Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Tributes are being paid to legendary Irish singer and Banagher native Johnny McEvoy, who has died aged 81, with Mullingar musician Mick Foster reflecting on his life and musical legacy. Concerns are being raised over road safety in Kilbeggan, with a local resident warning that speeding traffic and the lack of pedestrian crossings could lead to a serious accident. Plans for a major housing developm...

Offaly-born EU official Séamus Boland is calling for a European housing emergency to be declared, warning that the worsening cost-of-living crisis could push millions more people into poverty. Public sector unions face a crucial decision over an improved Government pay offer of up to 11%, with another nationwide strike planned for Thursday if an agreement cannot be reached. Abbeyleix woman Emma Fo...

Offaly-born EU official Séamus Boland is calling for a European housing emergency to be declared, warning that the worsening cost-of-living crisis could push millions more people into poverty. Abbeyleix woman Emma Fogarty is preparing for the release of an HBO documentary exploring her life with the rare skin condition epidermolysis bullosa and her friendship with Hollywood actor Colin Farrell. Pu...

Two charity shops operated by My Lovely Horse Rescue in Edenderry have been left badly damaged following break-ins, forcing both premises to close until further notice. A man has been arrested in connection with the incidents. Public sector workers are preparing for another 24-hour strike next Thursday, with rallies planned across the country, including in Tullamore, as the dispute over Government...

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner & David Hollywood

A Mullingar woman who admitted assaulting a female Garda during a violent altercation has been ordered to enter a 12-month peace bond. The Garda remains unable to return to full-time frontline duties more than three years after the attack. Offaly TD Carol Nolan is demanding answers after it emerged that key financial transparency provisions of the Charities Act 2009 remain unimplemented, meaning c...

A Garda was hospitalised after being struck by a firework in Clonbullogue, Co. Offaly, while councillors have condemned a separate Halloween attack on firefighters responding to an emergency call in Athlone. More than 300,000 public sector workers are preparing for a second nationwide strike on November 12th after unions rejected a Government pay offer of 7.75% over two and a half years. Clara, Mo...

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