Midlands News

National news updates on Thursday 21st January.

Another seven people have been taken into healthcare facilities.

He's been criticising the government's handling of the Commission's report.

The HSA carried out the inspections after the country's first lockdown.

A man entered a shop and threatened staff with a hammer.

They're seeking clarity and assurances on three fronts.

He thinks only allowing 10 people to attend is an arbitrary and unnecessary rule.

The Housing Minister says it will help people who are stuck renting.

The Roscrea man attended Joe Biden's inauguration yesterday.

Staff continue to live on site in an effort to combat the outbreak.

They stopped the motorist during a patrol in Borris on Ossory.

John Clendennen says this would help link towns and villages.

Aontu leader and Meath-West TD Peadae Tóibin is behind the idea.

National news updates on Wednesday 20th January.

Laois' Sean O'Rourke and Claire Byrne are among the top 10.

Kamala Harris joins him as the first female, black, and South Asian vice president.

A local councillor says any irregularities will damage confidence in the roll-out.

A Westmeath councillor is suggesting an idea similar to TV licence inspections.

Fr. Michael Kelly was renowned for his work in sub-saharan Africa.

A Kildare South TD has been speaking about their tough day-to-day experiences.

A midlands father says he couldn't sleep last night with the news.

It's in relation to the discovery of two stolen cars.

That's despite an ever growing population in the two counties.

Gaadaí have charged her following the recovery of the items.

Lidl will be stocking products from 12 Acres Brewing and Ballykilcavan Brewery.

It's unknown yet whether the Just Transition commissioner will accept.

National news updates on Tuesday 19th January.

The song tells the story of a woman's time in Tuam Mother and Baby Home.

An Offaly councillor thinks the deal involving GPs and pharmacists is wrong.

Both of them lost children in car crashes.

The faithful county was ranked as the worst area of Ireland to live in.

Offaly County Council approved plans for the refurbishment in Kilcormac.

The lowest house price in Ireland was recorded in Roscommon.

Gary Burke is aiming to raise some vital funds in the process.

Offaly has the worst efficient homes.

That's according to the Irish Second-Level Students' Union.

It's ahead of a motion from the party on student pay.

Gardai are reminding the public that those outside of their 5km could face a €100 penalty.

Minister of State Patrick O'Donovan is warning those along the Shannon in particular.

It's mainly going towards maintaining and promoting walking trails.

National News January 18th 2021.

A yellow rain warning will come into effect later tonight.

That's according to Mullingar's Professor Kingston Mills.

The Louth man lead the band for 30 years.

A crane will be required to remove the vehicle later.

A retired consultant says there's a considerable cohort of retirees willing to help.

Almost 62,000 more people are receiving the payment in Ireland in the last week.

The HSE says it will provide the next update in early February.

No arrests have been made.

Dr. Deirdre Forde received the vaccine in Laois last weekend.

It's one of 11 counties for which caution is advised.

It occurred in the Portlaoise area last Friday.

It's due to the ending of the Erasmus programme in the EU.

The bird was killed in Emo at the beginning of December.

Today is known to be the toughest day of the year for mental health services.

Conor Grehan suffers from Tricuspid Atresia and Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome.

News updates for Sunday 17th January 2021.

News updates for Saturday 16th January 2021.

A Westmeath Immunologist says it is easier to store than the Pfizer dose.

They say they'll attempt to further develop the government action plan.

Children as young as 10 are being used in urban areas by criminals.

National news on Friday 15th January 2021.

A grain lorry had overturned.

The semi-state company had said staff wouldn't be affected by today's announcement.

An Offaly accountant believes the balance should be written off.

It's one of the targets outlined in the state's first National Remote Work Strategy.

The issue is expected to be repaired later this evening.

It'll be used to vaccinate GPs against the virus.

It means that peat briquettes will run out in 2024.

Westmeath County Council is being called on to address the problem.

Consumers are being advised not to eat the affected batch.

A Laois credit union is among the first to be approved to lend as part of the CCG scheme.

It's after a personal comment was made on his instagram account.

National news updates on Thursday 14th January.

New figures from the CSO breakdown people's movements.

Approximately 60 staff at Tullamore Regional Hospital are absent due to covid-19.

The Department of Agriculture says the payments are particularly important in such a challenging year.

Colleen Anderson, who was born in Sean Ross Abbey, has been speaking to Midlands Today.

The Athlone bar is among four seeking covid-19 related losses.

Two are now established in Laois and one in Offaly.

A consultation process is underway for the microgeneration scheme.

"People joke that we are the end of the line, but realistically we're on the frontline."

A local junior minister is calling for services to resume as soon as possible.

She says family carers are at breaking point.

The proposal would create a direct walking link between the two shopping centres.

The Veterinary Council says the influx of additional talent will benefit animal health and welfare.

National news updates on Wednesday 13th January.

Ireland has received just over €1 billion from the European Union.

It's being run by Stradbally Woodland Railway.

Families in Cork will have to apply for permission before leaving tributes.

His movie was the highest grossing independent film in Ireland last year.

Her father was from Athlone.

He made the formal apology to survivors of mother and baby homes in the Dáil. 

The new proposed site is four times the size of their current premises.

The Taoiseach will apologise on behalf of the state in the Dáil later

The company says business has surged over the last 12 months.

Its president, Laois' Reuban Murray, says an alternative format is needed this year.

Gardaí are re-issuing their appeal for people to exercise extreme caution online.

Two sites in Portlaoise are being prioritised.

National news updates on Tuesday 12th January.

His van was also seized.

Westmeath county council is being urged to lend it's weight to the calls.

A report into Mother and Baby homes in Ireland has been published.

