John Whelan
John Whelan has been a journalist, commentator, columnist, political analyst, campaigner, politician and publisher ever since he was 17. Having been Editor of the Leinster Express, Offaly Express and the Leinster Leader he has also contributed extensively on a number of issues to all of the country's flagship titles and programmes including the Irish Press, The Irish Independent, the Star, the Sunday Independent, the Sunday Business Post, The Sunday Times and Prime Time. He is founder of Communicate Ireland a PR, public affairs, event management and media services company.
He is the author of the popular camping blog, Vanhalla - Camper Heaven.
Laois Sports Hall fiasco – no application was ever made
Ambitious plans and high hopes for a new modern, purpose-built, state-of-the-art indoor sports facility for Laois have come unstuck.
Local public representatives in Portlaoise did...
In Pictures: The Laois School Christmas Concert that really Rocks
‘Tis the season to be jolly and you couldn’t get a more joyous, fun or entertaining an occasion than The Rock National School Christmas...
Blockbuster show is a silver lining for Laois gallerist
In musical terms it is the equivalent of a greatest hits album; in sporting parlance it would be a testimonial to mark such a...
Laois street leagues are streets ahead and success is a different goal
Mens sana in corpore sano is the old Latin saying but its basic message is a simple truth that has stood the test of...
John Whelan: Fine Gael now at the mercy of Murphy’s Law
Murphy’s Law states that anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.
Add in to that mix Verona Murphy, Eoghan Murphy and Dara Murphy and...
Calls for parental alienation to be categorised as a form of abuse
It is not the kind of topic that you see raised at Council meetings every day, but the complex and corrosive issue of parental...
Green light for new homes but only after divisive vote
It took a divisive vote to clear the way for six new houses planned for Mountmellick.
While the vote itself was divisive it was also...
Former Town Commissioner and one of county’s oldest citizens both pass away
The deaths have taken place of one of the county’s most senior citizens in his 102nd year and also of a former Mountmellick Town...
In Pictures: Behind every great painting is a good story
For the third year in succession the Gemma Guihan pre-Christmas exhibition has proved a winner and once again a full house and a sell-out...
‘All we want for Christmas is assurances on our hospital’
“All we want for Christmas are assurances on our hospital and our A&E, that would be the best Christmas present ever for the people...
WATCH: Laois ballad singer set for RTE documentary
Ballyfin ballad singer and songwriter, Paddy Fitzpatrick is to feature on an RTE Radio 1 documentary this Sunday evening. The programme will be broadcast...
Bashful official left blushing as he is eulogised before his departure
For a man that shuns the limelight, one of the county’s most respected and highly regarded public officials must have had to pinch himself...
HAP hazard being used to doctor housing waiting lists
A proviso of the system whereby those requiring homes are removed from the housing waiting lists once they accept a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP)...
Prime Portlaoise property secured in €1.4m sale
A prime parcel of land in close proximity to Portlaoise town centre has been acquired in a sale for €1.4m.
The site is located on...
Portlaoise parking row alleges heavy-handed ticketing
A row flared up at Laois County Council this week with accusations of heavy-handed ticketing and parking fines being levied in the town centre...
Concerns lead to calls to put 5G roll-out on hold
Public concerns around potential health hazards of 5G technology have led to calls for its rollout to be suspended until these matters can be...
Spate of objections to new Mountmellick housing
There is a spate of opposition after being lodged against plans to provide new housing in Mountmellick.
Dozens of objections have been made by other...
Oh dear, oh deer, costly collision for Laois politician leads to calls for a...
Laois County Council have agreed to install signage on the R423 at Ballyfin to alert motorists to the potential danger of deer on the...
News Diary: Parking at the Rock; Rathdowney Cemetery Works; Good news for Rosenallis
Laois County Council are currently pursing possible locations at the Rock of Dunamaise for car parking facilities and interpretative signage.
Cllr Thomasina Connell welcomed the...
To bin or not to bin, that is the question
A call has been made on Laois County Council to replace all the rubbish bins in one Laois town with new solar bins in...
Calls for urgent action of road safety in Laois village
The local authority have been urged to intervene to tackle a series of road safety issues in a Laois village.
On foot of a recent...
Calls to extend free-parking slot in Laois town
A strong case has been put to Laois County Council to extend the free-parking period in Mountmellick.
While there was broad based support for the...
Shards of glass falling on street of Laois town
The dangers to pedestrians and passers-by in one Laois town were forcibly brought home at a Council meeting this week.
Local area elected representatives once...
Laois mother scathing of State as swine flu test case is settled
A Laois mother has been scathing today in her castigation of the State for the adversarial stance it had taken against her family in...
Laois is running out of space … in cemeteries
It’s a grave situation. Laois is losing the plots.
Space is running out in some of the counties 27 local authority managed cemeteries.
Nowhere is the...
Abbeyleix Calendar is for the birds … the bugs, bees and the butterflies
2020 is just around the corner and Laois is to get another superb local calendar to mark the occasion.
This time it’s not calendar girls...
Not everyone happy as Portlaoise gets lion’s share of funding
A significant amount of infrastructural investment is earmarked by the Council for Portlaoise over the next 3 years.
The projections presented in the local authority’s...
For one night only – Gemma Guihan exhibition is back in Town
Award winning artist Gemma Guihan will hold an exhibition of her paintings for one night only in The Pantry, Portlaoise on Thursday, November 28 at...
Housing tops the Laois priority list for 2020
With just over €78 million at its disposal Laois County Council has set out its stall and agreed on its spending priorities for next...
Peace prevails as €78m Laois Budget is approved
They met at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month and Laois County Councillors set aside any political differences or...