The mountain range of Sliabh Aughty, which stretches through Galway and Clare, provides the perfect backdrop for the production of Sliabh Aughty Honey. This honey, which reflects a wild and diverse region, is produced a few miles away from Loughrea in County Galway, by Noel Leahy.

The land on the mountain is natural and unspoiled with lots of lush meadows, full of wildflowers and herbs, raised bog areas covered with purple heather and bog cotton. The combination of the fantastic landscape and flora gives the honey a unique and pure flavour.

Noel’s Sliabh Aughty Honey is produced in collaboration with neighbouring farmers. As a result, the farmers tell him if they are spraying crops, harvesting or doing any other farming practices that may endanger the bees or threaten their environment. It took a couple of years for the bee stocks to flourish. Experimentation in honey production involved placing hives in different locations and harvesting honey at different times in the season, to see where the best flavours and quantities were. Like every other traditional skill, the knowledge of beekeeping is handed down through generations, and Noel has it down to a fine art.

Harvesting the honey requires carefully removing the honeycombs from the hives. These are then placed in a stainless steel diffuser, which spins to allow the honey to flow from the honeycombs, to be decanted into buckets which are labelled and dated. From here, the honey is left to crystallise which brings out the flavours and allows the honey to darken and mellow. Before bottling, the honey must be returned to the temperature of the hive, so it regains normal consistency. The end product is like an elixir of fragrant flavours and nuances, gained from the wild heathers, wildflowers and shrubs which dominate the Sliabh Aughty range. It’s a taste of Galway in a jar – no wonder so many top chefs are eager to use it in their kitchens.

Noel’s daughter is also making an impact on the business, not only in honey but healthcare and beeswax products. New developments include skincare and beauty products. These natural skin care products are made from the beeswax from their own hives and other natural organic ingredients.