Norah Casey grew up in the Phoenix Park, her father and grandfather were park rangers. Growing up, Norah worked for a period of time in the quarantine section of Dublin Zoo helping to raise gorillas. Norah cites this early experience with animals as the foundation for her love of animals. Norah now works closely with the ISPCA to encourage people to adopt animals. At 17, Norah moved from Dublin to Glasgow to study nursing. After sometime, Norah decided she needed a career change and began studying journalism and television production at Harlow College and Ealing College, respectively. Norah went on to work for several well known publications, including The Irish Post, before moving back to Ireland to start her own company.
Business career
Norah began her publishing career at the age of 28, when she was still working as a nurse. She is the founder of award-winning company, Harmonia. An Irish publishing house behind such titles including, Irish Tatler, Woman's Way and U Magazine. In November 2017, it was announced that Norah had closed a deal with US-based publishing company Irish Central to sell six of Harmonia's titles to the company. Norah would remain on the board of each of the titles in an executive role. Norah still publishes Ireland's best selling Women's weekly magazine, 'Woman's Way,' along with several other contracted magazine publications.
Broadcasting career
''Dragon's Den''
Norah joined the panel of Dragons' Den in 2011 for two series.
Norah’s Traveller Academy was an RTÉ2 show where Casey advised young ambitious Irish Traveller women who all wanted to go down certain career paths. She helped them on their journey to creating and sustaining jobs in a country where they deal with prejudice on a regular basis.
Norah married, broadcaster, Richard Hannaford on New Year's Eve 1996. They had one child together, a son, Dara, in 1998. After a short battle with cancer, Richard died on 23 October 2011. Norah was a guest on the Late Late Show on the 26th of May 2017. During this appearance Norah provided powerful testimony of the abuse that she suffered at the hands of her first husband. Since this announcement, Norah has worked closely with domestic violence charities, including Women's Aid, most notably on their campaign #TooIntoYou.
