05-07-2025
Wexford beekeepers win national award for exceptional heritage project
The group was recognised for their project on the stories and traditions of local beekeeping in Wexford down through the years. Making use of extensive and deeply compelling oral history, a core objective of the project was to safekeep both the bees and the history of their keeping across the county. The memories and reflections of those who contributed to the beekeeping community in Wexford were recorded and archived with a focus on the themes of biodiversity and heritage.
In collaboration with local historian Michael Fortune those leading the programme sought out people in the locality with interesting stories. From all of the resulting material submitted, 11 stories were shortlisted with interviews hosted by the group in the idyllic grounds of Johnstown Castle in May.
On June 4, the exciting project was launched at Johnstown Castle with the participants and their families. Also in attendance were members of the Heritage Keepers. The group's oral history project was published on Youtube and is available for the public to view.
There are six videos and among the contributors are Jim and Sean Aherne, Matt Doyle and Niall Keogh, Joe and Andrew Kelly and Loretta Neary, Pat Sills and Tony O'Brien, James Hogan and Bob Delaney and Joe Kelly who read 'The Honey Bee' by Ned Kavanagh.
This was among the winning projects because it demonstrated 'how much knowledge, passion and traditions exists in communities across the country', according to the Heritage Keepers.
'By using the Heritage Keepers funding to collect an oral history of beekeeping in Wexford, our group had hoped to preserve knowledge and practices that may otherwise be forgotten,' said Jacintha Cloney.
'With the help of Michael Fortune and the support of The South Wexford Beekeepers Association, Johnstown Castle Estate, Museum and Gardens, The Irish Heritage Trust, our own South Wexford Beekeepers Heritage Keepers Group and, most importantly our interviewees, we believe we have created something even more special and rewarding than we initially set out to do.'
Jacintha said that the group may revisit similar projects in the future, and that they were 'buzzing' to have been recognised in this way. The group are proud that the videos will be shown in Johnstown Castle as part of Heritage Week in August.
Heritage Keepers is a programme targeted at community groups and primary schools and offers participants support to delve into, explore and truly understand local and natural heritage and provides funding to enable groups to take positive action within their communities.
And a call has been made for new applications for the programme with community groups and primary schools welcome to apply, whether they are rural or urban. They can be submitted through and it's important to know that the application deadline is September 30.
Since the programme started in 2022, more than 200 groups have participated, with 75 taking part last year. Due to this growing demand, this year's Heritage Keepers programme will have increased capacity.
