A PORTLAOISE woman who was brutally raped by her uncle as a child has secured strong backing from Sinn Féin, as she campaigns for stricter conditions for sex offenders on their release from prison.

TRADITIONAL and folk music fans are in for a treat with the return of the hugely popular Portlaoise TradFest over the May Bank Holiday weekend.

THE transformative power of words and music was celebrated at an open-mic evening in Abbeyleix, when Morrissey’s pub hosted a memorable gathering supported by Creative Ireland Laois.

Mr Worldwide is catching punters’ eyes with some expecting him to appear at Electric Picnic this year, according to Ladbrokes.

'It’s time for the Government to put it’s money where it’s mouth is in terms of mental health and wellbeing.' - cllr Marie Tuohy.

The good weather is set to continue through the week according to Met Éireann. Today and Wednesday will be dry and sunny with highs of up to 19 degrees.

When Eleanor McCarthy's baby Timmy died on August 14, 2020, she was distraught.

Antonina Chorniavska, Abbeyleix and formerly from Chortkiv Ukraine, passed away unexpectedly but peacefully at Saint James’s Hospital surrounded by her loving family on Monday 7 April.

Michael Dempsey, Davitt Road, Mountmellick, died unexpectedly on Monday 7 April.  Deeply regretted by his loving son Ronan, brother Christy, sisters Helen and Bernadette, family, relatives neighbours and his many friends. Rest in Peace.

Brendan Norris, Portarlington, Laois and formerly Celbridge, Kildare and Rathfarnham, Dublin, died peacefully at home on 7 April, surrounded by his loving family and friends.

A TRUCK driver in Laois who was described as ‘drunk’ behind the wheel was arrested by gardaí today. The vehicle was stopped in Killeshin by members of the Laois Roads Policing Unit, who were on patrol in an unmarked car.

The death occurred on 6 April of Elizabeth (Liz) Quinlan, Abbey Cresent, Abbeyleix, Laois and formerly of Clondalkin, Dublin, peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family.  Predeceased by her husband Sean.

MANY colleagues, both past and present from Knockbeg College, gathered recently in the Seven Oaks Hotel for the retirement dinner of former principal Mike Carew.

MANY colleagues, both past and present from Knockbeg College, gathered recently in the Seven Oaks Hotel for the retirement dinner of former principal Mike Carew.

Celia Duffy (née Murphy), Ballycullane, Portarlington, Laois and formerly of St Michael's Park, Portarlington died peacefully in her sleep on 7 April.

AN APPEAL has been launched for a dog that has been missing from home in Laois for the past two days. The Laois Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (LSPCA) was contacted about the lost pet and issued an appeal on social media today.

MEMBERS of the Fourth Wall Theatre Group are busy rehearsing for their upcoming stage production of the Bernard Farrell play ‘I do not like you Dr. Fell.

A TIDY Towns group in a beautiful Laois village has described the huge amount of rubbish dumped on just one approach road as ‘disgraceful’.

Final tickets for Electric Picnic 2025 went on sale at 12 noon today and sold out in just 15 minutes. Festival organisers confirmed that all additional tickets available on Ticketmaster at midday were snapped up by 12. 15pm.

DUST from the Sahara is visible in this magnificent image of sunrise in Portlaoise, which was captured yesterday by Forest Wolf Photography for the Laois Weather station.