The Keeper of the Bees

Did you know that bees have been around for over 100 million years? Or that the Brehon Laws included judgments about the rightful ownership of swarms? Or why Irish beekeepers plant bluebells around their hives?

Bees are amazing creatures: from the perfection of their hexagonal honeycomb to their ordered matriarchal society, these tiny insects have been much admired since Ancient Egyptian times to the modern day.

A beekeeper's daughter and a student of folklore, Eimear Chaomhánach weaves folktales about bees with memories of growing up in a beekeeping household, collecting swarms with her father and learning how to harvest honey.

From folktales about Aristotle and Irish saints to customs such as 'telling the bees', this is a fascinating look at the beliefs and traditions about bees and beekeeping.