Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Moate residents are being invited to a public meeting to address growing concerns over antisocial behaviour, intimidation and vandalism, with proposals for a new community safety network. Westmeath footballer Ronan Wallace has made history by winning his first PwC Football All-Star award, following a standout season that helped the county secure the Delaney Cup. Westmeath County Council has issued...

Mullingar boxer John Donoghue has claimed his second World Under-19 Boxing Championship title, while his brother Jason Donoghue and clubmate Louise Joyce secured bronze medals. Alicia Ennis and Layla Ayres also brought home European Under-15 bronze medals for St. Brigid's Boxing Club. Calls for a new prison in the Midlands are gaining support among local councillors, amid concerns over rising anti...

Ballinahown in Co. Westmeath has been crowned Ireland's Tidiest Town for 2026, also winning the Tidiest Village award, while Abbeyleix in Co. Laois was named Ireland's Tidiest Small Town. Demand for youth mental health services is rising in Laois and Offaly, with Jigsaw recording 489 referrals in the first six months of 2026, compared to 318 during the same period last year. Offaly County Council...

A Portlaoise woman living with PCOS is raising concerns about women's healthcare after spending days in hospital with severe pain, claiming her requests to see a gynaecologist have gone unanswered. A newly qualified nurse from Rosemount, Co. Westmeath, says she feels let down by the HSE after promised employment opportunities were put on hold, leaving graduates uncertain about their futures despit...

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has issued a formal State apology to the family of murdered Portlaoise Prison officer Brian Stack, acknowledging serious shortcomings in Garda investigations into his killing more than 40 years ago. Storm Austen is set to bring heavy rain and strong winds across Ireland, with Met Éireann issuing weather warnings and cautioning about flooding, transport disruption and dange...

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Tullamore cancer survivor Vanessa Mooney has launched Someone Like Me, a new app connecting cancer patients and their families with others facing similar experiences, offering private peer-to-peer support throughout diagnosis, treatment and recovery. The Sheraton Athlone Hotel is operating at limited capacity following a major water leak that forced guests to evacuate and temporarily closed Athlon...

A man has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison for the manslaughter of Offaly man Paul “Babs” Connolly, who died following a prolonged assault while on a stag night in Athlone in 2022. The family of murdered Portlaoise Prison officer Brian Stack is set to receive a formal State apology over the mishandling of three Garda investigations into his killing by IRA members more than 40 years...

A new law will prevent cancer survivors who have completed treatment and been in remission for five years from being unfairly penalised when applying for mortgage protection insurance, with Junior Finance Minister Robert Troy sharing his family's personal experience of cancer. Diesel prices have climbed to a national average of €2.14 per litre, a 24% increase since February, with global supply sho...

Gardaí are investigating threatening emails sent to schools across the Midlands, with at least 15 schools in Offaly and Westmeath reporting the communications and authorities assessing their credibility. A new report reveals the National Just Transition Fund created just 183 direct jobs in the Midlands, compared with a target of 1,094, raising questions about the effectiveness of the scheme. The G...

Ericsson's plans for a new innovation hub in Athlone, major disruption from nationwide public sector strike action, and financial support for farmers facing rising fertiliser costs feature on today's programme.

Midlands Today 13-10-26

More than 23,000 Teachers’ Union of Ireland members are beginning industrial action over delays in negotiating a new public sector pay agreement, ahead of Wednesday’s nationwide strike. Credit unions are warning that excessive spending on online prize competitions and raffles could affect loan applications, potentially reducing how much people can borrow. Birr GAA kitman Pio Spillane shares his pe...

Former GAA president John Horan has been appointed to lead the integration of the GAA, LGFA and Camogie Association, replacing Mary McAleese following disagreements over the timeline for merging the three organisations. RTÉ could have €20 million in funding restored following Budget 2027, provided the broadcaster demonstrates sufficient progress on its reform and redundancy programme. Renewed call...

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Midlands Today with David Hollywood - covering Budget 2027

Midlands Today with David Hollywood

- Specialist adult Type 1 diabetes services in Mullingar have been suspended due to staffing shortages, with no firm date for reopening and new referrals currently not being accepted. - An Athlone man has received a six-year prison sentence for stabbing a former friend seven times while on bail for a separate violent attack, with the sentence to run consecutively to his existing jail term. - Calls...

Midlands Today with David Hollywood

The long-awaited Midlands Hospice is running €12 million, or 30%, over budget, with the HSE carrying out a value-engineering exercise on the project following years of campaigning and local fundraising. 011026 Family Carers Ireland says 71% of carers are struggling to make ends meet and is calling for the Carer’s Allowance means test to be abolished, alongside increased weekly payments and greater...

More than 100,000 public sector workers are beginning industrial action today over delays in securing a new pay agreement, with work-to-rule action ahead of two planned strike dates in October. A nationwide 15-minute walkout is taking place to highlight violence against women and girls, following the deaths of 10 women in violent circumstances in Ireland during the first nine months of the year. N...

A father and daughter have died following a workplace incident at Banagher Precast Concrete in Offaly, with the Health and Safety Authority launching an investigation and the local community described as being in deep shock. 290926 Irish households are estimated to throw away around €60 worth of food every month, with the EPA highlighting the financial and environmental impact of food waste. 29092...

More than 1,000 people attended a meeting in Moate over rising fuel and living costs, with organisers warning further fuel protests will take place if the upcoming Budget fails to deliver the action they are seeking. House price inflation is showing signs of easing nationally, but prices continue to rise across the Midlands, with listed prices up 8.9% in Laois, 4.3% in Westmeath and 2.4% in Offaly...

Health insurance customers are facing higher premiums alongside reduced benefits, with some policyholders potentially left with shortfalls of up to €6,000 for procedures such as hip, knee and shoulder replacements. A new round of fuel protests could take place ahead of Budget 2027, with campaigners due to meet in Moate this weekend to discuss their next steps as concerns grow over rising fuel and...