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

Our Awards

They are proud the be recognised as Ireland’s ‘Most Awarded’ Honey.

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

Additionally, they received a Gold Medal in Blas na hÉireann – Irish Taste Awards in 2021 for their Soft Set Honey and are finalists again this year with their Section Honeycomb in 2023.

Their Heather Honey has impressively won 2 x Gold medals whilst their Blossom Honey won 2 x Silver medals in both 2021 and 2022 in the Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards. In 2023, they have four products which are finalists.

Blackwater Honey has also won in 2021, 2022 and 2023 for their Heather, Blossom Honey and Section Honeycomb in the Guild of Fine Food – Great Taste Awards – UK.

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.”

Our Silver Medal Blossom Honey
€10.00

Our 'Double 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.

Our Products

HONEY

ADOPT

GIFT BOXES

CANDLES

CHRISTMAS

ALL

HONEY

ADOPT

GIFT BOXES

CANDLES

CHRISTMAS

ALL

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.