Beekeepers are shown how to make wax candles
BEESWAX candles have always been the most luxurious candles, burning with a clean smokeless flame and giving off a most pleasant aroma.
They have been used for thousands of years to burn in churches, castles and great houses. More modest dwellings would have used tallow candles or rush lights. Honeybees use 8kg of honey to make 1kg of wax so one can see why, on cost alone their use was restricted. Now the candles used in churches contain only a proportion of beeswax. Oil, gas and electricity have superseded candles in supplying light.
Candle-making, using beeswax is again becoming popular and, especially at Christmas, many beeswax candles are made for use and sale. Modern moulds are much easier to use and many beekeepers us them for decorative displays. Few make the beautiful dipped candles.
Wax candles frequently form a class at honey shows but, in Northern Ireland, such classes attract few entries and Northern Irish exhibitors do not feature in the prize lists in honey shows outside the Province. By contrast some honey shows in The Republic of Ireland have entries of superb candles. The South Tipperary Beekeepers’ Association Honey show in Clonmel and The Irish National Honey Show at Gormanston have entries in the candle classes which are as good as any in these Islands. Indeed these expert candle makers win prizes at the National Honey show in London. The leading Irish candle-maker is Dennis Ryan and he has demonstrated his craft in London and other parts of Britain and Ireland.
Dromore Beekeepers’ Association is privileged to have Dennis come to Dromore to teach candle making on Tuesday March 19.
Dennis Ryan is a Past President of the Federation of Irish Beekeepers’ Associations and an extensive beekeeper near Clonmel in South Tipperary. Last summer, a coach load of Dromore beekeepers visited Dennis and saw two of his apiaries and his “state of the art” honey handling facilities, all most impressive.
The Dromore meeting will take place in the Science centre, Dromore High School at 7.30pm. It will appeal beekeepers and non-beekeepers alike; all will be made welcome.
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Weather for Lisburn
Sunday 19 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South
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Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
