Author: laois heritage

Make a switch for nature this National Biodiversity Week, with ten ideas from Heritage Officers
This is National Biodiversity Week. Every day we depend on biodiversity.

Biodiversity or nature is all about us. Everything we rely on is provided by nature. Biodiversity is the variety of life on the planet, how it interacts with the natural water cycles and climate to create ecosystems that provide habitats, and ecosystem goods and services. Goods like timber, healthy soil, raw materials for clothing, food, medicines – everything. Services like carbon sequestration, water filtration, pollination.

Catherine Casey, Heritage Officer with Laois County Council said “Take a first step and connect with the wonder of the nature this Biodiversity week. Find a quiet spot and listen to the sounds of nature about you. This is the sound of nature supporting your life”.

International Biodiversity Day is Saturday 22nd May and the theme this year is “We are part of the solution for Nature”. There are some simple switches that can be made that will set us on that pathway. Always the best place to start is where we can have the most influence, and for most of us that is our own homes and gardens.

Here are ten SWITCHES you can make for nature right now:
1. Switch peat moss or compost with peat for PEAT-FREE COMPOST. Ask your garden centre. Or make your own compost. This will help protect our valuable bogs, which are vital for carbon capture and nature.
2. Switch your weekly mow to LET YOUR GRASS GROW. Leave an extra margin around the edge of your lawn and cut it every 3-6 weeks, to provide shelter and food for pollinators. #NoMowMay
3. Switch tap water in your watering can to WATER FROM A WATER BUTT. Rainwater collected from your roof is a good way to re-use water and be more economical with treated water.
4. Switch some of your lawn for a POND OR RAIN GARDEN – all our wildlife needs water and it’s amazing how much wildlife even a tiny pond can attract..
5. Switch pesticides for NATURAL PEST CONTROL AND COMPANION PLANTING. (Carrot fly is distracted by the smell of rosemary and thyme, plant marigolds or lady’s mantle close to tomatoes, nasturtium beside broad beans). Encourage ladybirds to your garden to eat greenfly.
6. Switch chemical fertiliser for NETTLE OR COMFREY FERTILISER. This is made by soaking the plants in water for a few weeks and then diluting the resultant liquid with water. Areas of nettles and comfrey are super for pollinators – bees and butterflies, so a patch has additional biodiversity benefits.
7. Switch cutting hedges at waist height to LETTING HAWTHORN HEDGES GROW TALL AND BLOSSOM. This is vital for pollinators and will bring a wonderful sight and smell to your garden.
8. Switch tidying up to BUILDING A LOG PILE. These are great spots for hedgehogs, bugs and beetles. The garden is not a place for Marie Kondo’s house tidying approach! Check out the Gardening for Biodiversity video series for tips
9. Switch planting the same plants everywhere to PLANTING VARIETY. This will protect your garden from being overrun with any one pest or disease and bring more wildlife to your place.
10. Switch social distance for HUGGING A TREE !
The popular GARDENING FOR BIODIVERSITY booklet and colouring book are still available – click below to download, along with a Pledge your Garden for Pollinators leaflet. These wonderful publications are full of fantastic ideas for your garden. The Garden Birds poster produced in association with BirdWatch Ireland shows you the huge wealth of birds you might attract to your garden.

Click the images to download the publications

The Local Authority Heritage Officer Network is the collection of heritage officers located nationwide, in most counties and local authorities. The Heritage Office programme is supported by the local authorities and the Heritage Council. Heritage Officers advocate for the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, through the implementation of biodiversity and heritage plans, working with communities through local government.
21st May 2021

Laois Heritage Projects Awarded Funding under Community Heritage Grants

Five Laois heritage projects have been awarded funding totalling over €44,000 by the National Heritage Council under the Community Heritage Grants Scheme. Nationally, the scheme will see €1.2 million allocated to community groups and not-for-profit organisations. This follows on from an award of €374,599 made to community heritage projects in April 2021.

The funding will boost local economies, grow tourism, and enhance community spirit by supporting local heritage projects.

The projects are all undertaken by voluntary groups and the topics in Laois range from improved access for people with disabilities at Donaghmore Workhouse, and community monitoring of Climate Change on local built heritage to conservation of historic newspapers reporting the historic first East West Transatlantic Flight by the Col James Fitzmaurice and digital recording of medieval monuments.

Trevor Stanley (Secretary of Donaghmore Workhouse &Agricultural Museum) with Catherine Casey (Heritage Officer , Laois Co. Council ) at the opening of the Dining Hall at Donaghmore Workhouse in 2014. The Museum has been awarded funding to improve accessibility for all under the new Heritage Council Community Grants Fund. Photo: Michael Scully

Welcoming the grant awards, Cathaoirleach Catherine Fitzgerald said “These Heritage Council grants amount of over €44,000 to be injected into the Laois economy and I’d like to congratulate each of the voluntary groups involved – the Col James Fitzmaurice Commemoration Society, Donaghmore Famine Workhouse & Agricultural Museum, Mountmellick Development Association, Laois Heritage Society and Laois Federation of Tidy Towns for their hard work on behalf of the people and heritage of the county. Laois always punches above its weight when it comes to quality and quantity of community heritage projects and I’m delighted to see that trend continuing. I wish all of the groups the best with their projects and look forward to hearing about some of them during Heritage Week in August”.

