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Articles by Johnny Flaherty
Moment in time: Lalor Clan rally in 2008
The Lalor name has a long and proud association with Laois and when the clan held its rally 10 years, ago photographer Alf Harvey was on hand to capture the event. It certainly was a momentous occasion as a former paratrooper and homicide detective was unanimously elevated to the position of Chieftan of the O’Leathloblair clan. The Leinster Express reported that Tom Lawlor, a native of Shanahoe now living in Abbeyleix, was appointed as Chieftain at the 16th annual clan rally.
Proposal to use old phone boxes as community defibrillator points
Old phone boxes have been proposed as the ideal storage location for defibrillators in Laois. Eoin Barry, local area representative for the Labour Party is calling for increased access to defibrillators around county Laois. “Easy access to defibrillators is an important public health priority. We know that when someone experiences a cardiac arrest or heart attack, a defibrillator can be the difference between life and death.
Armed gardaí called to deal with terrifying incident in Portlaoise estate
Armed gardaí were on duty at an estate in Portlaoise over the weekend where violence erupted, resulting in one woman being hospitalised with head injuries. A motion before Today’s meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District from Cllr Mary Sweeney asked the council to address the concerns of some residents at Hillview Drive. She said the situation is very “upsetting for genuine residents”. Due to antisocial behavour, she said it was necessary to have a large garda presence there.
Tender advertised for building of new school
A contractor is being sought for a local school project which has faced delays of 16 years. Fiona O’Loughlin has expressed her delight that a contractor is now being sought for the construction of the new building for St. Paul’s Secondary School in Monasterevin. “This project has been delayed for almost 16 years and it’s great to see considerable progress being made in the last number of months,” she said.
Public meeting to hear of water pollution concerns over ESB substation
Concerned residents will hold a public meeting on Thursday June 21 in Ratheniska Community hall at 8.30 pm to outline their concerns over what they say is an imminent threat of pollution to their local water supply. “The public need to be made aware of the imminent threat of pollution by the developer, Eirgrid, to our source of water supply.
Penalty shoot-out heartbreak for Rosenallis AFC in CCFL Cup final
Rosenallis 1 Birr Town 1 (Pens: Birr Town 4 Rosenallis 1) Combined Counties Cup Final Rosenallis lost out cruelly on penalties to high-flying Birr Town in the CCFL Counties Cup final in Leah Victoria on Saturday evening. The sides were level after extra time and only penalties could separate them after an entertaining encounter. Birr… This article is for Premium Sports Content members only. Subscribe now for €6.99 per month Already a member? Login here App users login here.
Our Pick of the Top Stories of the Week
NEWS Scam The week began with a sophisticated phone scam using a local number. Report of gun seizure There was shock in Portlaoise after reports of a gun being seized from a car by gardaí. Astroturf plans There was a positive news story for the Mountrath area as the local GAA club sought planning permission for an astroturf pitch Portlaoise to gain from Dublin’s housing shortage? Auctioneers claimed that Dublin’s pain could be Portlaoise’s gain on housing.
Local credit union staff all set for Portlaoise Couch to 5K
Work colleagues from People First Credit Union can’t wait to complete their first Couch to 5K in Portlaoise tomorrow, after months of training. In the process they will also be raising money and awareness for Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA), a cause close to their heart. Carol Murphy, marketing and business development executive with People First Credit Union, explains how it all came about.
Storm Emma can't halt Mountrath St Patrick's Day plans
Storm Emma and the Beast from the East couldn’t stop the Mountrath Parade organisers, who have doubled their efforts in preparation for this years St Patrick Parade The organisers said that the Mountrath Parade Committee are leaving no stone unturned in preparation for St Patricks Day.
Laois has one of the lowest disposable incomes in the country
Laois has one of the lowest disposable incomes per person in the country, with the Midlands region recording the second lowest in 2015. According the CSO, the figure for Laois, Offaly, Westmeath and Longford in 2015 was €17,846, €695 more than the previous year but still €2,595 below the national average. Figures show that Laois has the second highest income in the region, ahead of neighbours Offaly and also Longford.
New Portlaoise Library moves a step closer
Tender documents are almost ready for the long-awaited new library in Portlaoise. Laois County Council CEO John Mulholland confirmed the news at the monthly meeting of the council earlier this week. The library will be developed on the former site of Shaws, on Lower Main Street in the town. “The new library is high priority and every quarter that it is pushed out, the costs will get more expensive. We are now on the point of getting tender documents out for the new library.
