Busy bees

Sir, – Frank McNally's Irishman's Diary about the beehive in his grandfather's house ("A buzz in the bedroom – some unexpected guests", January 24th) reminded me of a story I heard when working in Dublin Corporation.

A Cabra man, who worked in the paving department, kept a beehive in his back garden. One morning he awoke late and rushed out to work. Then realising he hadn’t opened the hive, he returned home to do so and missed his usual bus. When he arrived late at the depot, his ganger and the inspector were in the middle of the yard where the lorries were being loaded for the day’s work. He approached his ganger to apologise for his tardiness and explained about the beehive. “Oh”, said the inspector, “you keep bees! Where would they forage around Cabra?” “Well”, our man said, “I suppose they go off to the Botanic Gardens.” He went to join his workmates and the ganger turned to the inspector and said, “That fella is telling lies. Sure the Botanic Gardens doesn’t open until 9 o’clock!” – Yours, etc,

FRANK McCROSSAN,

Clane,

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Co Kildare.