Killeshin c — Killeshin Church with its carved Romanesque doorway will be digitally recorded by Laois Heritage Society under a new project funded by the Heritage Council and announced today (Photo: Laois Heritage Office).

Sean Murray, Chairman of Laois Heritage Society said “We are delighted to have obtained funding for digital 3-D modelling recording of three sites in Co. Laois. The survey will include sites identified as of National importance with regards to the Early Church tradition in Ireland. The Hiberno-Romanesque doorways of Killeshin Church and Timahoe Round tower and Early Medieval Cross Slabs uncovered at Clonenagh in 1989, which were associated with St. Fintan’s Monastery there, will all feature as part of the project. The project will engage with the local communities in the areas and workshops are planned later in the year to train people who have an interest in the digital recording heritage monuments”.

Commenting on the announcement, Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, TD, said: “I would like to acknowledge the fantastic work of the Heritage Council in supporting community heritage through this important scheme. As the scope and scale of these projects illustrate, communities play a vital role in caring for all aspects of our heritage. The new national heritage plan, Heritage Ireland 2030, which will be published later this summer, will recognise the role of communities in safeguarding our heritage and ensure that they continue to be supported.”

Chairman of The Heritage Council, Michael Parsons, said: “These schemes continue to provide a central focus for the work of The Heritage Council. They are testament to the close collaboration between the Council, local authorities and community groups, all sharing a common purpose.”

Teddy Fennelly of the Col Fitzmaurice Commemoration Society and Michael Parsons, Chair of the Heritage Council, pictured in Fitzmaurice Place Portlaoise (Photo: Catherine Casey, Laois Heritage Office).

Heritage Council Community Grants, full details at https://www.heritagecouncil.ie/funding/funding-schemes

Details of Laois projects awarded funding below.

Applicant	Project Description	Offered
Col James Fitzmaurice Commemoration Society	Conservation and Digitization of Col Fitzmaurice Commemoration Society Archive – Phase 1	€7,550
Donaghmore Famine Workhouse & Agricultural Museum	Donaghmore Accessibility Enhancement Project to undertake elements of the Museum Accessibility Audit supported by the Heritage Council in 2020 to enrich visitor experiences.	€10,800
Mountmellick Development Association	To greatly improve the visitor experience with storyboards, 2 digital productions for use inhouse/website/Facebook.	€11,350
Laois Heritage Society	To digitally record and make accessible vulnerable carved stone features at three Laois sites – Killeshin Romanesque Doorway, Timahoe Romanesque Doorway & Early Christian Cross-Slabs at Clonenagh	€3,400
Laois Federation of Tidy Towns	To establish baseline data of built and architectural heritage via a checklist and monitoring of the key heritage features identified by a Tidy Towns as a tangible indicators of Climate Change	€11,326
TOTAL FOR LAOIS		€44,426

13th May 2021

Cruinniú na nÓg 2021

Cruinniú na nÓg is a national day of creativity for children and young people under the age of 18 which celebrates and encourages participation in culture and creativity through ‘doing’, ‘making’, and ‘creating’ from visual and performing arts to workshops and adventures in heritage, libraries, culture, science, technology or climate action. Events are free, local and activity-based.

Opportunity to deliver online workshops for Cruinniú na nÓg

Laois County Council Arts Office and Creative Ireland Laois wish to programme a series of workshops for Cruinniú na nÓg on June 12 that will inspire children & young people to make work based on the theme of ‘ A Sense of Place’. Artists are required to be skilled and equipped in working online and facilitating online workshops, as well as pre-recorded video skills.

Download the brief here

Submission of your Expression of Interest: Monday, May 10 to artsoff@laoiscoco.ie.

For all information, please contact Laois Arts Office on 057 8664033/13 or artsoff@laoiscoco.ie.

Consultation with Children and Young People in Co. Laois

Cruinniú na nÓg on Saturday June 12, 2021 is a national day of creativity for children and young people (0-18) which celebrates and encourages participation in culture and creativity through ‘doing’, ‘making’, and ‘creating’ from visual and performing arts to workshops and adventures in heritage, culture, science, technology or climate action. Events are free, local and activity-based.

Tell us what you’d like to do, make and create!

Tag @creativelaois for FB & Twitter and/or @creativeirelandlaois for Instagram, and ALWAYS use the hashtag: #CruinniúLaois2021
OR
Use the chatbot at http://creativeireland.gov.ie/en/cruinniu-feedback

Deadline for submission of preferences: Tuesday, April 6, 2021.

Cruinniú na nÓg 2021 Open Call Grant Scheme

Laois County Council is inviting applications from individuals/organisations for innovative activities of all shapes and sizes for children and young people that fosters creativity and engages diverse participation from visual and performing arts to workshops and adventures in heritage, culture, science, technology or climate action.

Events should be focused on children and young people with children and young people themselves consulted and included in creating the event. We particularly welcome applications that gives access to groups of children who haven’t had such opportunities before.

Grants are available up to a maximum of €2000. Grants will typically be in the region of €500 to €2000. While there is no fixed number of awards, there will generally be a larger number of lesser value awards and a small number of higher value ones.

For guidelines and application form, click here
Closing date for proposals: Tuesday, April 6, 2021.
The application form and all supporting material must be completed and submitted by email
For all enquiries, contact Laois Arts Office on 057 8664033/13 or email artsoff@laoiscoco.ie.

