Eimear Chaomhánach, Ireland

Eimear Chaomhánach grew up in a beekeeping household in Dublin. As an undergraduate and postgraduate of Irish Folklore in University College Dublin, she spent many years researching the lore of bees and beekeeping in Irish and international folk traditions. This work is the culmination of academic and field research, alongside very personal experiences as a beekeeper's daughter, shadowing her father's beekeeping practice for more than forty years. Eimear has worked in the arts and heritage sectors in Ireland for more than twenty years and is currently a director on the board of The Stinging Fly literary magazine.

In this episode, Eimear discusses her book The Keeper of Bees — Bees and Beekeeping in Irish Folklore and how the tradition of beekeeping was transferred from her grandfather to her father to her… how growing up in a beekeeping household, she learned the rhythm of the beekeeping calendar, season by season… her family’s appreciation of Irish music, Irish dancing, Irish instruments, and the Irish language… how Irish folklore, heritage, tradition, and history were essential parts of her upbringing… studying Irish folklore at University and becoming a folklore collector… how her love of folklore led her to her own unique relationship with bees… appreciating the magic of a beehive, a matriarchal society led by a queen, where all of the worker bees are female… how folklore enriches us with a deeply rooted connection to the past… and the importance of encouraging people to be their unique selves and to claim their own voice. 

You can learn more about Eimear Chaomhánach at https://beefolklore.ie