Caroline Allen
Caroline Allen is a freelance journalist based in Portlaoise. She has written for numerous local and national publications and lives outside Portlaoise with her husband Martin and sons Evan and Colin
Clonaslee family build on compassion with cycle challenge
A Birmingham-based family with strong Clonaslee connections have organised a cycling challenge from Birmingham to Clonaslee this weekend in memory of their 30-year-old brother,...
‘We want to bring a bit of rawness back to Irish music’: Laois’s Cur...
A self-confessed childhood with its moments of mischief led to brothers Adam and Martin Culleton often being dubbed ‘curs.’
Rather than take umbrage at the...
In the company of Chiral: Meet the Laois punk, metal, rock and dance band...
Laois-based punk, metal, rock and dance band, Chiral, is just back from a flying German tour, supporting ska band The Legendary Hackers.
Chiral officially launched...
The sky is the limit for as Laois teachers set for St Anne’s Special...
A Portarlington woman who is afraid of heights is adopting the mantra ‘Feel the fear and do it anyway’ as she prepares to join...
Weekend Read: ‘Salud’ says Stapo Brown as Lanzarote bar venture shines
“It’s a home away from home,” says Liam ‘Stapo’ Brown of his pub in Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote.
‘Stapo’s’ Kazbar’ is a magnet for many...
Crettyard brothers to lead charity walk for homeless charity in memory of late sister
The family and friends of the late Ann Delaney from Crettyard will undertake a sponsored walk on the morning of Saturday, May 25 to...
To Berlin and back: Laois woman Molly Donnery on forging a creative career
Based between Berlin and Laois, a traditional Irish and contemporary singer and film producer, will release an EP later this year.
Molly Donnery hails from...
‘Don’t let the fear of cancer and chemo stop you from seeking help’ –...
A Ballybrittas woman is sharing her experience of bowel cancer in a bid to increase awareness of the second most common of all cancers...
Weekend Read: Laois artist draws on local scenes for inspiration
Spending summers as a child going around with her maternal grandad, Jim Tyrell, the well known Portlaoise vet, engendered a love of animals in...
Portlaoise woman set to scale the heights for 60th birthday with skydive fundraiser for...
A Portlaoise woman will celebrate her 60th birthday on Saturday, March 30, with a real adrenaline rush - a tandem skydive to raise funds...
Weekend Read: Davie Furey back on track with new album and tour
Covid dashed his plans to tour with his last album ‘Haunted Streets’ but Durrow-based Davie Furey is looking forward to traversing the country to...
Portlaoise College students work to improve job opportunities for adults with autism
After learning that 85 per cent of adults with autism are either unemployed or under-employed, a group of students at Portlaoise College have been...
Laois man and girlfriend set to scale the heights of Kilimanjaro in aid of...
A Timahoe man and his girlfriend are raising funds for the Meningitis Research Foundation.
Micheál Conlan and Kirsha Rice - students at Maynooth University who...
Weekend Read: Timahoe men’s choir hits a high note as they are set for...
“What’s not to like about meeting up with your friends in the pub on a Monday night?” queries Roghan Headen about Timahoe’s new men’s...
Weekend Read: Laois friends demonstrate drive with new food truck business
At a time when many restaurants are closing their doors, two young Laois men have gone against the grain and are expanding.
El Fuego, a...
From Denis O’Brien to London and back – Meet the New Laois Chamber Alliance...
Last week, Laois Chamber Alliance announced that Jackie Carroll has been appointed as their new CEO.
Succeeding Caroline Hofman, Jackie will aim to boost business...
The Laois woman rubbing shoulders with global music stars in Los Angeles
As tour production co-ordinator for Aerosmith and Lionel Richie, Los Angeles-based Fiona Marie Booth is used to rubbing shoulders with artists.
The trailblazing Laois woman...
Lights, camera, action as Portlaoise Panto Group set to take to the stage with...
Brimful of laugh out loud antics, song and dance, Portlaoise Pantomime Group’s production of ‘Cinderella’ will run at the Dunamaise Arts Centre from today,...
Weekend Read: Pioneering Ballyfin farm gives food for thought
"There is a food revolution occurring from the grassroots of farmers up, who are disillusioned with the current farming system. We are leading the...
From the Archives: The Portlaoise man who walked to Spain in memory of his...
This piece was originally published on LaoisToday on August 6, 2022.
A Portlaoise man has gone the distance to remember his beloved sister who died...
From the Archives: The story of the Laois man playing a key role in...
This piece was originally published on LaoisToday on November 12, 2022
A Laois man is playing a key role in the planning of the new...
‘When readers tell me they get lost in my books, I know I have...
A Laois man who for many years worked as a detective Garda, has now turned his hand to crime writing.
Ray Croke’s latest book ‘Bitter...
Laois rural pubs hit by lack of taxi services as numbers closing in the...
Not only do rural Laois pubs face the usual challenges of a fall-off in customers due to tougher drink driving laws and the legacy...
Francie Gorman: ‘If you told me three months ago I’d be where I am...
His son, Tom’s, 10th birthday party at Roll and Bowl, Portlaoise, took more out of him than the previous five months on the IFA...
Portarlington film maker’s heartrending take on Christmas makes for compelling viewing
When acclaimed Portarlington documentary film maker Ken Wardrop was 12 years of age, his maternal grandmother who often stayed with the family, died on...
Tributes paid in Arles NS as long-serving teacher who became acting principal retires
Hailed as an ‘unwavering pillar’ of Arles National School for many years, Ms Catherine Lawlor’s dedication and guidance was highlighted recently as she celebrated...
New CEO of Laois Partnership: ‘The overall aim is to make Laois a better...
“The overall aim of what we do is make Laois a better place to live for all.” That’s the perspective of Caroline Lydon who...
Made in Dagenham: Child’s play at Portlaoise musical
Two local children are enjoying the spotlight as they perform in Portlaoise Musical Society’s ‘Made in Dagenham.’
Talented Oliver Treacy (10) and Aoife Cathcart (9)...
Shock at death of missionary priest Fr Seán Murphy just weeks after golden jubilee
Just a short time after he returned to the Church of the Sacred Heart, Rath, to celebrate his golden jubilee on October 14 last,...
‘Made in Dagenham’: Love of music continues to bring Ballyfin man back to the...
One of the standout talents of Portlaoise Musical Society is Ballyfin native Eoghan Fingleton whose love of music has endured since his childhood.
Eoghan (36),...