Covid-19 Restriction Levels

In preparing your application, you should base it on the best public-health advice and guidance available at the time you are making your application. Given this, you should ensure that what you are proposing is feasible or adaptable should social distancing and/or other public-health measures impact on all or part of the application.

In many instances, projects will be designed specifically to mitigate that isolation felt by young people missing the strong social connections with their peers, and communities that were already experiencing isolation because of a variety of physical, social, cultural, economic or geographic reasons, that have become more acute because of Covid-19.

7th May 2021
Extensive Mathews Portarlington Archive acquired by Laois County Council

The archive collection of Portarlington historian Ronnie Mathews has been acquired by Laois County Council for the people of the county. Mathews, a well-known historian and author of several books on Portarlington, had collected documents, maps and artefacts relating to the town over his whole life, and the collection also includes some items collected by his father Jack Mathews Snr and Grandfather George Mathews. The Mathews family ran a bakery in Portarlington for many years, and the collection includes ledgers and account books from that business, which will shed a fascinating light on many aspects of life in Portarlington in the past.

Among the interesting artefacts are a series of glass negative photograph slides showing all aspects of Irish life dating from around 1910, a cannon ball reputed to be from the site of Lea Castle outside Portarlington, and a hand painted chess board with the crest of the Dawson family of Emo Court. The documents include a map of Patrick Street dated 1889 and a large collection of postcards by Wynne of Portarlington, also showing Maryborough Mountmellick, Monasterevin and more.

Pictured at the presentation of the Ronnie Mathews Collection to Laois County Council John Mulholland, CE Laois County Council, Bernie Foran Laois County Librarian, Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council Catherine Fitzgerald, Tim Mathews and Catherine Casey Laois Heritage Officer. Pictured artefacts include a frame of 100 year old local postcards from circa 1910, a frame of billheads circa 1900 from Portarlington and a Lea Castle cannonball. Photo Dominic Reddin.

Welcoming the acquisition, Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald, Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council said “Laois County Council is so grateful to the Mathews family for their dedication to collecting and keeping safe this wonderful archive which tells us so much about life in Laois and in Portarlington in particular, in days gone by. It will be a wonderful resource for researchers and a great way to honour the memory of Ronnie Mathews”.

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council pictured with a chessboard painted in oils by Lord Arlington from Emo Estate, presented to Laois County Council as part of the Ronnie Mathews Collection. Photo Dominic Reddin.

Presenting the collection to Laois County Council this week, Tim Mathews, Ronnie’s son, said “My dad had been collecting and researching for over 50 years, and it was a dream of his to establish a museum in Portarlington. He loved the town and all that came with it, like his Grandad George who made the 1920s movie films , and his father Jack snr, who had a museum on the main street in 1966 to commemorate 100 years of family business in the town. On behalf of the family we are honoured to have Ronnie remembered in this way and thank everyone involved in making this happen”.

Creative Ireland Laois Support

The material will now be carefully archived and catalogued by the Laois County Library Service, and arrangements made for any necessary conservation. Bernie Foran, County Librarian for Laois said “We are delighted to be acquiring this very valuable collection of archival material and artefacts for the people of Laois. Funding has been made available through the Creative Ireland Programme for essential archiving and cataloguing work, as we prepare the material to be made available for research and for future display. The theme of the Creative Ireland programme in Laois is “Sense of Place” and we aim to create a county in which culture and creativity are recognised as integral to life with opportunities for everyone in the county to become involved in creativity and culture. The Ronnie Mathews Collection is a perfect example of how cultural material can assist in developing and understanding our sense of place.”

The late Ronnie Mathews, speaking at the launch of his book “Portarlington , The Old Town” in Portarlington during Heritage Week 2012. Photo: Michael Scully

Heritage-Led Regeneration

The acquisition of the Ronnie Mathews Collection follows the announcement of funding through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund for conservation and regeneration of the historic Market Square in Portarlington, with plans for the conservation and reuse of the Market House in the square, which has been leased by Laois County Council

Chief Executive of Laois County Council John Mulholland said “The heritage of Portarlington and its historic Market House and Market Square are vital parts of the story of the town. This collection will assist us in telling and interpreting the story of Portarlington and I greatly welcome the acquisition of the Ronnie Mathews Collection, which has a countywide and indeed national significance”

23rd April 2021

Funding announced for Conservation of Laois historic buildings

Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, TD, today (Thursday 1 April) announced that 477 heritage projects across every county in the country will benefit from a total of €3m under this year’s Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS).

Of this fund €72,000 has been allocated to 12 projects in Laois, ranging from small thatched houses to larger country houses.

Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council, Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald, welcomed the announcement saying “In addition to supporting owners of historic buildings in looking after their properties, this funding will also provide a welcome boost to local construction and heritage trades by facilitating works with a total value of over €15.5m and creating jobs estiated at 19,000 days’ labour. Laois County Council is delighted to be able to participate in the Built Heritage Investment Scheme, providing a link between the Department and owners on the ground and getting this funding out to Laois Communities”.

