Week 7 - Monday
Midlands Today with Will Faulkner
Monday, 16 February 2026 - 1 hour 59 minutes
Ireland reaches for the stars — The European Space Agency’s first Irish Phi-Lab opens in Mullingar, marking a major milestone for AI-driven space innovation, with €170 million committed over five years and the promise that future European missions may carry Midlands ingenuity onboard.
Palliative care breakthrough and voices of survival — Agreement is reached to relocate four Level 2 hospice beds to Athlone’s new Heartlands Care Centre, securing the future of specialist palliative care in South Westmeath, while domestic violence survivor Kirsty Fitzpatrick shares her powerful story and helpline supports are highlighted.
Mental health, money and modern life — The Inspector of Prisons raises “deep reservations” about the restraint of a mentally ill inmate before his death at Cloverhill; Finance Minister Simon Harris signals plans for new tax incentives to encourage savings and investment; Barack Obama clarifies his alien remarks; and Offaly students celebrate creativity through the Birr Schools Creative Cluster
