Why Keeping Honeybees is Now Needed More Than Ever

MEG member and novice beekeeper Liam Murtagh says that our ecosystem including many farm crops are at risk due to the decline in the number of bees, so he is encouraging more people to consider keeping honeybees.

bee

Top bar beehive with a removable viewing window cover

Have you seen many bees so far this year? Most likely you will have seen only a few bumble bees, as the weather has not been favourable for the honeybee. In fact many colonies of honeybees have not survived the winter and in my own case I lost one of my two colonies. Many fellow beekeepers in Ireland have had significant losses as have beekeepers throughout Europe.

Continue reading

“Time to rejuvenate our hedgerows”

As Spring approaches and our hedgerows are about to burst forth into growth, experienced hedge layer John McKeon considers the value of our hedgerows and how we should look after them.  John is a committee member of the Hedge Laying Association of Ireland and he will be running a one day training course on hedge laying in Castleblayney on Saturday 8th February. Tel 087 1462790 for details.      

Eamon Mc Loughlin of the Hedge Laying Association of Ireland secures a newly laid hedge with traditional wooden gabhlógs at a hedge laying demonstration.

Eamon Mc Loughlin of the Hedge Laying Association of Ireland secures a newly laid hedge with traditional wooden gabhlógs at a hedge laying demonstration.

Continue reading

Rebellion Week Protest (October 2019)

On Tuesday 12th October 2019 local activists from Transition Monaghan and other groups staged a “die in” at The Diamond as a local action during Rebellion Week. A “die in” is a peaceful protest where participants lie on the ground for a period of time symbolizing humanity’s future fate if we don’t act on the climate crisis asap.

Continue reading

Monaghan Allotments Event Oct and Nov 2019

Transition Monaghan collaborated with other local organisations at the Monaghan Allotments in Oct 2019. A great crowd were in attendence to hear talks by Emer Brennan of Monaghan Tidy Towns and Transition Monaghan, Michael O Hare Monaghan Allotments, Vincent Kierans Beekeeper and Margaret Palmer Herbalist and Transition Monaghan member. Later in November 2019 (as part of Monaghan Cavan Science Week) Transition Monaghan also organised an apple pressing/cider making event which was also well attended.

Continue reading

Apple Pressing at Síolta Chroí September 2019

Great fun and networking were had by all at the apple pressing event held at Síolta Chroí event in September 2019. Gareth and Karen, owners of the new regenerative farming and social enterprise hosted the event in one of the hay barns on site. Everyone got a turn to juice apples and we all went away with enough bottles to last a lifetime. Many thanks to all participants for collecting and elbow grease in keeping the machines squeezing. Especial thanks to Karen and Gareth for hosting.

Continue reading