Thatched house near Emo rethatched under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme in 2020

The BHIS is one of two built heritage funding schemes run by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in association with the 31 Local Authorities. Through grants of up to €15,000, the BHIS assists owners of heritage structures – including those on the local authorities’ Record of Protected Structures and those in Architectural Conservation Areas – to meet their obligations to care for their properties. The scheme is not limited to private dwellings and also provides assistance to a wide range of other important heritage.
Also included under the BHIS 2021 is a continuation of a micro-grant stream introduced in 2020 to increase the resilience of historic structures to withstand the constant effects of climate change. This allows local authorities to make smaller awards to owners of historic properties to carry out routine maintenance to offset the impact of climate change on their buildings.

Minister Noonan said: “I am delighted to announce €3m investment in our built heritage which will assist 477 owners and custodians of historic and protected structures right across the country as they carry out hundreds of small-scale, labour-intensive projects to repair and safeguard our built heritage. These awards will provide much-needed economic stimulus in all 31 local authority areas and will give employment to the many small businesses, skilled conservation specialists and tradespeople involved in heritage-related construction activity. Not only will this €3m funding help sustain specialist heritage businesses while the market recovers, it is also an investment in this Government’s commitment under the Programme for Government to encourage traditional building skills.”

Minister of State for Local Government, Peter Burke, TD, also welcomed the announcement, saying “the success of the Built Heritage Investment Scheme is testament to the close working relationship between the Department and the Local Authorities, particularly the Architectural Conservation Officers, Heritage Officers and planning and administrative staff without whom these schemes would not exist. It is particularly pleasing to see this year’s BHIS fund so many projects in our towns, in line with this Government’s commitment to put Town Centres First.”

Conservation work funded by the BHIS underway at St Paul’s French Church Portarlington in 2020

Laois Projects funded this year are as follows:

Projects	Funding Allocated
House, Stradbally, Co. Laois	€8,500.00
Thatch Durrow, Co. Laois	€7,000.00
Thatch Fisherstown, Co. Laois	€7,000.00
Thatch Rathleague, Co. Laois	€7,000.00
Thatch Clonaghadooo, Co. Laois	€6,000.00
St Paul’s French Church Portarlington, Co. Laois	€4,000.00
Thatch Jamestown, Co. Laois	€3,500.00
House Mountmellick, Co. Laois	€10,000.00
Thatch Ballybodin, Co. Laois	€1,000.00
Thatch Graigue, Co. Laois	€7,000.00
Thatch Ballacolla, Co. Laois	€7,000.00
Forum Mountmellick, Co. Laois	€4,000.00
	€72,000.00

Details of awards granted under the Department’s other built heritage scheme, the Historic Structures Fund, will be announced following their assessment in the coming weeks.

The list of all grantees nationally under the 2021 BHIS can be found here.

1st April 2021

Cruinniú na nÓg 2021 Open Call Grant Scheme

Laois County Council invites applications from individuals and organisations for innovative activities for children and young people, which foster creativity and engage diverse participation from visual and performing arts, to workshops and adventures in heritage, culture, science, technology or climate action. Events should be focused on children and young people with children and young people themselves consulted and included in creating the event. We particularly welcome applications that give access to groups of children who haven’t had such opportunities before.

Grants are available up to a maximum of €2000. Grants will typically be in the region of €500 to €2000. While there is no fixed number of awards, there will generally be a larger number of lesser value awards and a small number of higher value ones. For guidelines and application form, click here. The closing date for proposals is Tuesday, April 6, 2021. The application form and all supporting material must be submitted by email. For all enquiries, contact Laois Arts Office on 057 8664033/13 or email artsoff@laoiscoco.ie.

Covid-19 Restriction Levels

In preparing your application, you should base it on the best public-health advice and guidance available at the time you are making your application. Given this, you should ensure that what you are proposing is feasible or adaptable should social distancing and/or other public-health measures impact on all or part of the application.

In many instances, projects will be designed specifically to mitigate that isolation felt by young people missing the strong social connections with their peers, and communities that were already experiencing isolation because of a variety of physical, social, cultural, economic or geographic reasons, that have become more acute because of Covid-19.

16th March 2021
€2 million Community Monuments Fund Launched
Malcolm Noonan, T.D, Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, has launched the 2021 Community Monuments Fund which will invest €2 million in the protection and promotion of archaeological heritage during 2021. The €2 million allocation is an increase of 75% on last year’s funding.

The grants available under the Community Monuments Fund will help custodians and owners of archaeological monuments to safeguard them into the future for the benefit of local communities and the visiting public. In addition, they will provide support for heritage professions and job opportunities in building conservation and other traditional skills.

Catherine Casey, Heritage Officer with Laois County Council said “Laois County Council is delighted to be working with the National Monuments Service again this year on the Community Monuments Fund. Last year essential conservation work was carried out at Killabban Church under the scheme, and Conservation Plans for medieval churches at Kilmanman and Dysart Gallen were commissioned and the graveyard at Old Lea recorded. None of this vital work would have been possible without the Community Monuments Funding”

Killabban Church with the Conservation Committee, including John Moran and Liam Delaney. The conservation of the church was funded in 2020 through the Community Monuments Fund

Applications by private owners or community groups for funding under the under the CMF must be made to Laois County Council by 12^th April. Application forms and full details are on the website of Laois County Council at laois.ie/heritage.

The Community Monuments Fund was first established as part of the 2020 July Jobs Stimulus introduced in response to the Covid emergency. In 2020, some 71 heritage projects were funded to the value of €1.15 million. It is anticipated that that the 2021 programme being run by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage’s National Monuments Service will support more than 120 projects across the country.

