Beekeeping in the greater Dublin area
Beekeeping in the greater Dublin area

Course Content Beginners 2025

County Dublin Beekeepers Association

Beginners Beekeeping Course 2025 New Syllabus – Draft 1

Talk 1   February 6th                   Introduction to beekeeping

  • Introduction to the hive and the different parts
  • Beekeeping personal equipment
  • What bees do- collect pollen, nectar, water, proprolis
  • Relationship of bees with flowering plants
  • Bees and Wasps
  • The native Irish Black Bee
  • Record keeping – the importance of

Talk 2   February 13th                 The Colony

  1. Introduction to the colony Queen, workers, drones and their role in the colony
  2. How the colony lives in the hive, brood box, frames etc
  3. Reproduction sexual, timing egg to bee of each caste
  4. Reproduction by swarming, the reason for swarming brief explanation of why it happens
  5. Communication – pheromones, waggle dance, grooming, feeding.
  6. Threats to the colony introduction to disease and mites

Talk 3   February 27th               The Beekeeping year February/March

  1. What is happening in the hive at this time of year queen, workers drones
  2. Feeding, the need for it and how to determine if the colony needs feeding
  3. How to observe a winter hive for the outside, hefting
  4. Sources of early nutrition, the importance of pollen at this time.
  5. Early sign of disease, observation of bottom boards, what might be happening
  6. Record keeping
  7. Reminder of what swarming is and what to look for

Talk 4   March 6th                       The Beekeeping year April/May

  1. What’s happening in the hive at this time of year, queen, workers, drones.
  2. First inspection, how to go about it and when.
  3. Managing frames, brood and food
  4. Supers, what they are and how to use them
  5. Looking for signs of swarming
  6. Floral sources at this time of year
  7. Record keeping/ observing for disease on frames

Talk 5   March 20th                    The Beekeeping year June/July

  1. What’s happening in the hive at this time of year, queen, workers drones
  2. The flow, how it effects the hive and how to be ready
  3. Floral resources at this time of year
  4. Adding suppers, how and when be ahead of the bees
  5. Managing swarming ( hand out on swarm control for beginners will be included)
  6. Increasing stock and making nucs
  7. Record keeping / observing for disease

Talk 6   March 27th        The Beekeeping Year August/September

  1. What’s happening in the hive at this time of year, queen, workers drones
  2. Removing honey, how and when to remove it
  3. Extracting the basic principles of
  4. Bottling of honey for personal use or Show!
  5. Feeding hives if they need it
  6. Treating for disease what to consider, keeping records
  7. Wasps
  8. Late flow, what to expect and when

Talk 7   April 10th                   The Beekeeping Year Preparing for winter

  1. What’s happening in the hive at this time of year, queen, workers drones
  2. Accessing colonies for winter
  3. Accessing hives for winter
  4. Feeding how to access it is needed
  5. Planning for next year
  6. Reviewing records
  7. Getting equipment ready, how frames are assembled

Honey Shows

Talk 8   April 17th           Q and A and discussion with course speakers

  1. How to move forward with beekeeping
  2. How to get your own bees
  3. Some of the common pitfalls for all beginner beekeepers

Certificates of attendance