WHEN gardaí carried out a search of a house in Laois, they uncovered a stun gun disguised as a torch hidden under a bed.

ON Sunday 27 April, Carlo Acutis will be formally canonised and declared saint. This will take place at an open-air ceremony in St Peter’s Square, The Vatican. He will be the first saint born in this new millennium.

A MAN who undertook a learner motorcyclist on a straight road, yet pleaded not guilty despite eye-witness and video evidence, was sentenced to six months in jail, banned from driving for four years and fined €4,000 at Athy District Court.

Rosaleen Cole (née Howe), Dublin Road, Portlaoise and formerly of Townsend Street, Birr, passed away peacefully and unexpectedly on 18 April, in the tender care of Kilminchy Nursing Home.

Bruce Walter MacDonald, Ormsby House, Durrow, Laois/Glengarriff, Cork/ Great Falls, Virginia, USA. Bruce died unexpectedly but peacefully in Great Falls, Virginia on 8 December 2024.

ABBEYLEIX library is hosting a wonderful art display by talented Latvian born artist Inguna Mainule-Finnerty, who holds a master’s degree in art and process.

A 36-YEAR-old Laois man who was allegedly caught in possession of 95 child pornography videos and who allegedly engaged in a sexual act with a child under the age of 16 was before last week’s sitting of Portlaoise District Court.

John Keating, The Grange, Borris Road, Portlaoise and formerly of Killinkere, Virgina, Co Cavan died peacefully on 17 April, in the wonderful care of the staff of Droimnin Nursing Home, Stradbally.

MINDLESS vandalism by ‘ignorant idiots’ has delayed the opening of a redeveloped Laois playground, for the second time within weeks.

A MAN who pleaded for a jail sentence for an assault and minor theft thanked the judge when he was eventually given 11 months in jail.

Mary Therese Shaw, Cilleithne Gardens, Bellingham, Portlaoise died peacefully on 17 April at Portlaoise Regional Hospital. Reunited with her husband Jim and Dillis.

FINALISTS for the 2025 Laois Business Awards have been announced by Laois Chamber Alliance, in partnership with Laois County Council.

Timothy (Timmy) Young, 18 Pattison Estate, Mountmellick, Co Laois, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on 16 April at Tullamore Regional Hospital.

Audrey Mitchell (née Wynne), Monnagh, Coolrain, Portlaoise, Laois passed away suddenly on 15 April at the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, in the presence of her husband Richard.

A BALLINAKILL company will represent Laois at this year’s National Enterprise Awards. Make & Share Limited will fly the Laois flag at the awards ceremony in the Round Room of the Mansion House, Dublin on Thursday 22 May.

A POPULAR Laois hair salon that was due to close down this Saturday has been saved at the 11th hour. Society Salons in Portarlington will remain open under new management, after a group of staff joined forces to keep the business in operation.

Catherine Dunne (née Conroy), Derrylamogue, Rosenallis, Co Laois passed away peacefully on 17 April, surrounded by her caring and loving family at her home in Derrylamogue.

ALL OF the girls in Presentation Primary School, Portarlington had a busy few weeks practicing and perfecting their school musical The Wizard of Oz, which took place in their school, earlier this month.

MOUNTMELLICK Credit Union continued its fine tradition of supporting local groups, clubs and organisations when more than 60 local volunteers were invited to its head office on Thursday evening 10 April to mark the union’s annual community fund ...

A WOMAN told how a hit-and-run incident has left her and her two daughters deeply traumatised, when she delivered a victim impact statement at Portlaoise District court last week.