Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Performing General Physical Activities Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Handling and Moving Objects Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Processing Information Compiling, coding, categorising, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

The Work

Apiarists maintain bee hives, collect the honey they produce and retail it. The work includes a variety of seasonal jobs. For example they make sure that the bees have access to trees and plants that produce sufficient nectar for the production of honey.  
 
They ensure that the bees are kept free from disease and parasites. They create new hives when the bees swarm and take care to prevent the bees swarming away from the farm.  
 
They feed the bees with a sugar solution during the winter and they regularly inspect the hives and remove the honeycombs. It is important that they adhere strictly to the rules and regulations regarding hygiene and health and safety.  
 
Duties also include extracting the honey from honeycombs, bottling it and labeling it. They may also produce related products such as confectionary, cosmetics, candles and royal jelly.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Feed and water animals, and clean and disinfect pens, cages, yards, and hutches.
• Observe animals in heat to detect approach of estrus and exercise animals to induce or hasten estrus, if necessary.
• Treat minor injuries and ailments and contact veterinarians to obtain treatment for animals with serious illnesses or injuries.
• Purchase and stock supplies of feed and medicines.
• Select animals to be bred, and semen specimens to be used, according to knowledge of animals, genealogies, traits, and desired offspring characteristics.
• Examine animals to detect symptoms of illness or injury.
• Build hutches, pens, and fenced yards.
• Record animal characteristics such as weights, growth patterns, and diets.
• Brand, tattoo, or tag animals to allow animal identification.
• Arrange for sale of animals and eggs to hospitals, research centers, pet shops, and food processing plants.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Naturalist

Not surprisingly, some aspect of the natural sciences will run through the Naturalist's interests - from ecological awareness to nutrition and health. People with an interest in horticulture, land usage and farming (including fish) are Naturalists.

Some Naturalists focus on animals rather than plants, and may enjoy working with, training, caring for, or simply herding them. Other Naturalists will prefer working with the end result of nature's produce - the food produced from plants and animals. Naturalists like solving problems with solutions that show some sensitivity to the environmental impact of what they do. They like to see practical results and prefer action to talking and discussing.

Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

The beginner should first of all find out if he/she is in any way allergic to bee stings and if so not to attempt acquiring bees or taking up beekeeping without seeking medical advice.

The best first step is to join your local branch of the Irish Beekeepers' Association.

You can then attend their classes for beginners and programme of winter lectures held frequently and cover all aspects of beekeeping. There are 45 such Associations located throughout the country.

Other benefits of membership include the use of a library - video and book, plenty of friendly advice and you are kept up to date with developments within the craft. You can also use the Association extractor, can avail of sugar at concessionary prices and benefit from the low cost of FIBKA Public Liability Insurance. 

The Federation of Irish Beekeepers' Associations (FIBKA) examination system is run by the Education Officer under the direction of the Examination Board; the Board which is made up of members from the FIBKA and the Ulster Beekeepers' Association (UBKA) is appointed by the Executive Council of the FIBKA.

There are seven levels of examination: Preliminary, Intermediate, Senior, Intermediate Apiary Practical, Beemasters, Lecturer and Honey Judge examinations are held during the Summer Course at Gormanston and Preliminary and Intermediate examinations are also held at Provincial Centres.

The Lecturer's examination takes place in the presence of three Examiners, one of whom is the invited Senior Gormanston Summer Course lecturer and also acts as the Extern Examiner.

The Intermediate Apiary Practical Examination, the Practical Beemaster's Examination and the Apiary Practical component of the Senior Examination are arranged by the Education Officer and take place in the candidate's own apiary during the beekeeping season and are conducted by two Examiners.

Training & Development

FET Centre Traineeship: Animal Care in centres around Ireland NFQ Level 5 Search FET Courses

FET PLC Courses: Animal care, Animal Science, Veterinary Asst at NFQ Levels 5-6 Search FET PLC Courses

Apprenticeship: there are no apprenticeships in this occupational area at present

Higher Education CAO Entry: Apiculture(bees & Beekiping), Animal Science, Animal Bioscience at NFQ Levels 7-8 Search CAO courses

Postgraduate Study Options Sales, Business, Accounts, Management, Financial advice NFQ level 9

Last Updated: November, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €32k - €53k

Salaries vary depending on employer, location, experience, and duties. If self employed or on session working basis this can impact on a person ability to earn stable income from this career. 

Data Source(s):
Salary expert / Teagasc / Glassdoor

Last Updated: June, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Although the employment growth over the five-year period was negative for this occupation, employment levels have remained static since 2020. At 37%, the share aged 55 years or older was almost double the national average of 19%.

A relatively high share of persons employed in this occupation were employed part-time. The administrative and support services sector accounted for the largest share of employment for this occupation at almost two-fifths.

Bee keeping / Apiarist 

Numbers employed in this occupation are too small to allow for analysis [Nat Skills bulletin 2023] 

• Federation of Irish Beekeepers' Associations

  • Ballinakill, Enfield, Co. Meath
  • 086-2361286
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