OLDER people in Laois are urged to prepare for harsh winter weather, with the launch of a new guide containing helpful advice and warnings.

A FLEET of emergency service vehicles will dazzle Portlaoise for ‘Blue Lights and Christmas Lights’ next weekend.

TWO defendants described as “chronic heroin and crack cocaine users” pleaded guilty to robbing a visitor to Carlow of €400, after he asked them for directions, while the second defendant also pleaded guilty to burgling a restaurant in Carlow town.

AN ASSISTANT manager pleaded guilty at Portlaoise District Court last week to stealing goods from her former employer.

THERE is a story of six people who froze to death around a campfire on a bitterly cold night. Each had a log of wood they might have contributed to the fire, but for reasons satisfactory to themselves, each person refused to give what they had.

BLUE lights were flashing in Ballylinan this evening, when Santa got a Garda escort to the village for the big switch-on of Christmas lights.

Ernest Patrick (Pat) