Website Design by Apex Digial Media
Copyright © 2021. All rights reserved.
About Us
North Kildare Beekeepers' Association
In 1961, NKBKA was established with 8 members and one of those founding members, Peter O’Reilly became Ireland’s first honey judge in 1980. The association has grown strongly over the years and is now one of the largest beekeeping associations in Ireland.
NKBKA manages 3 apiaries for the benefit of the members. These are located at:
- Milltown, (Moved from The Curragh in 2022).
- Barnhall, in Leixlip.
- Russborough House walled garden (The Peter O’Reilly Training Apiary)
Members are encouraged to visit these apiaries on a weekly basis to improve their bee keeping skills and learn from the more senior members.
Committee Members for 2026
Chairperson: John Lennon
Vice-Chairperson: Kevin Forde
Honorary Secretary: Steve McEntegart
Honorary Treasurer: Pat Winters
Brigid Monaghan (PRO), Paula Somers-Kennedy (Membership Secretary), John Byrne, Vincent Lernihan, Babs Bollard, Muiris de Bhulbh & Tomás Ó Póil.
Honorary Life Member
Caroline Crone
Meet the Committee
Chairperson
John Lennon
John manages our Barnhall Apiary and has been beekeeping for more years than he wants to admit. Whatever you do, don’t ask him how long !
John looks after our annual tree planting, contributes regularly to our WhatsApp support group and is a fountain of knowledge.
Vice Chairperson
Kevin Forde
TBA
Honorary Secretary
Steve McEntegart
Steve lives in Naas and has been with NKBKA since 2019. He joined the committee for 2025 as Assistant Secretary and was appointed to the role of Honorary Secretary for 2026.
Honorary Treasurer
Pat Winters
Pat lives in Blessington, Co. Wicklow, joined the association in 2019 and appointed Honorary Treasurer in April 2024. Receiving his first Nuc in June 2019, he now has several hives and gets great satisfaction from the challenges of queen rearing, honey processing, making hive parts and home made plywood Nucs.
Tomás Ó Póil
PRO
Brigid Monaghan
The PRO role involves the maintenance of our social media channels and organising events including Castletown House, Russborough Garden Show and the Kildare Play Day.
John Byrne
John joined the committee of NKBKA in 2012, and is the outgoing Chairperson of NKBKA.
John lives and works as a bookseller in Maynooth. He has been an active and enthusiastic beekeeper for over 12 years.
It all started from his interest in nature and a need to get a constant supply of good local honey.
Babs Bollard
TBA
Membership Secretary
Paula Somers-Kennedy
Paula joined the Association & became a beekeeper in 2017. She joined the committee & became Treasurer in 2018.
Although busy with family & working fulltime, she loves any outdoor activity that immerses her in the wonders & beauty of nature.
Muiris de Bhulbh
TBA.
Vincent Lernihan
Vincent lives in Edenderry, Co. Offaly and a friend introduced him to beekeeping over 10 years ago.
Vincent is an avid runner, competing in mini marathons and completed the Dublin City Marathon in 2019.
Apiary Manager
tba
Apiary Manager
Irwin Bannon
Irwin manages our Russborough House Apiary at Blessington and has been beekeeping for several years.
Newsletter Editor
tba
tba