Ireland’s Busy Bees: From Jim Carroll’s Ardee Honey to the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan
There is a massive movement happening across Ireland right now, and it’s about more than just honey. We’ve become world leaders in pollinator conservation, and honestly, the scale of it is phenomenal. We are lucky to share this island with 102 native bee species, including our very own Northern Dark Honeybee.
What bees do for us and their contribution to Global Food Security
Bees are responsible for a significant portion of the global food supply.
- One in Every Three Bites: Approximately one-third of all the food we eat depends directly or indirectly on pollination by bees and other animals.
- Crop Variety: While staple grains like wheat and rice are wind-pollinated, bees pollinate roughly 75% of global food crop types, including most fruits, vegetables, nuts, and oilseeds.
- Yield and Quality: Pollination by bees doesn’t just create fruit; it often increases the size, weight, and nutritional value of the harvest.
But here’s the reality: one-third of these species are at risk of extinction. That’s why the Irish public has stepped up in a historic way.
Their Economic Value to world
The “free” labor provided by bees is worth hundreds of billions of dollars annually to the global economy.
- Billion-Dollar Industry: The economic benefit of animal pollination to global crops is estimated between $235 billion and $577 billion per year
- Total Economic Impact: When considering the trade and production of animal-pollinated crops, the broader value of pollination services in Ireland is estimated at up to €902 million per year.
- Total Economic Contribution: The labor bees provide for home-produced crops is valued at up to €59 million annually. If this “free” work had to be replaced by paid human labor, the costs would be significantly higher due to the sheer scale and precision required.In regions like the UK, replacing bees with human labor would cost an estimated £1.8 billion ($2.3 billion) every year.
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health
Beyond the farm, bees are “keystone species” that maintain the health of wild environments.
- Wild Plant Survival: Nearly 90% of the world’s wild flowering plants rely on animal pollination to reproduce.
- Supporting the Food Chain: By helping wild plants grow, bees provide food and shelter for countless other species, including birds and mammals that eat the resulting seeds and berries.
- Climate Regulation: Healthy plant populations supported by bees help capture carbon dioxide and stabilize soil, reducing erosion and flooding.
Ireland’s Bee Conservation: By the Numbers
The effort across the country is massive:
- The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan (AIPP): This has moved from a “good idea” to a powerful reality. By late 2025, over 5,400 sites have logged 14,000+ actions to help bees.
- Total Managed Area: An incredible 8,300 km² of Irish land is now officially managed for pollinators.
- Citizen Science: In 2024, volunteers walked 1,000 km to track 17,000 bumblebees, giving scientists the data they need.
- School Impact: 9,000 Irish schoolchildren have been trained as “pollinator ambassadors,” reaching 75,000 students to ensure the next generation keeps the buzz alive.
Local Heroes: James (Jim) Carroll of Funshog, Ardee the Apiarist and world wide expert.
The real heart of Irish beekeeping is in our local communities. Here in Co. Louth, we have a true legend: James (Jim) Carroll.
Jim isn’t just about gorgeous honey with special ingredients; he’s one of the country’s most respected educators and a former Beekeeper of the Year. He started with his grandfather at just four years old and has literally travelled the world learning from the best. His home in Ardee is like a museum of beekeeping history.
I had the privilege of meeting Jim recently, and what I learned about these “busy bees” blew my mind. They are completely overworked and sacrifice so much just to make that jar of honey on your table.
Inside the Hive: A Royal Drama
The hive is a perfectly oiled machine, but the roles might surprise you:
- The Queen: She is the heart of the hive and can live for 3 to 5 years. She is the only one who lays eggs—up to 2,000 a day!
- The Workers: These are all females. They do everything from cleaning to foraging. During the busy summer, they literally work themselves to death, living only 6 to 8 weeks.
- The Drones (The Males): They have one job—to mate with a queen. They don’t even have stingers! In fact, they are so pampered that the Queen and workers actually have to feed them.
- The “Funeral Directors”: Bees are incredibly clean. They act like literal funeral directors; when a bee dies inside the hive, “undertaker bees” immediately dispose of the carcass, carrying it far away to keep the hive sanitary.
Mind-Blowing Bee Facts (What I learned from Jim)
- The Scouts & The Waggle Dance: Approx. 5/6 Scouts travel in different directions up to 3 miles to find the best flowers. They come back to perform a “Waggle Dance”—a literal map that tells the others exactly where to go for the best flowers and the rest follow concentrating in that area.
- Pollen Baskets: When they find the good stuff, they secure it in “pollen baskets” on their little back legs to carry it home.
- Solar Navigation: Even on a grey Irish day, bees can see the sun through thick clouds to navigate, now that’s mind blowing.
- The Hive Guards: Every hive has bouncers! If a “traveller” bee from another hive strays in, they are usually welcome—but there’s a toll. These crafty little guards make sure the bee hand over their pollen before being sent on their way!
