The LoveLaois Podcast

Over and out.  As 2025 comes to a close, we look back on some of the top stories from the year that was.  Electric Picnic, the Presidential Election, a trip to New York and more time spent in the County Council chamber than we care to remember.  Steven and Alan look back on the 2025 year and some of the major moments locally, what they enjoyed and what they didn't - and the types of stories and in...

A year after being elected to Dáil Éireann for the seventh successive term, Laois Fianna Fáil TD Sean Fleming joins us for a chat.  In a wide-ranging discussion he hits on a number of big topics.  He chats about the disappointment of not being re-appointed as a Minister for State after last year's General Election, his current role as chairman of the Oireachtas Infrastructure and National Developm...

When we last spoke to Aaron Doran, he had just assisted Evan Ferguson to help Bohemian's win the U-17 League of Ireland.  Fast forward almost five years, and the Ratheniska man is still playing the sport that he loves.  While some of his teammates from that game are plying their trade in England, Italy and Scotland, the midfielder's journey has taken him around Ireland.  When his time at Bohemian'...

In the latest LoveLaois Podcast, we chat about Steven's trip in the Laois Chamber dinner, enjoying Pat McDonagh's stories and why Alan was well impressed with Supermac's festive offering.  Steven also looks back on the latest wonderful showing from the Portlaoise Musical Society while the lads also discuss some of the issues that came to the fore at this week's meeting of Laois County Council. 

This week's LoveLaois Podcast focuses on a young Laois man whose political activism saw him score an invite to the inauguration of President Catherine Connolly.  18-year-old Harry McGree, a Leaving Cert student in Portlaoise CBS, was one of just 200 people who attended the event in Dublin Castle.  Harry played a role in the Connolly campaign and was invited along with his parents Noel and Antoinet...

The latest edition of the LoveLaois Podcast is here and it is a wide and varied episode.  Steven Miller is joined by Alan Hartnett to look back at some of the stories that have made the headlines on LaoisToday.  Catherine Connolly has been inaugurated as president since we last recorded following her election.  There were plenty of council stories while the lads also took a trip to the AVIVA stadi...

The Irish public will go to the polls on Friday in the 2025 Irish Presidential Election, bringing the curtain down on a campaign that had all its drama in the early days.  Will turnout reach 40%? What sort of vote will Jim Gavin get? How many spoiled votes will there be?  Steven intends going to the Laois Count Centre on Saturday to observe this most occasional of elections.  Alan hasn't been over...

There's a lot to catch up on in the latest LoveLaois Podcast.  Jim Gavin, Micheal Martin (Bertie gets a mention), Catherine Connolly, Heather Humphreys and Mick Wallace are all discussed on this week's LoveLaois Podcast.  So too is the new Portlaoise Bus Service, the anti-social behaviour in Portlaoise Town Centre, the e-bikes, Alan's love of cyclists and, of course, the excitement of county final...

With the summer well and truly behind us now, it was another eventful week on the local political scene.  Alan was in the Laois County Council chamber on Monday for September's full meeting, the first since June, and it was a rather humdrum affair until a dispute broke out over the make-up of a new committee.  Cllr Aisling Moran (Independent) and Cllr Paddy Bracken (Fianna Fáil) got embroiled in a...

The runners and riders are confirmed now for the presidential election and Steven was in Portlaoise Library on Thursday morning for the visit of Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys.  Steven and Alan chat about the race - is it boring, should we have more choice, who should Maria Steen blame for not making it on to the ballot sheet and who is the most likeable candidate? Why didn't Sinn Fein fiel...

The latest episode of the Laois Football Podcast is here and this one focuses on everything bar senior.  Steven Miller is joined by Alan Hartnett for this one where the duo start with Intermediate.  The championship final between Park-Ratheniska and Arles-Kilcruise forms most of the chat as the lads evaluate both teams.  They also look ahead to the B and relegation finals at that grade.  While the...

We return with our latest episode of the LoveLaois Podcast this week where the Alan and Steven chat about the shenanigans around the Irish Presidential Election - and in particular what happened in Laois County Council this week.  Alan describes some of the characters that came before the councillors seeking a nomination, the drama over the vote and whether the Laois councillors were right or wron...

