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The week that was: Our most read stories of the past seven days

1 – Gardai appeal for information following series of burglaries in Laois

Gardai are appealing for information following a series of burglaries which took place in Laois last week.

Four properties were broken into in Stradbally, Borris-In-Ossory and Portlaoise in the early part of the week.

2 – Majestic Maher leads the way as Clough-Ballacolla defeat Kilmacud Crokes to reach Croke Park Leinster final

Clough-Ballacolla are off to Croke Park after they defeated Kilmacud Crokes in O’Moore Park last weekend.

Declan Laffan’s charges were immense once again as they upset the odds and qualified for the Leinster final this Sunday.

It was another amazing performance with Stephen Maher once again leading the way 1-8 of their total.

3 – Portlaoise County Councillor slams Supermac’s boss for ‘slagging off workers’

Frontline workers and retail staff deserve recognition for all their hard work instead of being insulted by a multimillionaire whose fortune was made by the Irish people.

So said Cllr Noel Tuohy at this week’s meeting of the Portlaoise Municipal District, referring to remarks made by Supermac’s owner Pat McDonagh in which the fast food magnate said the Pandemic Unemployment Payment has caused people to “get a bit lazy”.

Cllr Tuohy proposed a motion calling on Laois County Council to extend Christmas wishes and gratitude to all frontline staff, retail workers and all categories of workers who will be working over the holiday period at the end of a difficult year.

4 – Laois farmer honoured at the 2021 Irish Malting Barley awards

Laois farmer Eugene Ryan from outside Portlaoise has been announced as the winner of the inaugural Guinness Sustainability Award at the 2021 Irish Malting Barley Awards.

The annual awards, which have been run since 1954, acknowledge excellence in malting barley production as well as promoting sustainability in the supply chain.

5 – In Pictures: Portlaoise Hospital opens new Viewing Room and Family Facility associated with the Mortuary

Portlaoise Hospital has officially opened the doors of its new Viewing Room and Family Facility associated with the mortuary.

Development of the new facility involved the redesigning and refurbishment of the viewing area of the mortuary.

The facility will provide an appropriate space for bereaved families and includes extending the existing facilities to make provision for a separate waiting area, a new viewing room and an entrance porch.

6 – Call made for derelict former convent in Laois town to be turned into enterprise hub

A call has been made to turn a derelict former convent in a Laois town into a vibrant digital enterprise hub.

The issue of the old Presentation Convent on Main Street in Stradbally came before a recent meeting of the Graiguecullen-Portarlington Municipal District.

The building, constructed back in 1880 and one time a home to nuns, has not been in use for almost 20 years.

7 – Laois Councillor calls for halt on new library project as estimated costs reach €6.5 million

A Laois County Councillor has called for the ongoing building of a new library in Portlaoise to be halted.

Fine Gael Councillor Aisling Moran made the call after it was revealed that the estimated cost of the project is now €6.5 million.

8 – Laois teacher recognised at Global Undergraduate Awards for study and research

A Laois primary school teacher has been recognised at a prestigious awards ceremony for the strength of her study and research.

Mary Immaculate College graduate Laura Phelan has been Highly Commended at the recent Global Undergraduate Awards.

The Scoil Bhride in Portlaoise teacher, who hails from Castletown, graduated this year from the B Ed in Education and Psychology at MIC.

9 – A walk-out, an adjournment and a withdrawal as live streaming row causes chaos in Laois County Council

A debate on whether or not Laois County Council should live stream their meetings ended in a ferocious row in the chamber today.

The matter arose when Sinn Fein Councillor Aidan Mullins queried why a particular group of people were not permitted access to view the December’s monthly meeting online – and it resulted in incredible scenes.

10 – ‘Dreadful’ response from council on Portlaoise pool reopening as leisure centre remains shut

Portlaoise councillors have slammed as “disappointing” and “dreadful” the response from Laois County Council on reopening the county town’s leisure centre, with some lamenting the fact that most children have not had a swimming lesson in two years.

At the recent meeting of the Portlaoise Municipal District, Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald proposed a motion calling on Laois County Council to give an update on the opening of Portlaoise Leisure Centre.