- This figure significant and worth highlighting again; Ireland has 102 different bee species that act as key pollinators.
- Ancient Gold: Did you know archaeologists found honey in the Egyptian pyramids that was over 2,000 years old? It was still perfectly edible! As long as a jar is sealed, honey never goes off.
The Healing Power of Bees
Bees aren’t just for honey; they are tiny flying pharmacies:
- M.S. & Burns: Bee stings have been used to support the relief of Multiple Sclerosis (M.S.) symptoms, and honey is world-renowned for healing burns. My granny used honey to heal everything from a cut to scolding hot water burns. You can actually buy bee bandages now.
- Cancer Research: There is incredible ongoing investigation into using bee venom to help cure breast cancer.
- Natural Antibiotics: They produce Propolis (bee glue), a powerful natural antibiotic with antiseptics properties.
Granny’s natural moisturiser
Before modern skincare, Irish generations used raw honey as a natural, “miracle” mask to combat the harsh elements and maintain a clear, soft complexion. Used alone or with ingredients like oatmeal, this “liquid gold” was trusted for its ability to hydrate, fight blemishes, and soothe wind-chapped skin.
The Real Threats: What’s Killing Our Bees?
- Starvation: With all the rain we’ve had in Ireland lately, bees can’t get out to forage. It is heartbreaking, but some keepers neglect to feed their bees over the winter, leading to total hive loss.
- Government Neglect: We need more diligence at our borders. Importing bees from other countries brings in diseases that our native Irish bees can’t fight.
How You Can Help: Plant Irish!
We need to provide more food, but you have to be careful where you shop. Avoid big garden centres that buy cheap flowers from abroad—these are often treated with chemicals that hurt bees.
Stick to native Irish flowers and seeds. If you are planting wildflowers, ensure they are specifically for pollinator purposes. Good sources of pollen include:
- Dandelions (The very first food of spring—don’t mow them!)
- Clover
- Lavender
- Hawthorn & Blackthorn
- Heather
Where to Buy Real Native Irish Wildflower Seeds
It’s so important to remember: Don’t just grab any packet from a supermarket or a massive garden centre. Many of those seeds are imported from different countries and can actually harm our biodiversity by introducing invasive species or diseases.
For real Irish provenance seeds that support the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, these are the local suppliers doing it right:
- Connecting to Nature: Based in Co. Waterford, they produce native seeds like the “Butterfly and Bee” mix that are perfect for Irish gardens and even window boxes.
- Wildflower Web: Sandro Caffolla is a real specialist who grows a massive collection of 180 native species. His GF03 Pollinator Mix is highly recommended for honey bees and butterflies.
- Seed Bomb Ireland: These are great fun—literally “throw and grow” bombs made with native seeds that are designed for our specific Irish landscape.
- True Harvest Seeds: A plant conservation charity based in Co. Down that focuses on preserving the genetic heritage of our native wild plants.
- Grown Forest: They offer certified blends of native seeds where every purchase also helps plant native Irish trees.
Top Pollen Sources for Your Garden
If you want to plant for the bees, skip the flashy, “double-flowered” annuals like Begonias or Busy Lizzies—they often have almost no nectar! Instead, look for these native powerhouses:
- Spring Lifesavers: Dandelion, Willow, Blackthorn, and Hawthorn.
- Summer Feasts: Clover (Red and White), Knapweed, Bird’s-foot-trefoil, and Foxglove.
- Late Season Fuel: Ivy and Bramble (vital for winter survival!).
My Best Advice: Sometimes the best thing you can do is nothing. Participate in No Mow May—put the lawnmower away and you’ll be amazed at the native Dandelions and Clovers that pop up naturally to feed our busy bees for free! I could have spoken to Jim for hours if you interested in becoming a bee keeper please contact Jim. He’s a gentleman and works with over 250 members in the Dundalk Bee Keeping Association. and have a look on his website: https://www.irishbeesupplies.com/storepage1800423.aspx
This article is only a snap shot of how fasinating and special our bees are, there is so many other areas in terms of education and research. If you are interested in becoming a bee keeper contact your local association. Next time you see a bee, remember: you’re part of an Irish community dedicated to one goal—Letting them Bee.
Why Your Support Matters
Every time you wear our Let it Bee T-shirt, you are part of this network. We donate €1 from every sale to the Irish Bee Conservation Project (IBCP), a grassroots charity that builds “Bee Lodges” to provide safe nesting sites for wild bees across Ireland.
So, when you enjoy a jar of Jim Carroll’s honey or spot a bumblebee in your garden, remember that you are part of a massive Irish community dedicated to one simple goal: Letting them Bee. https://irishhiddentreasures.com/product/the-let-it-bee-tee-your-new-spring-uniform-%f0%9f%90%9d%e2%98%80%ef%b8%8f/
