What is OpenHive?
OpenHive is a beekeeping company and community run by Kyle Petrie, Mark Earley and Jack McGrath, three beekeepers based in Dublin, Ireland. The simple focus of OpenHive is to harness a combined passion for beekeeping with a need for environmental sustainability. Launched in November 2019 OpenHive rears and breeds Irish black honeybees. To support this process OpenHive sells locally-produced Irish honey from apiaries in Dublin and Wicklow.
OpenHive keeps bees naturally, with as few interventions as possible. OpenHive is committed to maintaining local biodiversity and decreasing impact on the environment, specifically aiming to help the Irish honeybee re-establish herself as a central part of the Irish ecosystem. As part of our eco-friendly approach the jars that hold the honey are screen-printed to eliminate the need for single-use plastic labelling and can be returned for future reuse.
We want to do as much as we can to help the Irish black honeybee through our beekeeping and breeding of the bees we keep. The role of the bee is essential in the conservation of the biodiversity of the Irish habitat. We want the Apis Mellifera Mellifera to be the norm both for local beekeepers and in the wild here in Dublin.
As the OpenHive grows we intend on being an active part of the local beekeeping community, providing services such as honey extraction and jarring. We are very excited to champion ethical and eco-friendly beekeeping methods along our journey.
Who are we?
Kyle Petrie
co-FOUNDER
Kyle works with an International NGO as Director of Operations, has cycled the length of Africa and is a coffee aficionado.
Mark Earley
co-FOUNDER
Mark is a secondary school teacher, a photographer and an avid sea swimmer.
Jack McGrath
PARTNER
Jack is a professional rugby player with Ulster Rugby & Ireland, a gym owner and a carpentry enthusiast.
The OpenHive Community
As OpenHive grows we intend to work with like-minded beekeepers who keep bees in a bee-centric and sustainable way, as we do. We want to build a community of beekeepers who can share resources, information, produce and experience. We feel that this would allow us to strengthen our project, increase our reach and develop our range of produce. At the heart of this community would be our ethos and the establishment of strong, transparent relationships be they in Ireland or abroad.
Who we work with
Our logo and brand was designed by Peter O’Gara.
All our jars come from Al Pack Limited in Sandyford, Dublin.
The labels on the lids of our jars come from Ross Print Services in Greystones, Wicklow.