Queen Grace News

As part of the Inishturk Native Irish Honey Bee Sanctuary, we continuously monitor our colonies using BroodMinder technology, with data shared through BeeCounted to help track hive health, brood development, and the progress of our native Irish honey bees.

Installed on World Bee Day, 20 May 2026, this sensor follows the journey of our hive Grace, named after Grace O’Malley (Gráinne Mhaol), the famous Pirate Queen whose legacy is closely linked to the west coast and islands of Mayo. The latest data shows encouraging signs, with brood temperatures steadily rising as the colony establishes itself and builds strength.

By combining modern monitoring tools with traditional beekeeping, we are creating a valuable record of how native Irish honey bees thrive in a biosecure island environment, while sharing that story with the wider beekeeping and conservation community.