Midlands News

Athlone's Mary O'Rourke is urging people to be careful, as part of National Fraud Awareness Week.

New figures also show the number of house sales across the region has dropped by 23% since last year.

Gardaí wish to thank the public for their assistance

The Offaly councillor feels facilities in the area are not adequate.

It's gradually starting up again at 'prudent levels'.

A man in his 20s will appear before a Special Sitting of the District Court today.

The dairy farmer has won the title of AXA Farm Hero 2019.

A midlands forager has been hospitalised.

Dermot Bannon got to grips with Seamus Foy and sons.

Events are taking place across the region

His company currently employs 30 people in Laois.

He's being described as a ''top man".

The Laois Fine Gael TD is making the comments following the serious assault on Kevin Lunney.

The Great Telescope is also receiving a prominent accolade.

Their event kicks off at 3 o'clock.

Figures published today reveal the extent of assaults on gardaí.

He was last seen in March.

They're calling for an end to the two-tier pay system.

Almost 150 of those were false alarms.

Fenagh, Co. Carlow

It took two years for the work to be completed.

The rate of compliance in taking multiple doses in Ireland is one of the lowest in Europe.

They'll be attending a UN conference.

The event took place in Minnesota a fortnight ago.

They are urging those with respiratory conditions to be vigilant

Michael Creed is at the national ploughing Championships today.

She says this is vital to protect jobs in the midlands.

The event has had record numbers this year.

It's a popular spot for shopping in the region.

The minister is looking at best practice in other jurisdictions.

Men and women are becoming more aware of the signs of abuse.

A special episode will air to mark the occasion

The junior minister was speaking at the national ploughing championships

Thousands of jobs are under threat as beef protests continue at processing plants

They're trying to shake the stigma.

Uncertainty still surrounds the future of the Shannonbridge plant.

The project is working on one of five trails.

It looks like there's a rural/urban divide too.

Thousands of euro were by a midlands campaign.

The number of divisions will be almost halved.

The meat company says their facility in Laois is facing closure if the blockade continues.

A poll shows a small majority of farmers believe an alternative should be found.

Good conditions are forecast for day two!

A public consultation is underway at the moment.

He was speaking at the National Ploughing Championships

The motion was unanimously passed by council members

Six Projects will benefit under the scheme

The 16 year old has been missing for almost two weeks.

He passed away yesterday after an illness.

They're at the Ploughing in Carlow to raise some money.

Europe's largest agriculture event is kicking off today.

Temporary job losses could become permanent.

He says the way they're laid out is dangerous.

Almost €80,000 is going towards providing the facilities for the community.

He's says he didn't enjoy his time in college.

A Laois parish priest is hitting back at an Independent TD's controversial remarks about asylum-seekers. 

Drone strikes at oil plants causing concern in Europe

The Midlands celebrity was forthright as usual on the subject.

A Laois Councillor believes the problem is a blight on the county.

People in the midlands are being asked to follow the green and brown routes.

Anti-social behaviour is a growing problem.

The group became Ireland Champions Road Rescue 2019. 

One independent TD says whole streets could be left derelict as a result.

It follows an online petition for more services.

She's going for a spot on the Agriculture Panel.

They intend to continue their pickeet in Rathdowney for as long as it takes.

Five midlands schools are among those affected.

The group is encouraging people to consider taking one home.

The incidents occurred in Edenderry last Friday evening.

It's to allow the water levels in Annagh Reservoir to recover.

Gardaí are looking for the owner.

Three laptops were also taken.

New legislation will make people more aware if a sex-offender is living in their area. 

33 girls in total from across the country are taking part in the event tomorrow.

Ms Ryan says she has made numerous phone calls to resolve the issue

It's a collaboration between An Garda Síochána and Iarnród Éireann.

Aontú leader believes the decision by suppliers is damaging farmers:

The INMO says it's as a result of a recruitment stoppage by the HSE.

John Lawless moved to NZ in 1989.

They were chosen out of 300 applications from around the country.

Thousands of euro worth of power tools were taken last weekend.

The Taioseach wants a General Election in May 2020

''Extra-Ordinary'' was partly filmed in Offaly.

Centre Parcs is facing insurance hikes in Longford

Its a €35m investment for Westmeath, Kildare and Wexford.

The budget has been stretched by large-scale visits this summer.

Farmers are continuing to protest outside meat factories today. 

The 37-year-old was last seen in Offaly in July.

A General Election could be held next May.

Free meal for van driver.

The planet is 110 light years away.

A quarter of criminals use the front door to gain access.

The power tools were stolen at the weekend.

The Edenderry girl donated some of her lotto win to charity.

Over 7,300 people are waiting on funding.

The group claims the government is stalling on the issue.

Justice Minister to introduce a version of "Sarah's Law".

