This piece originally appeared on LaoisToday in August 2020.
As a county, we're obviously not Kerry or Kilkenny or Dublin. We don't have countless All Irelands to our name.
But we have had some great days in Croke Park.
From a Leinster...
This is an extract from Growing Pains and Growing Up, John Whelan's book celebrating 40 years in Journalism. It originally appeared on LaoisToday in October 2018.
Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colours
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you...
Offaly 3-20 Laois 6-10
1981 Leinster SHC semi-final
Imagine scoring 6-10 in a Leinster championship semi-final and not winning.
Imagine being a point up with a minute of normal time remaining.
Imagine having a chance to go ahead again after Offaly's Pat Carroll...
A Star of the Future, a Young Lad or a Former Great?
People dedicate their lives to their GAA team and the beauty of it all is that a local club is as welcoming to an eight-week-old as it is...
Below are the recent local deaths.
May they rest in peace.
Kathleen Humphries (née Higgins)
Phibsborough, Dublin/Portlaoise, Laois/Maynooth, Kildare
The death occurred of Kathleen Humphries (1928-2021) (née Higgins,) at Maryfield Nursing Home, Chapelizod, Dublin 20. Late of 13, Great Western Villas Phibsborough, Dublin...
Talk and memories of school days always bring out the nostalgic side in all of us.
And the photographic series that Alf Harvey carried out in 2000 and 2001 for the Nationalist newspaper really captured some gems as he visited schools all...
There have been three further Coronavirus-related deaths and 457 new cases according to figures released by the health authorities today.
This evening’s figures come as vaccination doses across the country approach the million mark.
There is a two-day lag in the...
The Hearty Boys from Portarlington have recently released a brand new song!
Fran Hearty is one of the members of the group behind the track and he joined Paul Downey on The Midweek Podcast to chat about the new song,...
On this week's Property Watch we take a look at some of the homes currently for sale around the county for around €175,000.
We feature houses in Portlaoise, Portarlington and Mountrath as well as an apartment in Portlaoise.
In each instance...
During the first lockdown, Maurice O’Carroll created a short documentary film about Mountrath called ‘Mountrath Unlocked’.
He joined Paul Downey on LaoisToday's The Midweek Podcast and spoke about what it was like speaking with business owners during a pandemic and...
There are a number of jobs in Laois being advertised on LaoisToday at the moment.
Below we have listed all of the roles advertised on LaoisToday in the last two weeks. In each instance you can click through to the...
Annanough 2-9 Park 1-4
1978 Laois IFC Final
Annanough and Park-Ratheniska have a strong rivalry, one that included senior county final battles in the 1950s and an intermediate final showdown in 1978.
While both had won two senior titles each in the...
Given the demands of inter-county GAA, it's a rare thing for someone to have a long career without some kind of break along the way.
But for Laois's John O'Loughlin, who is behind only Ross Munnelly and Padraig Clancy in...
Below are the recent local deaths.
May they rest in peace.
Jim Hyland
The Sawmills, Ballybrittas, Laois / Geashill, Offaly
Formerly of Rathfeston, Geashill, County Offaly. Peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family. Loving father of the late Attracta. Deeply regretted...
Ballyroan musician, Brian Lalor, has launched a new EP in aid of the Cuisle Cancer Support Centr.
Brian was joined host Paul Downey on The Midweek Podcast to also discuss his music and how the pandemic impact on the live...
A controlled pedestrian crossing is set to be constructed on a busy road near a Laois primary school.
At a recent meeting of the Graiguecullen/Portarlington Municipal District, Cllr Padraig Fleming called for safety works to be carried out on the...
There have been 2 further Coronavirus-related deaths and 511 new cases, according to figures released by the health authorities today.
The Department of Health has not provided a county by county breakdown of today's cases.
Therefore, we do not know how...
Did you know one of the most powerful things you possess is your breath?
No, I’m not telling you to stop eating garlic or onions! I’m talking about the fact your breath is quite literally one of the best tools...
A Laois Garda who appeared on an RTE TV show with a Laois comedian last month is eager to try his hand at comedy once again.
Host Paul Downey was joined on The Midweek Podcast by Laois Community Garda, Joe...
1 - Laois Abroad: Meet the brothers who traded The Heath for Bulgaria to follow their dreams
The fifth instalment of our Laois Abroad series for 2021 brought us the story of two brothers living in Eastern Europe.
Laois people that...
This week's guest on the LaoisToday Podcast is Aimee Alexander (or Denise Deegan to give her her proper name), author of The Little Book of Irishisms, 'Know the Irish through our Words'.
She talks us through some of her favourite...
The Irish Grand National takes place in Fairyhouse on Easter Monday - and there is significant Laois interest.
Mountrath based trainer Liam Cusack runs Snugsborough Benny in the showpiece event at the Meath track.
This will be the second time that...
The Portarlington Business Association are aiming to combat crime and anti-social behaviour in the town by erecting CCTV cameras.
The recently formed business group are hoping to follow the example of Mountmellick - which has seen a great reduction in...
It has been a tough year since last Easter, and many people, Christians and others, have found ways of making the best of a bad job by helping one another in ways that we haven’t been used to doing...
Below are the recent local deaths.
May they rest in peace.
Pauline Magee (née Maher)
4 Corrig Lodge, Portarlington, Laois
Suddenly. Sadly missed by her loving daughters Sarah and her partner John, Rebecca and her partner Niall, grandchildren Robin, Piper and Ivy, brothers,...
Gardaí are appealing to the Laois public to change their habits and ensure they are locking their cars and removing any valuable items to avoid thefts.
Speaking on the LaoisToday Midweek Podcast, Crime Prevention Officer for Laois/Offaly, Garda Sergeant, Graham...
Brian Killeen has been involved in music for many years and is currently working on his own music career as well as working with the recently founded band, Shadybird.
Brian joined the Midweek Podcast recently and chatted to presenter Paul...
Mike Quirke has had the most unusual two seasons as Laois senior football manager.
He was no length in the job in 2020 when the Coronavirus pandemic hit, meaning that for most of that year he didn't see his players...
There have been 8 further Coronavirus-related deaths and 591 new cases, according to figures released by the health authorities today.
4 deaths occurred in March, 4 in February.
The median age of those who died was 74 years and the age...
The case for additional car parking spaces has been made for an expanding Laois school.
The plight of Rath NS was raised at a recent meeting of the Graiguecullen-Portarlington Municipal District.
Cllr Paschal McEvoy called on the Council to meet with...
