Ireland's Most Awarded Honey

Passionate about the Native Irish Honeybee

Blackwater Honey was co-founded in 2020 by brothers Andrew & John Shinnick. Their name and inspiration comes from the river Blackwater in County Cork. They are third (3rd) generation beekeeping family who have impressively amassed over sixty (60) years of practical experience. They run a mainly hobbyist, bee farming business based in Fermoy, Co. Cork. 

“Our focus is on using both modern and sustainable beekeeping practices whilst helping to protect the Native Irish honeybee along with producing an award-winning pure and premium Irish honey.” – Andrew

About Us

Our Awards

Their accolades include being the winner of the Irish Times, Irish Country Magazine – Irish Made Awards in the ‘Food category.’

Blackwater Honey were also crowned the winners of Sweet Preserves – Honey category in Blas na hÉireann – Irish Taste Awards in 2021 for their Soft Set Honey in which they won the Gold medal. Blackwater Honey were also finalists in Blas na hÉireann in 2023 with their Section Honeycomb.

Their multi award winning Heather Honey has impressively won three (3) Gold medals (2021, 2022 and 2023) in the Irish Quality Food and Drink awards, making it the only Irish honey ever to have done so. Additionally, their Blossom Honey has won two (2) Silver medals also in the Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards in both 2021 and 2022.

Blackwater Honey has also won many awards internationally such as the famed Great Taste Awards – UK for both their Heather Honey, Blossom Honey and for their Section Honeycomb receiving Stars in both 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Honey made by Native honeybees

Blackwater Honey have several apiaries that use Native Irish honeybees to produce their delicious premium tasting honey.

Their honey is 100% Irish, pure and natural. Just the way nature and the bees intended it which helps to preserve both its flavour and indeed its many health benefits.

“We use only sustainable and recyclable packaging in all of our products. These can be put directly into your compost or recycle bin and it helps better protect our environment by reducing waste.”

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Our Silver Medal Blossom Honey
€10.00

Our 'Triple Gold' Medal & 1 Star Great Taste award - Heather Honey

Adopt a Hive or Queen today

If you are forward thinking and have a strong interest in Biodiversity you may want to adopt one of our many beehives containing the Native Irish Honeybee.

By partnering with us you or your business will be supporting our conservation work, allowing us to focus on the helping to expand the number of native Irish honeybee colonies in Ireland.

To find out more about how to partner with us click on the link below or simply drop us an email and will will get back to you.

Adopt a Hive today

Our Products

How Honey is Made

Pollination Service

When bees land on flowers, small pollen grains stick to their bodies & legs. As the bee flies to the next plant, it transfers some of those pollen grains at the next plant thereby helping to fertilise it.

Beehives

The collected nectar by the bees gets brought back to the hive. Today most hives are made of either timber or polystyrene. Wild honeybees will generally live in a hollow in an old tree.

Nectar + Pollen

Within the hive, bees turn the collected nectar into delicious tasting honey & they store the pollen as bee bread which is a vital source of protein. This is their food reward for helping to pollinate plants.

Honey Extraction

In Autumn beekeepers open up their hives & take away the full honeycombs. Using modern equipment, the raw honey is then extracted and poured into jars for us all to eat and enjoy.

queen bee
extraction service

Subscribe to our Newsletter

If you would like to know more about Blackwater Honey or the THings we do then please subscribe to our newsletter.

Kind regards,

Andrew & John Shinnick (brothers)

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