The Keeper Of The Bees
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? And why Irish beekeepers plant bluebells around their hives?
From the perfection of their hexagonal honeycombs to their ordered matriarchal society, bees have been revered for thousands of years.
In this beautifully illustrated book, beekeeperâs daughter and student of folklore Eimear ChaomhĂĄnach weaves folktales about bees with memories of growing up in a beekeeping household, collecting swarms with her father and learning how to harvest honey.
With legends about Aristotle and Irish saints and accounts of customs such as âtelling the beesâ, this is a fascinating look at the beliefs and traditions about bees and beekeeping.
By Eimear ChaomhĂĄnach
Illustrated by Jane Carkill