The core aims of the Community Monuments Fund are the conservation, maintenance, protection and promotion of archaeological monuments. Funding is available for:
- conservation works to monuments which are deemed to be significant and in need of urgent support,
- works to improve access to and presentation of monuments, and
- building resilience into monuments to enable them to withstand the effects of climate change.
Funding is available in three streams.
- Stream 1 for essential repairs and conservation works at archaeological monuments.
- Stream 2 for development of Conservation Management Plans/Reports to identify necessary conservation measures and any issues requiring future attention.
- Stream 3 for enhancement of access infrastructure and interpretation at archaeological monuments, including development of online interpretative material.
Minister of State with responsibility for Heritage Malcolm Noonan TD said “We have a responsibility towards our heritage and to those who care for it. When we established the Community Monuments Fund in 2020, we did so with the objective of supporting the heritage sector and providing an effective way of assisting Local Authorities and custodians in protecting Ireland’s remarkable yet vulnerable archaeological heritage.

“With the excellent partnership between Local Authorities and our National Monuments Service, the 2020 Fund supported an extraordinary level of community engagement and public participation in heritage. It provided traditional skills opportunities and strengthened the role of heritage in communities across the country, highlighting the role of heritage in providing a strong sense of place and well-being. We are very pleased to be able to grow the fund significantly this year and hope to support over 120 projects which will provide a local economic boost with thousands of hours of employment for stone masons, conservation architects, archaeologists and others, in sustainable job opportunities in the care of our heritage.”

How to Apply

The closing date for applications by private owners or community groups is 12th April 2021.

Community Monuments Fund Application Form: CMF-A Application

CMF Scheme Guidelines: Guidelines document

Note

Completed application forms must be submitted to the Heritage Office of Laois County Council by 12th April. Forms must be submitted in Word format by email only.

Please read the scheme guidelines carefully and compete all relevant sections of the form.

Please note the requirement for an appropriately qualified building conservation professional to oversee any proposed conservation works, and for a comprehensive Method Statement to accompany all applications. See Guidelines above for information on what should be in Method Statements). The absence of a suitably comprehensive Method Statement will result in a project failing at assessment stage.

If you have any questions please contact the Heritage Office to discuss.

Dysart Gallen church had a Conservation Plan funded through the 2020 Community Monuments Fund
5th March 2021
New Approaches to Climate Change: Speaker Series

‘New Approaches to Climate Change’ is a series of free online talks over four weeks starting Wednesday, February 24. The series presents a range of international speakers who challenge how we perceive planet Earth and our collective responsibility as citizens to preserve and protect it. The series is curated by Dr. Niamh Shaw, science communicator in residence in Abbeyleix and is aimed at those with a general interest in climate change and all are welcome. Niamh has a background in science and engineering a wealth of experience in theatre and live speaking and holds the serious ambition to travel in space as a citizen and an artist. Since last September, she has been finding creative ways to engage people in Abbeyleix and the wider area to consider their role in climate action – what is it, and what can we all do about it. This role is supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme [2017-2022] in partnership with Laois County Council and Midlands Science, and in association with Abbeyleix Tidy Towns.

Dr. Niamh Shaw said, “The aim of the Climate Speaker Series is to give our local community a taste of some of the really interesting science and research taking place across the globe- from the desert to the poles, and from psychological and systemic impact, climate change is being explored from so many differing points of view. And everyone is working together to find manageable solutions to create a positive climate future and an impact that we as individuals can have on climate change.”

Climate Speakers & Topics

The Climate Speakers series of talks begins on Wednesday February 24 at 7pm with two short talks championing women in science and leadership who are passionate about sharing accessible solutions to climate change. Madeleine Murray presents ‘ Sustainability – individual and systemic action to future-proof our world’. Madeleine Murray is co-founder of the Kinsale-based Change by Degrees, a company co-founded with environmentalist Dr. Tara Shine. The mission of Change by Degrees is to provide sustainability leadership and inspiration for people and organisations. She is an archaeologist by training with experience in research, editing and writing at the School of Archaeology, U.C.D. and the National Museum of Ireland. She is passionate about making complex information accessible and helping businesses to create and tell their sustainability stories.

On the same evening Dr. Niamh Shaw presents ‘How Space teaches us to be better Earth citizens’. In 2017 Niamh participated in a simulated Mars mission that changed forever her way of life, embracing a new approach to sustainability. Niamh is the science communicator in residence for the Abbeyleix Climate Action project, with a deep passion to share the perspective of Earth from space. She recently joined Homeward Bound, a global transformational leadership initiative for women with a background in science and a passion for climate action. As part of this leadership programme, she joins 100 women on an Antarctic expedition in 2022.

On Wednesday March 3rd at 7pm, Sally Weintrobe’s talk “Working through our feelings about the climate emergency” will explore common feelings many of us share about the current state of the climate and the environment; also, what can help us bear these feelings so we can better address the damage and push for change. Sally is a psychoanalyst, working on climate and the environment. She is a Fellow of the British Psychoanalytical Society, a founder member of the Climate Psychology Alliance and she chairs the International Psychoanalytic Association’s Committee on Climate. Her new book, “Psychological Roots of the Climate Crisis” is available this April.