Breaking: Controversial HSE strategy launch cancelled
The controversial launch of a HSE strategy which included the proposed downgrade of Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise is believed to have been cancelled. “I welcome the reported cancellation today of Dr.Susan O’Reilly’s launch of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group Plan, scheduled for Thursday,” said Deputy Brian Stanley.
Mountmellick flood relief committee issue warning on collections
The Mountmellick Community Flood Support group have asked people to be aware that they are not holding any door-to-door collections and will not approach people for donations. “We did have some reasons for concern,” said Annette Morris Keane who runs a Facebook page to co-ordinate fundraising. “We don’t have specific details but people did message us,” she said.
Jail repeat rural offenders - Renua Ireland
Renua Ireland leader John Leahy has warned the government it is time to fight back against the rise in rural crime, following several serious incidents in the midlands . Commenting on a recent series of assaults Mr Leahy warned: ‘‘Rural Ireland has become a playground for criminal gangs because of political indifference to the plight of rural communities. “The government has, over the last decade, staged a managed retreat from rural policing.
Star studded line-up for James Fintan Lalor School 2017
Diarmaid Ferriter and Senator David Norris will be just two of a host of high-profile speakers at this year’s James Fintan Lalor Autumn School. The event, organised by Laois Heritage Society, will take place on Saturday, November 18. The overall theme for this year’s school is – Creating Ireland: Conflict, Co-operation, Continuity. The event will take place in the Midlands Park Hotel and will run from 9.30 am, with a final address at 4.20 pm, followed by a short film.
WATCH: All systems go for Camross Charity Truck and Tractor run
The countdown is on to the Camross Charity Truck and Tractor run. After last year’s success with the charity truck and tractor run the organisers have decided to do it all again. This year they are hosting it in aid of St. Francis school portlaoise and the Laois Hospice Raffle tickets are on sale until tomorrow night! The draw will be held in Bergins The Camross Inn on Saturday 14th October. The generious prize is a lorry load of firewood (value €1,400).
Vandals damage Clover Utd clubhouse with chainsaw
Vandals targeted Clover Utd in Rathdowney over the weekend, causing damage with a chainsaw and digging up some of the pitch. Club officials admitted it could have been a lot worse as those who broke in used the chainsaw on a concrete wall and broke its chain. “They cut a chunk out of the wall,” said club treasurer Jack Daly. “Gardai said it could have been a lot worse if they went at the doors with the chainsaw,” he said. The hapless vandals could have injured themselves in the process, too.
Tradespeople warned following surge in theft of tools
Gardai have warned tradespeople to be wary as thefts from vans are on the increase in the Laois-Offaly garda division. The value of equipment and items stolen ranged from €1,000 to €10,000 in some cases. People engaged in various trades have been targeted, including carpenters, plumbers, fitters etc. People with vans containing equipment have been reminded to “secure vans, be vigilant and mark tools”.
Electric Picnic 2018 tickets to go on sale next week
Tickets for next year’s Electric Picnic are due to go on sale as early as next week, it has been revealed. As Electric Picnic draws to a close for another year, Festival Director Melvin Benn confirmed that tickets for next year’s festival will go on sale next week. Last week the Festival Director also confirmed that a contract has been signed for the Electric Picnic to continue at Cosby Hall grounds for another ten years. “Stradbally is its home,” he said.
Minister Halligan says he is 'powerless' over Laois school bus crisis
Minister John Halligan has said he is powerless to solve the problem of school bus place shortages just days before meeting a delegation from Laois. Around 15 families from Emo and Vicarstown have been left without school transport just days before their children return to school. Junior Education Minister John Halligan said he was powerless to solve the problem.
Auction battle as Ballylinan property sells for €366,000
In what he described as a ‘good battle’ Athy auctioneer Joe McDonnell sold a 19.5ac Ballylinan residential farm under the hammer at €366,000 in the past week. It exceeded its guide price by €116,000 and achieved a very strong €18,769/ac. Located just off the N78 at Rahin, Ballylinan in Co Laois, the farm is and 1km from Ballylinan and 6km from Athy. It consists of 19.5ac of tillage and grazing land in four fields, with one of the fields in a crop of barley.
