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Alan Hartnett

Alan Hartnett
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Stradbally native Alan Hartnett is a graduate of Knockbeg College who has worked in the local and national media since 2008. Alan has a BA in Economics, Politics and Law and an MA in Journalism from DCU. His happiest moment was when Jody Dillon scored THAT goal in the Laois senior football final in 2016.

Laois secondary school launches fundraising campaign to purchase new bus

Portlaoise College has launched a new fundraising initiative, Step Up for the School Bus, with the aim of raising €100,000 to purchase a much-needed...

South Leinster Colleges JHC ‘D’ Final: Mountmellick Community School march to glory following stunning...

Mountmellick Community School 7-25 Presentation College Carlow/Gaelcholaiste Ceatharloch 1-7  South Leinster Colleges JHC 'D' Final  Mountmellick Community School have been crowned South Leinster Colleges JHC 'B'...

In Pictures: €100k raised as The Heath GAA host successful Lip Sync Battle fundraiser

The community of The Heath came together in the Heitage Hotel in Killenard on Friday night for a Lip Sync Battle that raised a...

Laois IFA President encourages farmers to attend Independent Ireland Mercosur protest in Athlone

IFA President Francie Gorman says his group will take up the invitation to attend and speak at the Independent Ireland Mercosur protest in Athlone...
House Prices are on the rise

Average price of a house in Laois reaches €296,000 – up 15% on last...

In Laois, the average price of a three-bedroom semi-detached house in the final quarter of 2025 was €296,000, up 15% on a year ago. This...
Dunamase College Young Scientist

History made as four Dunamase College students qualify for finals of Stripe Young Scientist...

Four students from Dunamase College have qualified for the prestigious STRIPE Young Scientist Exhibition, which will take place in the RDS, Dublin, from January...

Young Laois man set to do skydive to raise money for Youth Suicide Prevention...

A young Laois man is setting out to raise awareness and crucial funds for Youth Suicide Prevention Ireland by completing a Skydive For Life. Darragh...

Three groups from Heywood CS selected to present at finals of Stripe Young Scientist...

Three groups from Heywood Community School are part of 600 finalists who were selected from 1500 initial entries to showcase at the finals of...

Planning approval secured for Midlands Hospice which will secure palliative care for patients in...

Offaly County Council has officially approved planning permission for a 20-bed Midlands Specialist Palliative Care Unit on Arden Lane. This, according to the HSE, marks...

In Pictures: Laois Leaving Cert students complete memorable trip to Paris

18 Leaving Cert French students from Heywood CS, along with Ms O'Shea and Ms Guest flew to Paris just before Christmas. There, the students got...
Garda General new new new

‘Cocaine doesn’t make you a better driver … it makes you more likely to...

Laois Gardai have issued a warning to those who are driving in the county while under the influence of cocaine. On Saturday, Gardai detected a...

In Pictures: Battle of the Courts Doubles Wallball tournament a big success

Clough-Ballacolla Handball Club once again delivered a tremendous spectacle of Wallball (one-wall handball) with its annual Battle of the Courts Doubles Tournament. The event’s core...

Laois Rose tops the leaderboard following Week 1 of Dancing With The Stars

2025 was a brilliant year for Katelyn Cummins and 2026 has continued in that vein it seems. The Laois Rose, who was crowned 2025 Rose...

Notable names return as Laois hurling team named ahead of Walsh Cup opener against...

The GAA inter-county season begins this weekend with the Laois hurlers in action in the Walsh Cup. The hurlers are in Rathdowney on Sunday for...

In Pictures: All smiles as St Joseph’s open brand new floodlit track

There was great excitement over Christmas as a Laois GAA club officially opened its brand new floodlit walking track. On Saturday, December 27, St Joseph's...

Plenty of new faces as Laois football team named ahead of O’Byrne Cup opener...

The GAA inter-county season begins on Saturday with the Laois footballers in action in the O'Byrne Cup. Justin McNulty's charges welcome Dublin to Park-Ratheniska for...
Dail

Laois TD accuses the government of ‘breaking the law’ over Assessment of Needs situation

A Laois TD has pressed the government to take action to address the 'unacceptable waiting times' for children to have an assessment of need...
Ballacolla and Ballyroan

Tractor Runs planned for St Stephen’s Day in Ballyroan and New Year’s Day in...

Two Laois villages have announced plans to host events on St Stephen's Day and New Year's Day. Up first, you will have the chance to...

Knockbeg unveil fundraising plans as work begins on €500,000 multi-pitch facility

Knockbeg College have unveiled fundraising plans for their brand new multi-pitch playing facility. Speaking to LaoisToday, principal John Maye explained how the new two-pitch development...
Laois County Council General

Laois County Council confirm details of out of hours service for Christmas period

Laois County Council have confirmed details of their out of hours service for the Christmas period. Laois County Council will close to the public from...
Classroom

13 Laois schools awarded €29,006 for sustainable development projects

€29,006 has been awarded to 13 Laois schools for sustainable development projects. These schools successfully proposed their 2025/2026 sustainability projects for funding under the Education...
Dail

870 children in Laois and Offaly stuck in ‘long Assessment of Needs backlog’

Fine Gael TD Willie Aird has warned that families in Laois and Offaly are facing unacceptable delays in securing an Assessment of Need for...

Mountmellick and Ballinakill receive €644k in funding under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme

Mountmellick and Ballinakill have been approved for funding under the government’s Town and Village Renewal Scheme. According to Laois TD Sean Fleming, both areas are...

In Pictures: History made as first ever ‘toy swap’ in Laois a big success

The first-ever Toy Swap in Laois was held on Saturday, 20 December 2025 in St Mary Hall in Portlaoise. Families from across the county attended...

In Pictures: Laois PPN presents Climate Action Project at IEN Winter Conference

Laois PPN were honoured to present on the Laois PPN Climate Action Project at the recent Irish Environmental Network (IEN) Winter Conference. This took place...

In Pictures: Creative painting project ‘Through Our Eyes’ launched at Portlaoise Library

A unique creative painting project titled “Through Our Eyes” was officially launched at Portlaoise Library on December 18. This brought together education, healthcare, and industry...

Workshop for Midlands eco and wellness tourism businesses to take place in Laois

Midlands based eco and wellness tourism businesses are invited to attend an exciting networking and development event at Bloom HQ in Mountrath, on January...

Draws made for Leinster football and hurling championships at U-20 and minor

The draws for the Leinster football and hurling championships at U-20 and minor have been made. In football, both Laois teams have been drawn in...

New planning exemptions will ‘cut red tape and reduce costs for farmers’ says Laois...

Laois Fine Gael TD and Leas Cathaoirleach of the Committee on Agriculture, Willie Aird, has welcomed the introduction of new planning exemption regulations, which...

Laois County Council sells final industrial enterprise site in Portarlington for €170,000

Laois County Council have decided to sell the final of four industrial enterprise sites in Portarlington for a sum of €170,000. The site, measuring 0.476...