Billy O Rourke
Billy O’Rourke.
Billy, O’Rourke, a proud keeper of black bees in the kingdom of Kerry, which he sourced from the Galtee Bee Breeding Group, (GBBG).
Affinity to the Irish Environment
Billy has a strong love and affinity for the environment, and tells me that every chance he gets he is “off cycling, hill walking…” and that he enjoys swimming, and grins as he tells me, “indoor preferred”!
Teacher.
Billy’s working career was spent in Castleisland Community College where he taught metal work and Engineering. Stories abound from his days as a teacher, and the joy he took imparting knowledge to the younger generation. This gift of imparting knowledge is something that Billy has brought to beekeeping, and a trait that benefits us all!
Specialist
Billy is an unassuming man of many talents; a master frame builder of light-weight steel framed racing bicycles, (sought after by many racing cyclists), a very unique talent and ability in today’s modern world of automation and assembly line production.
Family
Billy’s partner behind the scenes is Siobhán who hails from Dingle and they are the parents of two young men who help out with gardening, albeit “not too enthusiastically”!
Siobhán is interested and hopes to get involved in Billy’s beekeeping ventures and hopes to specialise in working with queens, marking and clipping, breeding, etc. Billy tells us that “The suit has been bought…” so there is no turning back now for Siobhán!
Beekeeping Experience
Billy first attempt at beekeeping was in 1975. However without the support of a local club, Billy lost his bees when they died out before the following spring.
Just over ten years ago, circa 2005, Billy attended night classes in beekeeping, under the tutelage of Bee-master, David Lee, who taught the classes.
Following the course, Billy went on to set up the Sliabh Luachra Beekeepers’ Association, which he is very much still involved with to this day. All interested in keeping bees in the Castleisland / North Kerry area are guaranteed the support of a local association, headed by a qualified senior lecturer who has come through the FIBKA educational exams achieving success at it’s highest level; Lecturership. Billy obtained his Senior Lectureship within the FIBKA Educational system which spans many years of hard work and is pictured here proudly accepting his certificate as he was formally awarded his Lectureship qualification.
Billy continues to support beekeepers in any way he can and consequently was elected as a Board Director of the IBA CLG on the 21st October, 2017, at the inaugural meeting of the IBA CLG.
Billy, O’Rourke, a proud keeper of black bees in the kingdom of Kerry, which he sourced from the Galtee Bee Breeding Group, (GBBG).
Affinity to the Irish Environment
Billy has a strong love and affinity for the environment, and tells me that every chance he gets he is “off cycling, hill walking…” and that he enjoys swimming, and grins as he tells me, “indoor preferred”!
Teacher.
Billy’s working career was spent in Castleisland Community College where he taught metal work and Engineering. Stories abound from his days as a teacher, and the joy he took imparting knowledge to the younger generation. This gift of imparting knowledge is something that Billy has brought to beekeeping, and a trait that benefits us all!
Specialist
Billy is an unassuming man of many talents; a master frame builder of light-weight steel framed racing bicycles, (sought after by many racing cyclists), a very unique talent and ability in today’s modern world of automation and assembly line production.
Family
Billy’s partner behind the scenes is Siobhán who hails from Dingle and they are the parents of two young men who help out with gardening, albeit “not too enthusiastically”!
Siobhán is interested and hopes to get involved in Billy’s beekeeping ventures and hopes to specialise in working with queens, marking and clipping, breeding, etc. Billy tells us that “The suit has been bought…” so there is no turning back now for Siobhán!
Beekeeping Experience
Billy first attempt at beekeeping was in 1975. However without the support of a local club, Billy lost his bees when they died out before the following spring.
Just over ten years ago, circa 2005, Billy attended night classes in beekeeping, under the tutelage of Bee-master, David Lee, who taught the classes.
Following the course, Billy went on to set up the Sliabh Luachra Beekeepers’ Association, which he is very much still involved with to this day. All interested in keeping bees in the Castleisland / North Kerry area are guaranteed the support of a local association, headed by a qualified senior lecturer who has come through the FIBKA educational exams achieving success at it’s highest level; Lecturership. Billy obtained his Senior Lectureship within the FIBKA Educational system which spans many years of hard work and is pictured here proudly accepting his certificate as he was formally awarded his Lectureship qualification.
Billy continues to support beekeepers in any way he can and consequently was elected as a Board Director of the IBA CLG on the 21st October, 2017, at the inaugural meeting of the IBA CLG.
