is of the highest quality because of the organic plants and foliage from which the bees forage. The non-use of pesticides and insecticides means bee health is not compromised and the honey product is of pristine quality. Carton House honey is a light golden shade and as it is Raw (not processed) it contains 100% of the natural oils and enzymes. One cannot get a better food product than Raw Honey, it and Dates are collectively known as God’s Food.