Apiary Rules for Royal County Beekeepers Association located in Tara Mines Navan. Approved by the Committee 23/02/2024
The following Rules are proposed with regards to the Royal County Association Apiary (RCBKA) established in the summer of 2023 and located in Tara Mines Navan.
Only Bees of the Native Irish Honey Bee Strain (Apis Melifera Melifera AMM) shall be kept
in the RCBKA Apiary. The RCBKA is committed to the preservation of the Native Irish Honey Bee.
The Association Apiary is the responsibility of the RCBKA and ultimately this comes under
the remit of the members of the committee elected each year at the AGM.
The committee will elect each year a subgroup of not more than three committee
members who shall be responsible for the day to day running of the Apiary. This committee shall be called the Apiary Management Sub-Group. (AMSG).
The Association Apiary has a number of functions including but not confined to
education. It shall place a particular emphasis on helping members to improve their beekeeping craft and promoting and advancing the NIHB strain.
Bee Health and hygiene is of paramount importance for the wellbeing of the bees being looked after in the Apiary, so members should be mindful of the following when visiting or managing the apiary;
Gloves and personal equipment can be a major cause of disease. Only rubber gloves are
acceptable when coming to the apiary. No heavy thick gloves are allowed into the apiary.
Members cannot enter without a clean and washed suit. When leaving the apiary
members are advised to again wash their suit.
All persons entering the Association apiary do so entirely at their own risk. The
association cannot accept any liability for loss or injury when visiting the Apiary. The ground is uneven, without paved walkways or steps so caution must be exercised at all times. Anyone suffering from bee allegories or medical conditions are advised not to enter the apiary as bees do have a sting and the association is NOT responsible for any adverse impact a person may get, if they receive any type of injury while visiting the apiary.
Only Association Bees and Hives are allowed in the Apiary. Members can, with the
consent of the Management Sub-Group, bring Apedias for Queen mating but they should ensure there is no evidence of any type of disease in the bees they bring into the apiary.
Access to the Association Apiary shall be by invitation of the AMSG.
The RCBKA shall be registered with DAFM.
The AMSG decision is final with regards to the management of the RCBKA Apiary.
Any honey sold, emanating from the Apiary bees, shall be tested by an approved
specialist testing company, for any evidence of ‘elevated lead’ or any other substance that would deem it inappropriate for sale into the European Market. For the avoidance of doubt this should be carried out after the honey is spun off and transferred into buckets, prior to sale. A sample of not less than 100g shall then be taken from each bucket and sent for testing. The honey cannot be sold until after the results are returned and results reveal it is safe to sell the honey. A record of these results shall be kept by the Association.
Governance and Finances
Prior to the commencement of the beekeeping year the AMSG will agree a budget with
the Management Committee to cover the coming year running costs. The AMSG will keep records of all expenditure and the Treasurer shall pay invoices and reimburse expenses within the budget and documentation.
The AMSG will record honey harvests and proceeds from the sale of honey.
The Management Committee may organise promotional events education events and
other events in the Apiary and will give notice to the AMSG about these events.
In the event of any disagreement between the AMSG and the RCBKA management
committee over the governance or management of the Apiary, the Management Committee shall have the power to remove members of the AMSG, appoint new members to the AMSG and/or change the way the Association Apiary is managed and run.
Management Committee; Gus Williams (Chairperson), Michael Goulding (Secretary), Ray Keegan (Treasurer) Terry Nolan, Sarah McGarry, Gearoid O’ Brien, Francis Farrelly, Hugh Markey, Paul Fairbrass.