Mayo island to become home to Ireland’s first native honey bee sanctuary

A pioneering environmental initiative is set to take root off the Mayo coast, with Inishturk Island chosen as the site for Ireland’s first native honey bee sanctuary.

The project, approved by the Inishturk Community Development Company, will focus on conserving the Apis mellifera mellifera — Ireland’s only native honeybee species, which has come under increasing threat in recent decades.

The sanctuary is the brainchild of Dr. Sean O’Connor, founder of Wild Atlantic Honey & Mead, and is due to begin next month with the introduction of two hives to the island.

Honeybee populations across Ireland and Europe have declined significantly, with losses of up to 50% in the past 20 years, largely due to the spread of the parasitic mite Varroa destructor. The native Irish honeybee has recently been designated as endangered by the EU.

The initial hives will be hosted by local residents Paddy and Anna O’Toole, with the long-term aim of establishing a sustainable, varroa-free colony in what is hoped to remain a biosecure island environment.

If successful, the project could provide a model for similar conservation efforts on offshore islands, offering valuable insights into how native pollinators can be protected.

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Advanced monitoring technology will also play a key role, with AI-assisted sensors tracking hive conditions such as temperature, humidity and activity. The data will be compared with hives located at Killeen, Co. Mayo, Ireland to better understand the differences between island and mainland environments.

Dr. O’Connor said he was excited by the potential of the initiative.

“This is the opportunity to contribute, in what we hope will remain a biosecure environment, to the preservation of the native Irish honeybee — Ireland’s only native honeybee,” he said.

Chair of the Inishturk Community Development Company, Aidan O’Toole, welcomed the development, describing it as a positive step for the island’s biodiversity.

“The sanctuary complements the island’s wider efforts to strengthen biodiversity, wildlife and natural pollination on Inishturk,” he said. “It also highlights the unique ecological value of the island.”

A dedicated website will allow the public and researchers to follow the progress of the sanctuary, including real-time data from the hives.

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