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family · Wednesday 15 July 2026 · Various 
Beekeeping Open Day at Stradbally Hall Estate
At Stradbally Hall Estate · Stradbally, Co. Laois
At Stradbally Hall Estate · Stradbally, Co. Laois
A summer afternoon spent learning about bees at one of Laois’s finest estates is a genuinely different day out, and this open day at Stradbally Hall pulls it off well. The Dunamaise Beekeepers have established an apiary on the grounds - a conservation area for native Irish honey bees - and they open it up so families can see and understand what goes on inside a working hive. It suits children who are curious about nature, parents who want something active and educational, and anyone who has ever wondered what bees actually do all day.
The centrepiece is a glass-walled observation hive. Children can get right up close and watch thousands of bees moving through their comb without any risk - there is no protective gear required, no handling, just a clear view of the colony at work. If you look carefully, the beekeepers will help you spot the queen among the workers. The Dunamaise Beekeepers are committed to native Irish honey bee conservation - all the bees at Stradbally are native stock - so there is a genuine story here about local biodiversity, not just a novelty display. Beekeeping experts on the day explain honey bee behaviour, the role of pollinators in food production, and what sustainable beekeeping looks like in practice. There are interactive activities aimed at younger visitors to help the ideas land. Local honey, beeswax candles and soaps made from the apiary’s produce are typically available to buy on the day.
Stradbally is a small market town in central Laois, about 12 km south-east of Portlaoise on the N80. Driving from Dublin takes around an hour - take the M7 west to Portlaoise and then the N80 south towards Carlow. From Kilkenny, head north on the N77 and connect to the N80 at Abbeyleix. The estate sits on the edge of the town and is well signposted. Stradbally Hall is the home of Electric Picnic, so the site is well set up for visitors - parking is ample and the grounds are accustomed to handling large numbers of people. There is no direct bus service to Stradbally from Dublin; the nearest Bus Eireann stop on a regular route is Portlaoise, from where a car or taxi covers the remaining distance.
The town itself is an easy place to spend an hour - there is a small heritage steam museum on the estate grounds and the surrounding Laois countryside rewards a short drive in any direction. There is more to see in Stradbally and across Co. Laois.
Heading to Stradbally Hall Estate in Stradbally? Laois has plenty more to see. Read the Stradbally area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.