The OPW and Revenue Commissioners are co-funding the project.

A passenger was removed from the service.

Laois ladies to bare all in a new calendar.

New positive mental health programme for the Midlands.

The programme will hit the screens next year.

Agriculture Minister to told talks with individual groups.

The centre will open next month.

The 16-year-old claimed the title during recent speed tests.

A photographer who documented his trip to the Chernobyl disaster area is bringing his exhibition to Athlone later today.

There are calls for funding to be provided to an Offaly school to ensure it has running water for the coming year.

One person has been hospitalised after a minor road collision in Laois this morning.

The Laois County Fire and Rescue Service is heading to the World Rescue Challenge 2019 in France.

The South Westmeath Hospice is calling on the HSE to provide information surrounding facilities at the new Clonbrusk Primary Care Centre.

Community groups in the Midlands are reducing activities and cancelling events due to rising insurance costs.

A Laois councillor says it’s horrible to think people have such disregard for the local services after a post office was broken into.

The state funded scheme to help those in mortgage arrears is going to be extended for another three years.

The local property tax will remain the same as last year in Laois.

The Portlaoise Action To Homelessess is asking people to help wash sleeping bags from Electric Picnic.

A doctor from County Laois is facing a settlement of nearly €120,000 with the Revenue Commissioners.

A local councillor says anti-social driving has gotten out of hand in Laois.

Gardai are appealing for information to a burglary at Crettyard Post Office.

Michelle Dockery has admitted she had to do a bit of revision before reprising her Downton Abbey role for its new film.

A bug that causes serious stomach illness was found in 25 public water supplies around the country last year.

More than 460 people in the midlands received opioid-substitution treatment in the first six months of this year.

Gardai in Westmeath are investigating the theft of a small teleporter.

A Offaly couple will be on the RTE TWO tonight as part of a new series called “My Big Day: Home or Away?”.

Over 45,000 primary school students in Ireland will be thought through Irish in 2019.

Gardai in Laois arrested two motorists who failed a test for Cannabis while driving.

There are calls for peat and wood burning stoves to be banned.

A couple from Laois are celebrating the birth of their quadruplets.

A series of overnight water restrictions is in place in Athlone this week.

A statue dedicated to an Offaly musician has been removed due to irreparable damage.

A dried Bat, a horse tail and crocodile teeth are just some of the items seized at the Portlaoise mail centre.

A pedestrian has been seriously injured in a road collision in Offaly.

Mullingar town enhancements are set to be complete by the end of September.

Queues are already forming in the midlands, as tickets for next year’s Electric Picnic go on sale tomorrow morning.

Gardaí are appealing for help after a burglary in Laois.

A man who was missing since working at Electric Picnic in Stradbally last weekend has been found.

People from Westmeath, Laois and Kerry are the most likely to edit and touch up their selfies before sharing them online.

A Westmeath man reckons his likeable personality has made him one of the most popular men on Tinder.

A teenager who had been reported missing from Laois has been located.

A burst water main is causing disruption to Irish Water customers in North Westmeath.

Athlone IT is asking homeowners to consider offering their properties as student accommodation.

A Northern Irish man is missing from the Stradbally area after working at Electric Picnic.

A number of ESB customers in Laois are without power this afternoon due to a fault.

Construction workers in Mullingar had to come to the assistance of an artic lorry driver who got stuck due to road works in the town.

The Midlands has the second highest number of children have been waiting for an appointment with the mental health service.

Twelve new two storey homes are on the way for those needing assisted living in Westmeath.

An Offaly farmer says his farm has been “targeted” several times over the last few years.

Gardaí in Offaly are appealing for information about a burglary in Kilcormac.

An Athlone Veterinary Laboratory is set for a €9.23m expansion as part of a series of investments by the Department of Agriculture.

Irish Water is advising that water restrictions are required in Athlone tonight.

Over 160 homes in Offaly are without power this afternoon due to a fault.

Westmeath’s Tina Kellegher says she is enjoying playing the role of a villain on Fair City.

Work will begin in Offaly today on the largest energy-storage project in Europe.

A busker with over 150,000 online views claims he can’t get a gig in his hometown.

A former Love Island says the downside of the show was adapting to being in the public eye.

The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association is expecting a shortage of beef on supermarket shelves in the coming days.

A new device that will allow people with paralysis the opportunity to walk is being launched in Dublin today.

The South Westmeath Hospice committee is vowing their campaign is not yet over – despite the first steps being taken.

Gardai are renewing an appeal for information after serious damage was done during a break in Co. Laois.

Meat Industry Ireland says some customers in export markets haven’t received deliveries of beef due to the ongoing farmer protests outside its factories.

Gardaí in Laois are appealing to the public for assistance in tracing the whereabouts of a Laois teenager.

