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
Weekend Read: Arts activity blooms in Laois village with plans for further initiatives
The scenic Slieve Bloom village of Clonaslee has enjoyed a groundswell of activity in the arts over the past twelve months and there are...
Laois teenager to represent Ireland at American Quarter Horse Youth World Cup
A 13-year-old girl who lives in Vicarstown will represent Ireland at the American Quarter Horse Youth World Cup in Texas from June 29 to...
A warm welcome for Ukrainian community in Clonaslee
As they think of loved ones in their war-ravaged homeland, two Ukrainian families have expressed their gratitude for the warm welcome they have received...
Growing number of Brazilians deciding to make lovely Laois their home
It was a sad start to the New Year for the Brazilian community in Laois and further afield, particularly Cork, as news of the...
From the Archives: Meet the Laois woman who injected some creativity into her retirement...
Ahead of the National Ploughing Championships in September, we caught up with Kate Ramsbottom, the former anaesthetist who went down a different route in...
From the Archives: Yvonne McKeon Interview: Taking on the family business at 21, heading...
When the sudden death of her father saw her drop her plans to work in New York to instead run the family business –...
From the Archives: From the Borris Road to a Dublin art gallery owner –...
In August of 2022, Caroline Allen interviewed Portlaoise man Kevin Kavanagh about his career and his very successful art gallery in London.
Commuting from Mountrath...
From the Archives: Thomas Cosby: ‘It’s a working weekend for us and we have...
Ahead of the return of the Electric Picnic in September, we caught up with Thomas Cosby, owner of the venue, Stradbally Hall.
“I missed it...
2022 Remembered: Meet the Laois man proudly flying our flag and making a big...
Ballinakill native Mike Dunphy was honoured by Laois County Council in September, acknowledging the work he has done in representing and promoting the county...
2022 Remembered: A legend of the Irish dancing scene – the incredible career of...
Back in August we looked at Gabrielle Lynam, the Portlaoise woman who has been a legend of Irish dancing.
When Portlaoise woman Gabrielle Lynam was...
2022 Remembered: Back in business: Laois cake shop owner delighted to re-open after battling...
A major good news story from July as Sarah Walsh made a triumphant return to her passion project, Miscellany Cakes.
From crunching the numbers to...
Over the pub – PJ Kavanagh on what it’s like living in the centre...
A seismic shift in building regulations is needed to make good use of the empty upper floors on our high streets, architect Hugh Wallace...
In Pictures: Book charting the history over Laois’s most iconic landmark launched
Helping readers see in their minds’ eye what Dunamase and Laois were like centuries ago, catching their imaginations, was the aim of the editor...
Minister for Health provides strong assurance on Portlaoise Hospital future
“We are in the business of investing in this hospital. We are in the business of growing services in this hospital. We are in...
Laois man’s new research could help stop the spread of cancer cells around the...
A 30-year-old Mountmellick-born lecturer in biomedical engineering at the University of Galway has just had his research, which gives new insights into how cancer...
Abbeyleix man set to scale the heights with herculean effort for Movember
An Abbeyleix man is set to undertake the daunting four peaks challenge in under 30 hours which consists of climbing the four highest peaks...
Agriculture Minister pledges to attend Laois IFA AGM if reappointed on visit to local...
Agriculture Minister, Charlie McConalogue, pledged to attend the AGM of Laois IFA in January if reappointed in the cabinet reshuffle, during a visit to...
Kind-hearted 75-year-old Laois woman set to take part in Concern Worldwide Fast this weekend
Seventy-five-year-old fundraiser and former aid worker Alice Culliton from Mountmellick will take part in her annual 24 hour fast for Concern Worldwide this Saturday,...
A long way from home – the Brazilian native happily making home and life...
“When I moved to Portlaoise, I found the meaning of community, not only the Brazilian community, but everyone I met was kind and helpful...
They’re back! The brilliant 65 Kitchen Choir will be on stage again next month
They started out at the ‘Mass on the Grass’ at Marian Avenue, Portlaoise, and have been performing every year apart from the last two...
Portlaoise Musical Society continue to lead the way as they prepare for return to...
The award-winning Portlaoise Musical Society will premiere as the first Irish musical society to perform with an Irish sign language interpreter at its show...
The story of the Laois man playing a key role in the London Irish...
A Laois man is playing a key role in the planning of the new multi-million pound London Irish Centre which is scheduled to open...
Laois man shares his experience following trip to Kenya to learn about farming practices
Luggacurren man George Ramsbottom, who is a dairy specialist with Teagasc, recently visited Kenya to gain a better understanding of farming practices there.
In conjunction...
The story of Portlaoise man Shane Brennan and his award-winning short horror film
The sense of unease of being stopped at a traffic light on a rural road in the dead of night even though there is...
Emer Dunne Interview: Touring Laois, releasing an album and losing her number one supporter
Mountmellick singer/songwriter Emer Dunne has just completed a tour of Laois, with free shows having taken place in Clonaslee, Camross and Ballylinan.
“We had three...
Laois-based academic author publishes new book on ‘Mental Health for Milennials’
A Mountmellick-based academic author has been working in recent years with a west of Ireland-based publishing house that promotes work highlighting the impact and...
The Stradbally-based, Dutch-born, artist telling the story of the Irish Sugar Beet industry
A Dutch born artist who is currently based at the Arthouse, Stradbally, has depicted the closure of Carlow sugar beet factory in her installation...
Laois teenager finishes third in Miss Bikini Ireland national contest
Ballyroan student Sinead McEvoy was placed third in the Miss Bikini Ireland competition recently.
The 19-year-old who studies electronic engineering at Maynooth University, has taken...
Yvonne McKeon Interview: Taking on the family business at 21, heading up Laois Chamber...
When the sudden death of her father saw her drop her plans to work in New York to instead run the family business –...
The story of a Laois-based couple developing their own range of hot sauces
A Portarlington-based couple is perking up palates with a range of hot sauces under the O’Mimo’s Chilli Madness brand.
Seamus and Mimo O’Flynn of the...