Published in the Irish Times, 29 March 2025

The Keeper of the Bees by Eimear Chaomhánach (O’Brien Press, €19.99).

Bees are alchemists, turning pollen and nectar into wax and “liquid gold” honey. They love the colour blue, gather closely and slow their wing beats for safety during forest fires, and like to be kept up to date with family news. From the time of Aristotle, the founder of scientific beekeeping, they have fascinated us. Eimear Chaomhánach’s beautifully presented and illustrated book, shares a gentle pride in her father’s lifelong care of these essential creatures, delving into beekeeping etiquette through folklore and fairytales that surround the matriarchal communities which work tirelessly to generate their own food and heat sources in an elegant illustration of self-sufficiency. It’s the perfect read as we wait for winter’s cold fingers to loosen their grip and allow spring to arrive. Claire Looby, The Irish Times