Airport bees creating a tasty buzz for passengers

STUCK for that last-minute gift as you rush through Dublin Airport on your way to see your relatives on the other side of the world?

The why not buy some local honey that has been made by bees that live on airport-owned land?

Jars of the golden treat – aptly named Nect-Air – are now on sale at the Marqette restaurant in Terminal One in 340g jars for €9.95.

The four bee hives on airport land are surrounded by clover, blackberry, bramble and hawthorn to give the bees plenty of nectar with which to make honey.

Beekeeper Colm Fogarty said: ‘The blend of flora gives Nect-Air its pleasantly mild, gently sweet flavour, along with its rich texture, warming amber hue, delicate aroma and slightly nutty undertone.’

The honey has already been used by the airport in the menus of the executive lounges.

The airport’s colony of bees can cover an area of up to 12 square kilometres, which covers the rich, fertile land of north Co. Dublin.

Dublin Airport managing director Vincent Harrison said: ‘We are thrilled to work with Marqette to make our honey more widely available so that passengers have the opportunity to purchase Nect-Air.

‘We are very proud of this top-quality honey as it was produced on our own land and is testament to the fact that the air quality and surrounding vegetation at Dublin Airport is excellent for the bees to thrive.’