Impressive Castletown equestrian property on the market
A fine equestrian property has come on the market in Castletown, complete with an impressive stone house. Located off the N7 south of Mountrath, near the golf club, Knockanina House at Castletown is 15 minutes from Roscrea and Portlaoise, and close to the M7 motorway. This beautiful stone house is surrounded by lovely stands of old trees on a beautiful undulating site. It offers a magnificent tranquil home that has been superbly maintained and appointed.
Over 800 Laois students to get Leaving Certificate results today
A total of 861 students will receive their Leaving Certificate results across Laois today. Of these, 423 are female and a further 438 are male. In addition to these a further 39 students – 26 female and 13 male – will receive results for the Leaving Cert Applied curriculum. target="_blank" rel="nofollow" Students can collect their results from the respective schools this morning.
Water rationing for thousands of Laois homes
Water rationing could affect thousands of houses in Laois unless there is more rain soon. Laois County Council informed cathaoirleach Cllr Padraig Fleming that the water levels are very low in the reservoir at Wolfhill, which could lead to the rationing. “If it remains the same for next 3 Days they will then have to ration water,” Cllr Fleming posted on social media. While there was some rain on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, Cllr Fleming confirmed that this was not enough, however.
20 things you will remember if you went to U2 in the '80s
Our reporter is a self-confessed U2 fan(atic), and has been going to their gigs since the Unforgettable Fire tour. Here are some of the things you will remember, or may want to forget, if you went to the Joshua Tree gigs the first time around in Croke Park. 1 – The actual music: There was no such things as recording the event on your smartphone, iPad etc. You actually had to watch and listen.
Brazen thieves steal cylinder from house
Gardai are investigating the theft of a water cylinder from a house in Harristown, Arles which they believe is connected to a similar recent theft from Arles Killeen GAA Club. The cylinder was taken from the house last week within days of the incident at the GAA club. A garda spokesperson said the thefts may be an indication that copper has risen in value recently.
Major drugs seizure in Portlaoise
Cannabis herb worth €10,500 has been seized at a house in Portlaoise. The drugs were found in Gandon Close, Fairgreen, on Friday July 7, following a search under the Misuse of Drugs Act at approximately 10 am. One man, a foreign national in his early 40s living in the area, was arrested a number of days later. He is due to appear before Portlaoise District Court on July 27. SEE ALSO – Smell at well-known Portlaoise street is ‘unacceptable – Cllr Lodge
In pictures: Abbeyleix hosts banquet for Entente Florale judges
Abbeyleix treated its European guests to the finest Laois hospitality on Friday night, after the Entente Florale judging had concluded. The heritage town flew the flag for Ireland in the European competition, with 7 of the jury visiting the town for four hours’ of adjudication earlier that day. When the serious business was over, the judges were treated to local entertainment and fine food at the local banquet.
Five people became homeless in Laois in one day
Five people became homeless in Laois in just one day, underlining the housing crisis engulfing Laois. Cllr Aidan Mullins said it was a “particularly bad day”. “This is the distressing reality today in our office with regard to the housing crisis,” he said. In the first three to four months of the year, 60 people presented themselves as homeless. He said the human cost is very high for people who no longer have a home.
PaddyO's cereals teams up with Barnardos
Cullahill-based PaddyO’s has announced a new partnership with Barnardos which will help support their breakfast clubs. The partnership, which involves the provision of food product to Barnardos centres across the country, will help support the Barnardos Breakfast Clubs as well as Barnardos work with children in the community.
Crime statistics for Portlaoise prisons could cost jobs
Crimes which occur in the prisons in Portlaoise are creating negative statistics for the county and could ultimately see Laois lose out on investment and jobs. That’s according to Cllr Willie Aird who wants to see such crimes recorded separately from the ones which don’t occur in the prison.
Business park and nursing home planned for Killeshin
A business park and a new 60-bed nursing home are being planned for Killeshin. The planned ‘West Link Business Park’ will comprise 14 new buildings and one existing building. The development will be accessed via the existing service road to the filling station off the Killeshin Road and a new internal road network. The new development will be used to provide facilities for light industry, light engineering, bulky retail, storage and office facilities.
Laois launches campaign to tackle chewing gum litter
A campaign has been launched in Laois to get people to dispose of gum responsibly and not dump it on the ground. The 2017 Gum Litter Taskforce (GLT) gum litter education campaign was launched in Portlaoise by cathaoirleach of Laois County Council Tom Mulhall this week. Those behind the campaign say it has had huge success to date in changing the public’s behaviour to gum disposal and in encouraging correct gum disposal through a targeted education awareness campaign.