It's €81,000 higher than secretary generals in other government departments.

A local woman says students are being exploited on the frontline.

National Broadband Ireland is currently surveying the county.

They were also found to be disqualified from driving.

The Taoiseach will make a state apology in the Dáil tomorrow.

33 staff are also battling the virus at the moment.

National news updates on Monday 11th January.

Mass Covid-19 Testing Taking Place At Portlaoise Prison

Covid-19 related unemployment in the midlands is 60% of it's peak.

One Portlaoise hairdresser says bookings are filling up for February already.

8,300 people in Ireland are part of the €30 annual payment.

107 year-old Nancy Stewart has plans to take in sermon's from even further afield.

She's been meeting with advocacy groups this afternoon.

A car was set on fire using the device on Friday.

A former chairperson of LOFFA thinks the government haven't learned from previous lockdowns.

They'll be closed for the foreseeable future as a result.

Tullamore Regional Hospital is the worst affected.

A survivor from Castlepollard Mother and Baby Home says many were 'taken aback' by the leak.

It was discovered a number of hours later.

It's due to a military exercise taking place.

Services have been reduced in line with Level 5 restrictions.

News updates for Sunday 10th January 2021.

Over 20 staff have moved on site to care for residents following a Covid-19 outbreak.

Young children have fallen through the ice and drowned during previous cold spells.

A status yellow low temperature and ice warning is in place.

€1m in cash was also seized in Kildare yesterday morning.

The Ceann Comhairle wanted it to sit for just one day next week.

News updates for Saturday 9th January 2021.

The piece is going under the hammer at Sheppard's Auction House in Laois next month.

Gardaí are warning people to be careful!

National news updates on Friday 8th January.

There are no available intensive beds in midlands hospitals today.

A further €10,000 was seized in follow-up searches in the midlands.

The Tullamore based artist has been working on it for months.

He's helping with the roll-out of the jab.

Over 1,000 students participated in the 57th edition of the competition.

A special sitting of Portlaoise District Court took place at 11 o'clock this morning.

The company say "significant changes" are required to the way it takes parcels cross-border.

The programme is being rolled out this morning.

Creative Edenderry is appealing to the public for photos.

One Offaly company says their competitive advantage is being hindered.

The value ranges from €45,000 to €200,000.

A campaign to have Christmas lights stay on around the region is gathering pace.

The discovery was made at St. John's Square in Portlaoise.

They say time is needed to plan for the return of in class education.

Residents and staff in Ferbane received their first vaccine dose yesterday.

National news updates on Thursday 7th January.

The Food and Safety Authority has issued the warning.

He almost died from covid complications earlier this year.

There's currently 60 gardaí out of work in the Laois/Offaly/Kildare division.

The Democrat is due to take over the Oval Office on January 20th.

However, it will stay cold for the rest of the week.

A group of 20 nurses will be administering the jab to all staff.

People are encouraged to make submissions through the public consultation.

And the local community has been rallying to support them.

Nationally, a new record has been set for a second consecutive day.

Schools are to remain closed due to covid-19, except for Leaving Cert exam students.

While a positive, that is still the third lowest in Ireland.

Over €2,500 has been taken in so far.

It's been snowing overnight across the region.

However, one guidance counsellor in Westmeath disagrees.

Shanette, based in Kilbeggan employs around 50 people.

National news updates on Wednesday 6th January.

He received the jab this afternoon.

It's in an effort to reduce the number of deaths on our farms.

The 24 year old has to be taken off pain meds in advance of each surgery appointment.

There are two exceptions to the school closures.

Management says the decision is down to rising Covid-19 cases.

He previously held roles with Waterford Crystal and Bord Na Mona.

Denis Naughten wants the HSE to tap into workers that previously came forward.

A couple of entrepreneurs from Meath purchased it.

The pair famously honeymooned in the midlands in 2014!

The vaccination programme is being rolled out at midlands hospitals.

The local detective unit carried out searches in Portlaoise.

There are 24 people being treated in midlands hospitals.

Junior Business Minister and Longford/Westmeath TD Robert Troy is behind the warning.

The hospital has made the decision to cancel non-urgent appointments from today.

He's eyeing up the grand prize at this week's event.

Temperatures sunk to -3 to -5 degrees in the Midlands.

But a 25 per cent increase is forecast for the coming year.

National news updates on Tuesday 5th January.

The hospital is ceasing all non-time dependent work from tomorrow onwards.

A Westmeath woman says her life has been transformed thanks to her donor.

That's according to the latest figures from myhome.ie.

One class had to be accommodated elsewhere during the year.

The warning comes from the Director of Public Health in the Midlands.

Local businesses were warned to be fully prepared for the end of the Brexit transition period.

A Westmeath teacher feels the entire profession has been let down by the government.

However, it's still less than half the number of people who were out of work on May 5th.

The management company first learned of the spread on New Year's Eve.

They believe children shouldn't return until at least January 18th.

Local residents are unhappy with the proposal.

She's a contestant on the new series of TG4's 'Glór Tíre'.

National news updates on Monday January 4th.

Diesel remains the most popular engine type.

The money will now go towards helping mental health services.

The head of Accord is urging people not to suffer alone.

Motorists are warned to be extremely cautious on the roads.

They include dog fouling and fly-tipping.

A meeting is taking place between the government and opposition.

Both believe Michael Martin shouldn't led the party into the next election.

Their house was seriously damaged in a fire on December 29th.

A post mortem examination has now been completed.

Barry Cowen also believes the party shouldn't rule out a coalition with Sinn Fein any longer.

News updates for Sunday 3rd January 2021.

News updates for Saturday 2nd January 2021.

News updates for Friday 1st January 2021.