Robert Deegan (29) will have his life celebrated on Saturday

A NEW café is set to open at the Dunamaise Arts Centre in Portlaoise, in a large restaurant space that closed over two years ago.

A FIVE-YEAR-OLD girl wants to share the magic of Christmas with the extraordinary people who cared for her and support their heroic efforts to give every sick child every chance.

Tony O’Kelly, Ballickmoyler passed away peacefully on Tuesday 10 December under the excellent care of the nurses of The Barrow Ward, Saint Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny.

A DRIVER who crashed into a woman on an e-scooter at a pedestrian crossing in Portlaoise was convicted of careless driving when he appeared in court last Thursday.

PORTLAOISE gardaí said farewell to their old garda station, as they welcomed crowds to an action-packed open day on Sunday 1 December.

William (Billy) Keyes, Knockardgannon and formerly Monamondra, Errill passed away peacefully on Monday 9 December in the loving care of Management and staff at Droimnìn Nursing Home, Stradbally.

The public row involves Youth Darts School Ireland which is based in Portlaoise, the Irish National Darts Organisation and Laois County Darts.

This week’s Laois Nationalist is available to purchase from your local shop or online.

MICHAEL John Cummins, Cricklewood, London and formerly of Castlemarket, Attanagh, Portlaoise and Lowhill, Attanagh, Kilkenny died peacefully in his adopted city on 17 November.

Mary (Mai) MORAN (née Whelan),Graiguecullen, Laois/Carlow Mary (Mai) Moran nee Whelan, 196 Whitney Place, Graiguecullen and formerly of Dublin Road, Carlow died on 8 December, peacefully at home in her 94th year.

Laois man Damien Dollard has been honoured with the Volunteer Manager of the Year award at the national Volunteer Ireland Awards.

A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND initiative for Ireland devised by students in Portlaoise will be launched on Wednesday 11 December.

GARDAÍ are appealing for information after another burglary in the Stradbally area last week. A white 181 Volkswagen Caddy van was seen acting suspiciously around the time of the break-in, which happened between 1pm and 2pm on Wednesday 4 December.

A NOSTALGIC poem recalling Mary O’Sullivan's Miscellany shop in Portlaoise will resonate with those who hark back to an era of small local shops on the high street, where the personal touch, the chat, merriment and skilled gift wrapping were all ...

THE Dunamaise Arts Centre held its first Christmas Market on the last weekend of November.

Danny McRedmond, Cloonagh Beg, Clonaslee died unexpectedly on Saturday 7 December. Danny was predeceased by his parents Joe and Julia (Juggy).

Fionán Bracken, Dun Masc, Portlaoise and formerly Tullamore and Toronto passed away peacefully on 7 December, surrounded by his loving family. Beloved husband of Kathleen and loving father to Fergus, Ronan, Dara, and Cormac.

A DISQUALIFIED driver who crashed in the centre of Mountmellick while stoned out of his mind on cocaine was described in court as “a menace to society”.

MORE THAN 300 people recently attended the funeral of a woman in Carlow, after an appeal on social media by a funeral director who was concerned that very few people would be present.