Week 4 - Monday
Midlands Today with Will Faulkner
Monday, 26 January 2026 - 1 hour 53 minutes
Education inequality and absenteeism laid bare — new ESRI research shows more than a third of pupils in the most disadvantaged primary schools are missing 20+ days a year, with INTO’s Niamh Campion warning the post-Covid gap between DEIS and non-DEIS schools is deepening and risks long-term inequality.
Crime, courts and community fear — a machete-wielding burglar who led a terrifying raid on an Athlone student house is jailed, while concerns grow over violent crime, anti-social behaviour and public safety across the region.
Culture, costs and rural pressure points — Braveheart memorabilia used by Mel Gibson heads to auction in Meath; flight fares are tipped to rise despite fuel savings; farmers protest outside Bord Bia over Brazilian beef concerns; retail workers speak out during Kindness Week; and the Midlands prepares to host the International Pan Celtic Festival.
