The Dublin Beekeeper's Year

The beekeeper's year starts in the autumn, after the harvest. Here is what members can look forward to:

Autumn

The Co. Dublin beekeepers' association runs a number of lectures in through the winter. Attendance (including tea and superb cakes afterwards!) is free to members. Details of the lectures are circulated regularly in the CDBKA newsletter.
Our Honey Show is held in early November, in Christ Church Hall, Rathgar. It is the beekeeper's chance to exhibit & win prizes for honey, wax, cakes, mead, photographs, candles and much more. There is also a craft fair and stands selling beekeeping equipment and CDBKA honey. Here's where to find the Honey show:

The spring season begins with the CDBKA AGM, where the year is reviewed and the officers for the year selected anew. If you would like to join the leadership team, do get in touch with our Secretary!
The Winter series of lectures continue through to April. Attendance (including tea and cakes) is free to members. Details of the lectures are circulated regularly in the CDBKA newsletter.
On Tuesday evenings in February and March we run our beekeeping beginners' course. Beginners always appreciate meeting experienced beekeepers and asking them questions, so why not drop in and help out?

At the end of April, we usually run a regional examination centre for beginners and other members who wish to try for the FIBKA Preliminary Certificate (details here http://www.irishbeekeeping.ie/education/education.html). Any beekeeper with experience should find the exam straightforward, so why not give it a try?

The beginners' course includes some practical demonstrations through the summer at the CDBKA apiary in Rathfarnham. These Saturday afternoon sessions are also attended by experienced members. Attending is worthwhile for the tea and cakes alone! See your newsletter for timings of the visits.
The Bloom in the Park http://www.bloominthepark.com/ gardens exhibition is a recent addition to the beekeeping calendar, and is run jointly on behalf of the Federation by the Dublin Beekeepers and our neighbours the Fingal BKA. Volunteers are very welcome - contact our Secretary!

We host a stand at the Dublin Horse Show (http://www.dublinhorseshow.com/) in August each year - volunteers who help out with the stand gain free entry into the show. It's a great opportunity to show off your knowledge of beekeeping and to meet the public.

That's our programme for the year - we hope you enjoy participating!