Sally Weintrobe’s book “The Psychological roots of the Climate Crisis” is due out this year

On Wednesday March 10 at 7pm, Dr. Anna Maria Trofaier from the European Space Agency (ESA) Climate Office will talk about “Using Space for climate change: Satellites that monitor our planet’s health”. Anna Maria oversees the sea ice, snow and glaciers projects within the ESA Climate Change Initiative to ensure delivery of technical requirements. She is currently working on developing a Massive Open Online Course on the cryosphere. She has a background in physics and remote sensing, with a focus on polar regions and initially joined the ESA Climate Office as a research fellow.

Dr Anna Maria Trofaier of the European Space Agency

On Thursday, March 18 at 7pm, LIVE from Biosphere 2, Arizona, John Adams & Kai Staats’s talk is “Seeking Earth from Space: Biosphere 2, simulated Mars analogue facilities and what we can learn about sustainability and climate action”. Originally constructed to demonstrate the viability of closed ecological systems to support human life in outer space, Biosphere 2 is now a research facility of the University of Arizona where scientists use the 3-acre site to carry out controlled experiments and study climate, water, energy and sustainability.

Biosphere 2 in Arizona

Heritage Officer with Laois County Council, Catherine Casey said, “Climate change is the most important issue facing humanity and this series of talks curated by Dr. Niamh Shaw provides a range of perspectives on individual and collective responses and research. We hope that these international stories will inform and inspire action we all take at a very local level within our own communities and county”.

Speaking about the involvement of Abbeyleix Tidy Towns in the series, Chairman Robbie Quinn said “We are delighted that our Climate Action project is involved in this series of talks curated by Dr. Niamh Shaw. Hosting this panel of international speakers, it affords us an opportunity to reflect on our local climate action efforts, explore the global context of climate change and then pool this expertise back into our community activities. One of the benefits of this pandemic has been the opportunity to connect with panellists of this calibre, something that probably would not have occurred outside of this unusual time in the world.”

Robbie Quinn, Abbeyleix Tidy Towns; Mark Clancy, Abbeyleix Tidy Towns; Niamh Shaw, Science Communicator in Residence; Catherine Casey, Laois Heritage Officer; Mary White, Abbeyleix Tidy Towns; Ann Lawlor, Creative Ireland Laois and Dr Fiona MacGowan, Abbeyleix Tidy Towns in Abbeyleix during the Abbeyleix Climate Action Project . Picture: Alf Harvey.

Jackie Gorman, CEO of Midlands Science said “The upcoming climate change speakers series provides a unique opportunity for us all to hear from and dialogue with leading voices from fields as diverse as ecology and psychology on issues relating to climate change. Midlands Science is delighted to be involved in this this project which has focused on the local actions in Abbeyleix and is now bringing global voices to the area through the upcoming speaker series. It’s great to see people connecting on this vital issue and engaging with the science that such issues involve.”

The “New Approaches to Climate Change” series will be livestreamed on the Laois Heritage Forum Facebook Page. No registration or pre-booking is required, and all are welcome. Questions or comments can be submitted in advance to heritage@laoiscoco.ie, or posed on the night during the livestream.

The series is part of the Abbeyleix Climate Action Project, supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme [2017-2022] in partnership with Laois County Council and Midlands Science, and in association with Abbeyleix Tidy Towns.

17th February 2021
New “In your Nature” Podcast Launched

A new podcast “In your Nature” has been launched by BirdWatch Ireland in partnership with Laois and Offaly County Councils.

As part of the Healthy Ireland “Keep Well” campaign, the Heritage Office of Laois County Council is running a series of events to people to get connected with nature. The campaign – called Nature is good for You – now sees the launch of a new nature podcast in partnership with BirdWatch Ireland.

“In your Nature” will be available each Monday from 1^st March for six weeks and further series will follow in the summer and autumn. The podcast will be free and available on all leading podcast providers, including Spotify, SoundCloud and Apple Podcasts.

“In your Nature” will be anchored by Laois native Ricky Whelan, Project Officer with BirdWatch Ireland, and the well-known media voice of Niall Hatch, Development Officer with BirdWatch Ireland. Many people in Laois will know Ricky from his work around the county on swift conservation, and also his roles with the Irish Wildlife Trust and Abbeyleix Bog Project. As a true Midlands conservation expert, he is the ideal voice to lead out this new podcast – an excellent communicator, he delivers regular events and lectures on various bird and biodiversity related topics and has contributed to many radio broadcasts and podcasts both in Ireland and the UK.

Ricky Whelan on Bull Island Dublin. Photograph by Eric Luke copyright.
From the Book IRISH WORKING LIVES by Marie Louise O’Donnell and Eric Luke . Published by Veritas (2019)

The spring series of the podcast will feature topics like the dawn chorus, nest boxes and looking at nature during lockdown. The podcast will also look at wider biodiversity, including spring plants and the bogs of the midlands.

Ricky Whelan said, “I’m delighted we could team up with the local authorities and the Keep Well Campaign to produce this podcast. Just talking about birds and nature excites me and lifts my mood and I hope our audience also gets a lift from listening and in-turn feel a little closer to nature”.

Niall Hatch has been a keen birdwatcher and wildlife enthusiast since childhood and has travelled the world pursuing this interest ever since. Niall has contributed to a wide variety of radio and television broadcasts both in Ireland and abroad and is a wonderful advocate for birds and biodiversity.

