Mileeven was establised in 1988 by Eilis Gough as Joe, her husband, kept bees as a hobby.

Stuck in traffic one evening, Eilis and Joe decided that there must be something else to do and so took up an evening course to avoid the traffic – which was beekeeping (second option was cabinet making).

Starting with two hives in the back garden of their house in Donabate, everything seemed normal with this hobby! Fast forward a few years and a move to Piltown, Co Kilkenny where space was not an issue and Joe’s love for bees and honey at a questionable level and the two hive hobby turned into a 100 hive job and Mileeven was born.

“Mil” is the Irish for honey and “Aoibhinn” (pronounced “eeven”) means delightful. Delightful honey it was and still is, and so a small business, starting with just Pure Irish Honey, run from the kitchen to where we are today.

Mileeven is run now by Eilis along with Sarah, her daughter, still in Piltown, Co Kilkenny. The range has increased to include other honeys as well as Irish honey, like Acacia Honey and Manuka Honey, amongst others, as well as a range of preserves, fruit cakes, Christmas products and luxury gift boxes.