'I am anxious about climate change' Laois heritage officer leaves for national role
Laois has said a fond goodbye to its county heritage officer, who is moving on to a national role to combat climate change and protect Irish heritage.
Catherine Casey served almost 20 years as Laois County Council’s Heritage Officer, overseeing a massive swing from swift Celtic tiger growth to climate awareness and heritage protection.
She is now taking on the role of Head of Heritage and Climate Change, in the Heritage Council.
In her two decades in Laois she guided landmark projects in Laois heritage, from the restoration of the medieval centre of Portlaoise and creating a biodiversity garden at Fitzmaurice Place, to producing a guidebook called Gardening for Biodiversity that went national.
“We printed about 40,000 and the Irish Examiner printed another 35,000. There is a huge appetite for it and that’s a sign that people want to take action,” Catherine said.
She spoke to the Leinster Express about her time in Laois and why she has taken on the new and challenging national job.
“I started in July 2003. The job has changed. It was never the same for more than a couple of years at a time. In the boom there was plenty of money but not much effort. Now the focus is much more on biodiversity, climate change and protection of species facing extinction. The Community Monuments Fund made a huge difference.
“The small projects were the most rewarding, to work in delivering them with the local communities. While I am very proud of Fitzmaurice Place and St Peter’s graveyard and the Fort Protector Plan, it’s helping communities to protect every small graveyard or church that is a matter of great pride and enjoyment to me. They leave you with the happiest feeling,” she said.
She believes not enough is being done nationally to limit the damage to the climate, and so took action herself.
“I am anxious about climate change. I’ve wanted to do something for a while now. I started a Masters in Climate Change and Public Policy last year. Then this job came up as a coincidence.
“We need to demand more from our local and national public representatives. My biggest concern is that we are not doing enough at national and international level. Everyone knows what needs to be done but they are not doing it.
“They say the best way to deal with anxiety is to take action so that’s why I started the Masters, to empower and educate myself, and learn how to inform people.
“While I worked on the Abbeyleix Climate Action project, I learned that people are very interested in getting involved, but they didn’t know what to do or where to get support,” she said.
“The lovely thing is nothing I did was done on my own. It was always with other people and even though I’m going they are all still there,” she said.
Her final public event as Laois Heritage Officer was to attend the launch on November 24 of a new landmark book on the Rock of Dunamase, called The High Fortress.
On sale now for €15, with contributing authors including renowned local geologist and author Dr John Feehan, it documents the turbulent history of the castle, and was a collaboration between Laois Heritage Forum and the authors.
“It was really great to get the book landed in time and to have a send-off as important as that. We were working on it for a few years to get it right,” Catherine said.
Ms Casey lives in Offaly with her family but said she will remain involved and in touch with Laois.
“In the new role I will be working closely with local authorities across the country, helping to roll out biodiversity officers in Laois and elsewhere. I hope to have that officer in Laois within 18 months. There is a massive amount of work for them to do,” she said.
Despite her anxiety over the lack of climate action, she is hopeful for the future in Laois and Ireland.
“I have a strong feeling that getting people involved in local projects is a good way to engage them in climate change, rather than sitting back feeling hopeless.Working in tidy towns or groups like graveyard committees, becoming citizen scientists, can really help and engage people and I want to build on that and engage them.
“Being part of Laois Heritage Forum and being involved with all the community groups made my job very rewarding and enjoyable and I learned so much. I will always be grateful for that,” Catherine Casey said.