Speaking about the launch of the Podcast, Niall said, “When I’m not actually out watching birds, my favourite thing in the world to do is to talk about them. Ricky and I often have great chats about birds and nature anyway, so the logical next step was to record them and let others eavesdrop on our conversations. More people than even before have been turning to nature and developing an interest in wildlife in recent times, and we’re hoping that people are going to enjoy listening to our podcast as much as we enjoy making it.”

Niall Hatch of BirdWatch Ireland

In your nature challenges

The launch of the Podcast will be marked by a series of “In your Nature Challenges” on Laois Heritage Forum social media. Each week, the public will be invited to take part in a particular challenge relating to the theme of that week’s podcast – and prizes will be available!

To enter each challenge, use the hashtag #InYourNature on Laois Heritage Facebook, Twitter or Instagram pages and submit a photo, a drawing, a video, even a piece of writing, showing or describing your adventure. A prize will be awarded each week.

Catherine Casey, Heritage Officer with Laois County Council, said, “We know that this period of lockdown has been very hard on everyone, but we also know that many people have been taking solace and inspiration from nature at this time. As part of the Keep Well Initiative, we are reminding everyone how getting out in nature can be good for your mental and physical health. We hope that the new “In your Nature” Podcast and the Challenges will encourage people to learn more about the biodiversity in their neighbourhood, and take part in some fun challenges to share what they learn.”

To go with the podcast and help with the challenges the newly reprinted “Gardening for Biodiversity” book and colouring book are still available to download from laois.ie/gardening-for-biodiversity and hard copies are available for free from Laois County Council.

Male Bullfinch, courtesy of Eddie Dunne

The In Your Nature Podcast is brought to you by BirdWatch Ireland, Laois and Offaly County Councils and the Keep Well Campaign, an initiative of the Government of Ireland with funding from the Healthy Ireland Fund and the Sláintecare Fund delivered by Pobal.

16th February 2021
Nature is Good for You!

National Campaign launched to get people connected with nature

The Local Authority Heritage Officer Network has launched a campaign to get people connected with nature, as part of the Government’s “Keep Well” Campaign.

A free booklet “Gardening for Biodiversity” has been produced and is available from all Local Authority Heritage Officers.

Catherine Casey Heritage Officer with Laois County Council said “Spending time in nature is good for our physical and mental health. There are plenty of simple things that you can do to help nature in your garden or your locality this spring. Why not make a logpile, or leave a heap of leaves for hedgehogs and insects; feed the birds; or plant bee friendly trees. To find out more about what you can do, we have reprinted the Gardening for Biodiversity booklet and children’s colouring book and they are available for free from Laois County Council Heritage Office. Over the coming months the Local Authority Heritage Officer Network will co-ordinate and promote a series of practical actions for biodiversity that everyone can take part in.”

Gardening for Biodiversity was produced with funding by The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage through the National Parks and Wildlife Service’s National Biodiversity Action Plan Fund, supported by the Heritage Council and the Local Authority Heritage Officer Network.

The reprint was funded by the Keep Well Campaign, with thanks to Healthy Ireland, an initiative of the Government of Ireland with funding from the Healthy Ireland Fund and Sláintecare delivered by Pobal, administered by Laois County Council.

The book and colouring book are available for free from Laois County Council, by emailing heritage@laoiscoco.ie and also available to download here.

In your Nature Podcast

As part of the Healthy Ireland “Keep Well” campaign, the Heritage Office of Laois County Council is running a series of events to people to get connected with nature. The campaign – called Nature is good for You – now sees the launch of a new nature podcast in partnership with BirdWatch Ireland.

“In your Nature” will be available each Monday from 1^st March for six weeks and further series will follow in the summer and autumn. The podcast will be free and available on all leading podcast providers, including Spotify, SoundCloud and Apple Podcasts.

“In your Nature” will be anchored by Laois native Ricky Whelan, Project Officer with BirdWatch Ireland, and the well-known media voice of Niall Hatch, Development Officer with BirdWatch Ireland.

Spring into nature

Devised by Roscommon Heritage Office and the Heritage Officer Network, the “Spring into Nature” activity sheets in suggest ideas for people to enjoy their local heritage this spring, with a focus on getting outdoors and experiencing nature and built heritage in your locality.

The sheets can be downloaded here in English and Irish or click the pictures below.

Radio Clips

A short series of “Nature is good for you” clips were prepared and broadcast by Midlands 103 radio from winter 2020 to spring 2021. These highlight the value of getting out in nature, and suggest simple things people can do to help nature in their own area. The clips are available on Soundcloud.

Nestbox Guides

As wildlife lovers we are always keen to do what we can for the birds and other wildlife in our gardens, school grounds and on our farms. We can all help in various ways, perhaps by feeding birds in our gardens each winter or providing safe and suitable nest boxes for them to raise young.

Below you will find three downloadable guides produced by BirdWatch Ireland in association with the Local Authority Heritage Officer Network that provide nest box templates and measurements for some of our favourite garden birds as well as for the amazing Barn Owl and roosting bats. Each guide features installation tips to help you correctly position each box to provide safe nesting opportunities for target species and increase the chances of uptake. We were delighted to work with BirdWatch Ireland in the production of these guides. See here for more informtion on the work of BirdWatch Ireland and how to join to support this work.