Emo playschool to get new home
A new playschool is set to open its doors for over 20 young children at the old school in Emo in September, with building work planned to be finished by then. With a local playschool run by Deverells for many years in Coolbanagher closing recently, there was a need for the service to be provided locally. A new playschool will be housed in the existing playshool with a new room to be built to increase capacity there.
TY project urges people to shop local in Portarlington
Transition Year students of Portarlington have launched an initiative to try and encourage the residents of Portarlington to “shop local”. The students – Caoimhghin Murphy, Anthony Murphy, Oisín O’Dea and Jake McLoughlin with their teacher Ronan Walsh – came up with their idea of “Portpal” after noticing that the People of Portarlington were going elsewhere for their shopping. This aims to keep people shopping local and also hope to boost the local economy by shopping local.
Laois Rose Kate Hyland will be 'emotional' handing over her crown
Brought to you in association with the Manhattan Mixer and Soho late venue Reigning Laois Rose Kate Hyland is looking forward to the excitement on Sunday night when her successor is chosen and a new Laois Rose is crowned. It will give the Clough native a chance to finally draw her breath and look back on a hectic and hugely rewarding year. “It was one of the most enjoyable years of my life, since I entered it last February, 12 months, I just got to do so much,” she said.
'Supervet' Noel Fitzpatrick on Late Late Show tonight
Ballyfin’s ‘Supervet’ Noel Fitzpatrick, renowned for his veterinary practice on Channel 4’s hit show, will be a guest on the Late Late Show tonight. Noel will be talking to host Ryan Tubridy about the new series of his hit show, ‘The Supervet’. The world-renownved vet will chat about the highs of helping animals become well again but also the terrible lows experienced when those efforts fail.
Mountmellick shop withdrawn from auction after bid falls short
A Mountmellick shop complete with a pub licence and a weekly turnover of €25,000 per week was withdrawn from auction this week after a bid failed to reach its reserve price. Hanlons Shop in Mountmellick had a reserve asking price of €175,000 but only attracted one bidder. With the only bid on the table falling €10,000 short of the reserve asking price, the property was withdrawn from the auction at the Gandon Inn.
Portlaoise should become a satellite town of Dublin - Jerry Lodge
Portlaoise should designate itself as a satellite town of Dublin under the new National Planning Framework, according to a local politician. A major shake-up is underway of planning in Ireland through the National Planning Framework, which Cllr Jerry Lodge believes is an opportunity for the Laois capital town. “I believe we should designate ourselves as a satellite town of Dublin,” he said. “The midlands region has not really served Portlaoise well,” he said.
Illegal parking creating danger for Portlaoise school children
A small number of drivers continue to park illegally on footpaths creating a danger for children attending primary schools near Summerhill in Portlaoise. At today’s meeting of Portlaoise Municipal Authority, Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley had a motion requesting the installation of extra traffic calming and safety measures in the vicinity of the Gaelscoil, Educate Together and Maryborough School.
VIDEO: Aerial footage of 134-acre farm on Laois border
A 133.5 acre farm in Killeigh on the Laois/Offaly border will go to auction in March with a guide price of €9,000 to €10,000/ac. GVM Auctioneers described it as “an exceptional opportunity to acquire a superb holding” which is approximately 2km from Killeigh. This parcel of prime land is being offered for sale by public auction (unless previously sold) on the 24th March 2017 at 3pm in the Bridge House Hotel, Tullamore.
Southern Relief Road to ease traffic problems
This is definitely good news for Portlaoise. The Southern Relief Road will connect the Timahoe and Abbeyleix Roads and should ease traffic congestion. It might even mean a couple more roundabouts around the town. We haven’t had a new one in a while! Funding of €1 million has been allocated to allow the compulsory purchase of land for the Portlaoise Southern Relief Road, which will connect the Timahoe and Abbeyleix Roads at the roundabout at O’Moore Park.
Moment in Time: Some brilliant Back to School photos from 2003
We revisited these great photos by Alf Harvey from first day at school in 2003. Photos feature from visits to Gael Scoil, Phortlaoise, Scoil Bhride and Scoil Mhuire in Portlaoise along with Our Lady’s Meadow Primary School in Durrow and Scoil Mhuire in Abbeyleix. It certainly was a day to remember, particularly for the O’Dea family.
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