Mayo island first honey harvest puts Mayo on the map
Every household on Inishturk receives a share of pure island honey from a conservation project protecting the Native Irish Honey Bee from mainland threats
Residents of Inishturk received a sweet reward last week as the first batch of locally harvested honey was distributed across the offshore Mayo community, with every single household receiving a complimentary jar.
The harvest marks the first major milestone of the Inishturk Native Irish Honey Bee Sanctuary project, an initiative founded by Dr. Seán O’Connor of Heritage Irish Mead / Irish Mead. The sanctuary was established on World Bee Day earlier this year to introduce and safeguard colonies of the rare Native Irish Black Bee (Apis mellifera mellifera).
Over the course of the season, the sanctuary’s two inaugural hives have thrived in the rugged Atlantic environment, producing an impressive yield of over 20 kilograms of rich, pure honey.
Unlike commercial apiary ventures, none of the honey harvested on Inishturk will be sold. The entire harvest has been reserved exclusively for the island community, with a special emphasis on older residents, offering a natural, comforting source of wellness as the harsh Atlantic winter approaches.
Beyond providing a local harvest, the project serves a critical ecological mission. Populations of native black bees across Ireland and mainland Europe are under severe and growing pressure from hybridisation, habitat loss, invasive species, and virulent pests and pathogens such as the Varroa mite. Situated nine miles off the Mayo coast, Inishturk’s natural geographic isolation offers a secure, bio-secure haven—a living genetic ark where native bees can forage, breed, and thrive free from external contamination.
The conservation initiative has already propelled the small Mayo island onto the international stage. The project was nominated for the prestigious European Bee Award in Brussels and has been highlighted across international beekeeping journals worldwide.
Speaking on the distribution, project founder Dr. Seán O’Connor said: “To see every kitchen table on Inishturk with its own jar of island honey is an incredible milestone. What makes this project truly special is that it belongs to the community. These two hives have shown remarkable resilience against the Atlantic elements, but more importantly, Inishturk is demonstrating how isolated island communities can lead the charge in global biodiversity conservation.”
“Mainland bee populations across Europe are under unprecedented pressure from disease and invasive competition. Inishturk provides a natural sanctuary where our indigenous black bee can remain pure and protected. This honey isn't for retail shelves—it belongs to the islanders who have welcomed this sanctuary, and we hope it brings warmth and comfort to our older neighbours through the winter months.”
Plans are already underway to expand the sanctuary ahead of the 2027 season, continuing smart telemetry monitoring and strengthening Inishturk's standing as a world-class model for island-based biodiversity conservation.