The Health Minister is shelving the plans to close the South Westmeath Hospice.

Three women have been arrested after a shotgun and ammunition were found in the Midlands.

Midlands 103 is celebrating after receiving two nominations for the IMRO Radio Awards 2019.

You don’t cross a Dub, even here in the midlands.

A Homeless organisation has collected 433 tents that were left behind at Electric Picnic.

Up to 60 people attended a meeting held by the Independent Farmers of Ireland last night in Ballacolla in Laois.

314 home repossessions were granted in Irish courts in the first half of this year.

The South Westmeath Hospice Committee is meeting with the Health Minister later today.

The midlands has the lowest proportion of the people working in the drinks and hospitality industry in the country.

Two women have been charged in connection with the discovery of a shotgun and ammunition in Longford on Monday night.

Offaly has the highest rate of homelessness in the Midlands.

The South Westmeath Hospice Committee is planning to hold a public rally, if the HSE does not to abandon the plan to close the hospice unit in Athlone.

Gardaí dealt with almost 500 reported incidents at this year’s Electric Picnic.

A Portlaoise prison officer who blew the whistle on spying in the service says their policy should read – keep the head down.

The Catholic Church is confirming for the first time that a seriously ill Westmeath woman was healed during a pilgrimage to Knock 30 years ago.

Protests at meat factories across the country including in Laois are entering their second week.

Action group ”still no school” are holding a protest at Curraghmore National School in Mullingar.

Laois Gardaí have made over 200 seizures of drugs at Electric Picnic.

A driver is due to appear before Portlaoise District Court after he tested positive for  Cocaine and Opiates on his way to Electric Picnic.

Gardaí have seized a vehicle with dangerous defects in county Laois.

A former Athlone IT Student is to appear before MPs in the UK investigating reality TV.

Cara Rescue Dogs are issuing an urgent appeal after eight newborn puppies were found abandoned in the Athlone area.

The victim of the world’s first recorded road death will be remembered in Offaly this weekend.

A 20 year-old man is warning Electric Picnic goers not to take drugs this weekend.

Cocaine, Ketamine, LSD, and MDMA were seized by Gardaí within minutes of the gates opening for Electric Picnic yesterday afternoon.

There were 847 babies born in the Midlands in the first three months of 2019.

The Portlaoise Hospital Action Committee is calling on the Justice Minister to act on the continued uncertainty surrounding the ED in Laois.

Laois-Offaly Local Link will provide three extra services between Roscrea and Portlaoise.

The South Westmeath Hospice Committee says it’s devastated and shocked” at plans by the HSE to close the hospice unit in Athlone by the end of the year.

The Kelly Quads are starting their first day at Cappagh National School in Offaly.

Laois County Council have signed the contract for the N80 Maidenhead Realignment Scheme.

Offaly County Council is hoping to build on the success of Shane Lowry by setting up a golf festival.

Huawei is to invest €70 million in research and development at its operations in Athlone, Cork and Dublin over the next three years.

The Health and Safety Authority is investigating a death on a Westmeath farm.

A Fianna Fáil councillor is branding an act of vandalism at Clonminch Cemetery in Tullamore as “disgraceful”.

The Midlands Regional Hospital Mullingar’s Emergency Department is very busy due to an increase in seriously ill admissions in recent days.

Gardai in Portlaoise are renewing an appeal to the public for information on the whereabouts of Laois teenager missing from Portarlington.

Irish Water says restrictions will be in place in Athlone tonight and Wednesday from 10pm to 6am.

Gardaí are appealing for information after a Parochial house in Laois has been ransacked.

A woman, accused of stabbing a 23-year-old man to death in the UK earlier this year, has been arrested in Offaly.

Over €780,000 in pocket money was given to inmates at the two Midlands Prisons last year.

The 60th Rose Of Tralee competition gets underway tonight at 8pm from the Dome in Killarney. 

Shots were fired at a house in Longford early this morning. 

Over 13,000 people in the midlands are driving with a learner permit.

Almost half the declared income of farmers in Ireland is now attained from non-farming activities.

The new JYSK store in Portlaoise will finally open its door to the public later this week.

Downtown Portlaoise is creating a festival spirit  in the town ahead of Electric Picnic.

New reforms by Garda Comissioner Drew Harris have divided opinion in political circles. 

The four swans rescued after an oil spill in the River Shannon and brought to the Kildare Response Foundation are finished their treatment.

Gardaí have uncovered 11 thousand euro worth of drugs in County Offaly.

The secrets of a serial killer from Laois are to be uncovered in a new book.

People in Kilbeggan say they are afraid to go out walking as they are being intimidated by young people.

Education Minister Joe McHugh will be in Tullamore this morning to provide an update.