Tom (Santy) Maher, 19 Church Avenue, Stradbally, Laois passed away unexpectedly at his home on 29 January, surrounded by his loving wife Rose and family.

A LAOIS-based man is organising a fundraiser in aid of the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation. Gordon Gee, store manager of the Abbeyleix-based garden machinery and landscaping business E. C.

KATELYN Cummins has had a busy morning. She has spent her early hours in rehearsals, preparing for her next appearance on Dancing with the Stars. By the time we speak – an overcast afternoon on Blue Monday – she has just finished.

A POPULAR Laois musician who lost his life in a road accident yesterday evening will be laid to rest this Sunday. The death of Tony Kavanagh from Thornberry, Abbeyleix has caused immense shock and sadness throughout the town and surrounding areas.

Colette Dwane, Glenregan, Mountmellick Rd. , Portlaoise died peacefully on 29 January, surrounded by her friends and family. Daughter of the late Stephen and predeceased by her nephew, Aaron. Loving daughter to Philomena.

A MAN accused of a sex act in a Portlaoise playground skatepark has been named, after a judge lifted reporting restrictions.

PLANNING permission has been granted at last for a new building for Dunamase College in Portlaoise, with state-of-the-art facilities for 1,000 students.

A LONG-AWAITED €30m primary care centre for Portlaoise has received a green light at last. Planning permission has been granted for the purpose-built centre on St Fintan’s Hospital campus on the Dublin Road.

Fergus Dempsey, Glenbarrow, Portlaoise, Laois and formerly Springfield, Tallaght passed away peacefully on 27 January, surrounded by his loving family. Dearly loved husband to his heartbroken wife Margaret.

Peter Kelly, Stradbally Rd. , Portlaoise, Laois and formerly Roscrea died peacefully on 29 January, in the excellent care of the staff of Kilminchy Lodge Nursing Home, surrounded by his loving family.

THE death of a popular local man in a road tragedy has caused immense shock and grief in Abbeyleix. Pedestrian Tony Kavanagh, who was aged in his 70s, suffered fatal injuries when he was struck by a car on the town’s Main Street yesterday evening.

“IT’S not that jumping from an airplane was in the head the whole time. It just came up,” said 80-year-old Dave ‘The Rave’ Dowling of his tandem parachute jump in aid of the Irish Cancer Society.

AN elderly pedestrian was struck by a vehicle on Main Street in Abbeyleix tonight. The man aged in his 70s was taken to hospital following the collision, which happened outside the town’s SuperValu store.

Grace Sheridan (née O'Doherty), Stoneyhaven, Dunmore, Durrow, Laois passed away peacefully on 28 January, after a long illness, at St Brigid’s Hospice, Kildare.

TWO major school building projects have been approved for Laois, under a funding package announced today.

IN relation to an article on two new classes for children with special educational needs, we wish to clarify that Scoil Bhríde in Clonaslee is one of the schools that will get a new class, not Scoil Bhríde in Portlaoise as reported.

Kathleen (Kit) Farrell (née Walsh), 'Hiilcrest', 6 Kilkenny Road, Ballylinan, Laois/Athy, Kildare died peacefully on 27 January, surrounded by her loving family, in the loving care of the staff of the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise.

Martin McEvoy, Raggetstown, Ballinakill, Laois/Abbeyleix, Laois passed away peacefully in The Little Sisters of the Poor, Ferrybank, Waterford, with his nieces by his side.

A LANDMARK family-run Laois store is set to close, after more than 40 years in business.

Patrick (Paddy) Dunne, Ballymorris, Portarlington, Laois and formerly of Congress Tce, Portarlington died peacefully on 23 January, surrounded by his loving family, at the Regional Hospital Portlaoise.