Garden Bird Nestbox Plans

This guide provides a template and measurements for you to create a range of nestboxes for a number of common garden bird species including, Robins, Blue/Great Tits, Starlings and Spotted Flycatcher. Click the picture to download a high resolution pdf.

Outdoor Barn Owl Nestbox Plan

This guide provides a template and measurements for you to create a Barn Owl nestbox suitable for installation outdoors. Click the picture to download a high resolution pdf.

Bat Roost Box Plan

This guide provides a template and measurements for you to create a bat roost box to safely accommodate roosting bats in your garden. Click the picture to download a high resolution pdf.

The Nature is Good for You” initiative is co-ordinated by the Local Authority Heritage Officer Network as part of the Government’s“Keep Well” Campaign which aims to help people to mind their physical and mental health and well being over the coming months.

Everyone is encouraged to take part in the campaign on social media using the hashtag #NatureisGoodforYou.

Supported by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in association with the Keeping Well Campaign in your county. Local Authority Heritage Officers are employed by Local Authorities in partnership with the national Heritage Council. Their role is to raise awareness, provide advice, develop/implement policy, collect data, conduct research and promote best practice to value and safeguard heritage for future generations.

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10th February 2021
Clonaslee Community celebrates successful conservation of medieval church

The community of Clonaslee has celebrated the end of another successful season of conservation at the medieval Kilmanman Church just outside the village.

The conservation project which started in 2019, is funded by the Creative Ireland Programme in Laois and Laois County Council, with the help of local community fundraising. This year’s work saw the conservation of the west gable with its fragile bell cote and the east gable with its beautiful carved medieval window. Some work was also carried out to stabilise the 19^th century Dunne Mausoleum adjacent to the older church.

Kilmanman Church Restoration Committee members, members of Clonaslee High Nelly Club, with Catherine Casey, Laois Heritage Officer, Colm Flynn, Archaeologist and Jethro Sheen, Sheen Stoneworks at Kilmanman Church, Clonaslee. Photo: Alf Harvey

Catherine Casey, Heritage Officer with Laois County Council said “the support of the Creative Ireland programme was crucial in getting this conservation work started and the aim of the project – in addition to saving the medieval fabric of the church – was to build on the sense of place associated with Kilmanman to develop the capacity and resilience of the local community. The project has been enormously successful in this, and in addition to impressive local fundraising, the local people have been on hand to help with all aspects of the work, with the community assisting with management of vegetation, providing water and weathered stone, helping to interpret the archaeology and showing huge hospitality to the conservation team.”

She continued “ On behalf of Laois County Council and the project team, I’d like to thank most sincerely the Kilmanman Restoration Committee, Fr O’Reilly, Chris Horan, Tommy Kelly, David Brickley, Fred Mathews and Denis Feighery, the Clonaslee Graveyard Committee represented by Denis Feighery, The High Nelly Club Clonaslee, the Local Employment Scheme and Caitriona Cashin of Clonaslee Development Association and the many people living near Kilmanman who donated money and also gave so freely of their time to help.”

Fred Mathews, Chris Horan and Tommy Kelly at Kilmanman Church, Clonaslee. Photo Alf Harvey (Missing from Photo Fr O’Reilly, David Brickley and Denis Feighery)

The work this year was planned by Conservation Engineer Aoife Murphy working with David Kelly Partnership Consulting Engineers and overseen by archaeologist Colm Flynn. The contract to carry out the highly skilled lime mortar work and masonry conservation was awarded to Jethro Sheen of Sheen Stonework in Gort Co Galway.

Conservation Management Plan

In addition to the practical conservation work on site this year, the Kilmanman group was successful in sourcing Heritage Council support for a full Conservation Management Plan on the site and this was also started this year, with Conservation Architect Richard McLoughlin working with archaeologist Colm Flynn to carry out a measured survey of the site, and an analysis of the known history to date. The community hopes that phase II of the Conservation Plan will be completed in 2021, if funding is available.

Kilmanman Medieval Church, Clonaslee. Photo Alf Harvey

The conservation project at Kilmanman will continue in 2021 with conservation of the North Wall high on the priority list for the next step in this important conservation project.

The conservation work at Kilmanman was funded by The Creative Ireland Programme in Laois and Laois County Council. The Conservation Management Plan was funded by the local community and the Heritage Council

16th December 2020
Launch of Abbeyleix Energy Master Plan

Abbeyleix Energy Master plan to be launched by Duncan Stewart

Abbeyleix is on a path to becoming an energy efficient community, guided by the Sustainable Energy Communities programme and the Abbeyleix Climate Action Project.

The Abbeyleix Energy Master plan will be launched by Duncan Stewart on Thursday 17th December at 7.30pm. The launch will be streamed live on the Laois Heritage Forum Facebook Page. Dr Niamh Shaw, Laois’s science communicator in residence, will be joined by well known architect, environmentalist and media personality Duncan Stewart who will help interpret the master plan and discuss opportunities for local climate action.

Also taking part in the discussion will be Mark Robertson of Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) with details of funding available for householders who want to make their homes more energy efficient.

The event is part of the Abbeyleix Climate Action project, a project of Creative Ireland Laois in Partnership with the Creative Ireland Programme 2017-2022, Laois County Council, Midlands Science and Abbeyleix Tidy Towns.

15th December 2020