Killeavy is a rural community on the north-eastern slopes of Slieve Gullion in south Armagh, an ancient landscape dominated by the ring dyke of the Slieve Gullion Forest Park. The church of St Monenna — one of the oldest ecclesiastical sites in Ireland — sits at the foot of the mountain among old yew trees and hawthorn. The surrounding farmland carries hawthorn-rich drumlin hedges and rough whin ground at higher elevations. The Slieve Gullion Forest Park above the village provides heather, bilberry and gorse on the volcanic ring dyke. The Institute of Northern Ireland Beekeepers covers this southern corner of County Armagh.
Collectors attend swarms in the hawthorn and elder around the ancient church site, on the heather and gorse of the Slieve Gullion ring dyke above the village, in the whin-covered rough ground on the lower mountain slopes, in the whitethorn hedgerows on the drumlin farm lanes, and in the stone walls and outbuildings of the traditional farmsteads on the Slieve Gullion road.
Nearest BBKA-affiliated associations to help with swarm collection and local advice.
BT26 6NH· approx. 43 km
LL77 7NX· approx. 164 km
CA24 3HZ· approx. 187 km
Visit websiteAssociation data sourced from the British Beekeepers Association directory via SwarmBase.
Apple blossom in the Loughgall, Portadown and Richhill orchards gives one of the most concentrated early pollination flows in the British Isles. Hawthorn and sycamore follow. Lime lines the Georgian streets of Armagh city. Bramble is dense on the small-field landscape; clover still matters on pasture. The Ring of Gullion and the Sperrins edge contribute bilberry and late ling heather. Ivy on whitewashed cottage walls closes a long, hedge-rich season.
More on beekeeping in County ArmaghReport it in under a minute and a trained local beekeeper will arrange safe collection.
