Roe Valley Beekeepers RVBKA
Based near Limavady, Northern Ireland
Email for Club: rvbkasecretarylhand@gmail.com
Email for Site: roevalleybeekepers@outlook.com
Meet The Committee and Our Librarian
David McIntyre - Club President
David was one of the founding members of the club in 1979 and has been very active in club meetings and events since the start.
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David has kept bees since 1975 and is renowned for his Ling honey.
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David has won 1st place in more than 100 honey show competitions.
Celine O'Hara - Chairman
Celine joined the club in 2020 and started her beekeeping journey in 2021. A lifelong passion for the environment, biodiversity and taking action to reverse the decline in bee populations led Celine to take the preliminary course and start her first hive. Her verdant garden plants, trees, fruits and vegetables are one reward; honey harvest and the therapeutic effect and pleasure of seeing her bees at work are another and a source of deep satisfaction.
Mark Boyd - Vice Chair
I started beekeeping in 2022 and joined the RVBKA the following year. I am currently studying towards my Level 3 Proficiency in Beekeeping at Greenmount, having already completed the introductory course. I enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the club meetings and find it fascinating listening to members discuss different approaches to beekeeping and the techniques they use.
Linda Hand - Secretary
Joined RVBKA shortly after moving near Limavady, completing the preliminary beekeeping course in 2017. Got my first nuc from the club apiary that summer. Six years later i currently have four hives at home and still love learning more each year about the bees - each honey harvest is just an added bonus!
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Stephanie Percy - Treasurer / Website / Course materials
Stephanie joined the club in 2019 and has kept bees since 2021, after completing the Preliminary course. Passionate about biodiversity and the environment, Stephanie has established an orchard, large beds of flowering shrubs, hedges for pollinators, a 600 native tree woodland expansion, fruit and vegetable garden, a large wildlife pond and plans a large wildflower meadow for 2023.
Sean O'Neill - Honey Show Manager
Sean joined RVBKA in 2020 and did his preliminary course remotely during lockdown. He received his first nuc of bees when he had Covid in July 2021, and had to wait an additional week before he could see and enjoy his bees. Having grown up on a farm Sean has a deep appreciation of the delicate balance that exists between biodiversity and modern farming practices. He has always championed nature and fully appreciates the unique importance of honey bees as pollinators. He loves nothing better than building hives, nucs, stands, and producing quality honey. Sean embraced the opportunity to become honey show manager in January 2025, and his enhanced honey show schedule in October lead to a record high number of entries despite storm Amy’s best efforts to block roads with fallen trees.
Denise McGowan - Press Officer
Denise joined the club in 2021 and started her apiary in 2022, after completing the UBKA Prelim class. Denise's interest in beekeeping was peaked through an Eritrean beekeeper friend in Saudi who kept hives and produced honey.
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Now in Northern Ireland, Denise was wanted bees of her own as soon as possible and quickly gained experience in catching swarms and cut-outs and had her first honey harvest recently.
Brian McLaughlin - Apiary & Bee Manager
Coming soon.
George McDonald - Co-Treasurer
George joined the club in 2008 and started beekeeping the same year. George works as an Environmental Consultant and has always had a great interest in nature. "Watching bees is fascinating, getting honey is a bonus".
George has won Black Jar for Tasting at the UBKA Honey Show (2013) during Derry's City of Culture year.
Vacant - Housekeeping Manager
​The value of the housekeeping role cannot be overstated and all look forward to a great cup of tea or coffee and snacks at events and meetings and the preparation before and after are highly appreciated.
Sam Laverty - Training
Sam is a Master Beekeeper (2015) and has kept bees since 2009, specialising in queen rearing. It was Sam's interest in the natural world that brought him to the craft of beekeeping.
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Sam teaches the RVBKA Beginner's class and runs a beekeeping supplies shop in Macosquin for equipment, NUCs of bees, and wax exchange.
Bridget Boyle - Librarian
Coming soon