The LoveLaois Podcast this week features a very special guest who has achieved international fame.  Last month, Katelyn Cummins was crowned International Rose of Tralee - the first ever winner from Laois.  On Monday, she was at Downey's to collect her brand new Kia car which she will drive for the year.  Our own Steven Miller headed over for the event and caught up with Katelyn.  Less than a month...

The 2025 Electric Picnic is now in the rear-view window and attention now turns to the 2026 edition. But before all of that, Steven Miller joins Alan Hartnett to look back at the weekend.  LaoisToday performed on Friday with our sports quiz while Steven then took to the Main Stage with the Timahoe Choir.  Tickets for 2026 went on sale this morning and sold out in an hour - leaving many locals disa...

It's Electric Picnic Eve and ahead of this year's festival, we caught up with chef Neven Maguire and Leo Moran of the Saw Doctors for separate interviews.  The incredibly eclectic nature of Electric Picnic is epitomised by Neven Maguire. He's a well renowned chef who has had a national profile via his TV shows for a number of years. He's also the proud owner of Macnean House and Restaurant in Cava...

The LoveLaois Podcast returns this week as Steven and Alan chat about this year's Electric Picnic.  Alan was at the press day on Tuesday - which is generally regarded as the Junket of the Year. As well as a free lunch and a bag load of goodies, he also came back with an array of random thoughts, chief among them his observations on other members of the media.  Alan tells us all about who he met at...

New Cathaoirleach Cllr Barry Walsh from Ballyroan dropped into the LaoisToday offices last week for a chat about his journey, his experience of politics so far and what he'd like to see achieved over the next year.  

Laois man Shane Whelan has a bird's eye view of one of the world's biggest sporting event this year.  As Director of Digital Marketing and Communictions with the British and Irish Lions, he's currently in Australia for this year's tour.  It's his fourth tour to work on, having been in Australia in 2013, New Zealand in 2017 and South Africa in 2021.  From Abbeyleix, he previously worked in communic...

After a couple of weeks of Alan and Steven, the LoveLaois Podcast changes tact again as it focuses on an interview with a very impressive Laois person.  Last week, Alan sat down with Portlaoise teenager Jack Cleland who spoke about his journey in the world of soccer.  The 16-year-old, who started out with Portlaoise AFC, is now ripping it up with St Patrick's Athletic in the U-17 League of Ireland...

And with that, Leaving Cert 2025 is over. It's in the past. For the exam students they can take a well-earned collective sigh of relief. Over the past couple of weeks, Aoife Fitzpatrick from Cullenagh near Ballyroan and a Leaving Cert student in Scoil Chríost Rí in Portlaoise has penned a Leaving Cert column for LaoisToday. She described her experience, her hopes and what each exam was like. Her c...

The LoveLaois Podcast returns and there is plenty of news for the lads to talk about.  Steven Miller is joined by Alan Hartnett and they begin by discussing some of the rows that have taken place in Laois County Council this week.  They also chat about the Laois Abroad series which is in full swing and has covered a range of countries already.  The new careers series is also up and going with the...

Our LoveLaois Podcast is back and this very special episode covers an event which took place at the weekend.  On Saturday, in St Anne's Park, 18,000 people gathered for Pints In A Field 3 - a music event hosted by The 2 Johnnies.  The show saw performances from Basshunter, The Tumbling Paddies, The Vengaboys, Jimmy Buckley, Pat Shortt, Super Ceili and The 2 Johnnies themselves.  But before all of...

For the first time in almost two months, the LoveLaois Podcast returns to its original format.  The Friday Panel is here to look back at the news stories that made the headlines on LaoisToday this week. Alan Hartnett and Steven Miller are up for this one and they have plenty to talk about.  The start with the case of Beniamin Petre who is accused of making threats against Irish children, babies an...

Our Transition Year series for 2024-2025 concludes with this episode with Portlaoise CBS student Eoghan Deegan. From Vicarstown, Eoghan tells us why he decided to do TY, what the year has been like and how he decided upon his subject choices for Leaving Cert. He also tries to tell us about his plans for his PE project and why it's not actually a doss subject! Plus he chats about his attitudes towa...