Offaly County Council marked a historic milestone on Friday, March 21st, with the launch of its first-ever Offaly Biodiversity Action Plan 2025-2030 at the Offaly Biodiversity Conference, held at the Tullamore Court Hotel. The event, which had been booked out for weeks, brought together over 150 delegates, including community leaders, environmental experts, policymakers, and biodiversity enthusiasts, to celebrate and commit to the protection and enhancement of Offaly’s natural heritage.
The conference was opened by Ricky Whelan, Offaly County Council’s Biodiversity Officer, with Leas Chathaoirleach Cllr. Oliver Bryant, and Chief Executive Anna Marie Delaney of Offaly County Council, officially launching the plan.
The Offaly Biodiversity Action Plan 2025-2030 sets out 53 priority actions across five strategic objectives: Surveys and Monitoring, Actions for Biodiversity, Invasive Alien Species, Building Resilience, and Awareness and Engagement. The plan aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals and the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, reflecting Offaly’s commitment to global environmental targets while addressing local challenges.
Ricky Whelan, Biodiversity Officer, emphasised the collaborative nature of the plan:
“this plan is not just the work of Offaly County Council, the Biodiversity Working Group and Heritage Forum. It is the result of collaboration—of individuals, community groups, environmental organisations, professional bodies and landowners who offered their views and shared knowledge during two extensive public and stakeholder consultation phases. To each I extend my deepest gratitude, your submissions have shaped and strengthened this plan.”
Leas Chathaoirleach of Offaly County Council Cllr. Oliver Bryant highlighted the importance of community involvement:
“Nature belongs to everyone, and through collaborative projects like the Offaly Barn Owl Project and the forthcoming Hares Corner Project, we are proving that nature conservation and community can thrive hand-in-hand. This plan is a testament to Offaly’s leadership in bridging global ambition with local action.”
Chief Executive of Offaly County Council Anna Marie Delaney underscored the significance of the plan for future generations:
“Today, Offaly County Council takes a decisive step forward in ensuring nature in Offaly thrives for generations. This plan, our first Local Authority Biodiversity Action Plan, is a testament to collaboration. It reflects the voices of community groups, farmers, landowners, agencies, and experts, and it outlines how we will build climate resilience, combat invasive species, and reconnect fragmented ecosystems.”
Virginia Teehan, Chief Executive of the Heritage Council, also addressed the conference, welcoming the new plan and emphasizing its importance:
“The Offaly Biodiversity Action Plan represents a vital step in translating national biodiversity policy into local actions, reflecting Offaly’s distinctive landscapes, rich natural heritage, and engaged communities. The integrated, holistic approach to heritage embraced by Offaly County Council is particularly inspiring, drawing on community input, expert knowledge, and policy guidance to chart a course for sustainable, impactful conservation.”
The conference featured a series of engaging presentations and discussions, highlighting the urgent need for action to address biodiversity loss and climate change. The conference schedule included an opening presentation by Claudia Pascalli who gave an engaging talk on the results of the Offaly Hedgerow Survey 2024.
The morning break was followed by a trio of presentations on the topics of citizen science, invasive newts and communities delivering for biodiversity. Rachel McKenna opened with a captivating talk, demonstrating the rich diversity of species we can find all around us. Rob Gandola introduced delegates to the ever-increasing threat of Alpine Newts, a non-native species of newt that can spread rapidly, negatively impacting our native ecosystems. Pat Foley and Karen Carruthers gave an inspiring talk on how Geashill Tidy Towns and community have taken a leading role in creating space for nature in their village and how it is showing dividends.
In the afternoon session, the conference heard from Tóchar Project Manager Shirley Clerkin and Owen Murphy Project Manager from the Breeding Wader EIP, two National Parks and Wildlife Service initiatives helping to to restore wetlands and to bolster breeding wading bird populations in the midlands and further afield. The day concluded with talks on two upcoming projects taking place in the county this year. Caroline Lalor, of Wetland Survey Ireland, discussed how they will complete a review of Offaly’s wetlands and create a map that will form part of the Offaly ecological network map which will help inform conservation initiatives and strategy decisions overtime.
The final slot of the day went to Fionn Doyle-Chowen of the Burrenbeo Trust. Fionn spoke about The Hares Corner Project which offers landowners a free of charge and hassle-free opportunity to create new spaces for nature on farms, in schools and in other suitable spaces. The project is open to applicants in Offaly until the end of March, applications can be made online via the hares Corner webpage.
Further highlights included, displays by The Offaly Barn Owl Project, a father and son team, Christy and Declan Franks who assist landowners with getting suitable Barn Owl nest boxes installed on their property. The Irish Peatland Conservation Council and The NPWS Clara Bog were also on hand to represent and advocate for peatland restoration.
The overwhelming interest in the conference, with tickets booking out weeks in advance, reflects the growing public awareness and commitment to biodiversity conservation in Offaly.
In his closing remarks and borrowing the words of Leas Chathaoirleach Cllr. Oliver Bryant’s earlier speech, Ricky Whelan said “The launch of the Offaly Biodiversity Action Plan 2025-2030 is just the beginning of a collective journey to protect and enhance Offaly’s natural heritage. Together, we can ensure that Offaly remains a beacon of biodiversity, where wildflowers fill the callow lands, swifts fill the skies, and our rivers are teeming with life. “
