This is just lovely.
When local author John Whelan penned his latest publication The Last Beekeeper last year, having live local events was easier said than done.
But with spring in the air and things finally opening up The Last Beekeeper – a beautiful new book aimed at young teenagers – is taking to the road and available for readings, discussions or workshops for schools, libraries, festivals and book clubs.
Roundwood House outside Mountrath recently hosted an event in its library, with a reading from the book by John accompanied by a rendition of Fionn MacCumhaill by local Sean Nós singer Paddy Fitzpatrick.
A short video captures the event excellently, showing off both the quaint and splendid elements of Roundwood House as well as featuring the reading, the song and entertainment from Jabba Jabba Jembe from Athy.
The film was edited by Louis Deacy from Emo of LVD Films.
The Last Beekeeper book was always written with the intention of being read aloud to encourage participation and to fully enjoy and explore the rhythm, alliteration and onomatopoeia of the language.
The book is enjoying a really positive response from young teenagers (13 to 15) who are taking to the adventure in the storyline and to the opportunity it presents them to engage in the environmental issues raised in the book.
Feedback is positive too from parents and grandparents who are knocking great fun in the inter-generational experience of reading the story to young children in the 9 to 12 age group.
The Last Beekeeper is scheduled to take part in events at Wild Mind Festival in Fenit, Co Kerry as well as Solas Portarlington for World Bee Day in May, and The Power of Words Festival in Abbeyleix later in the year.
The book is available from local outlets as well as online from www.thelastbeekeeper.ie.
You can watch the video in full here.
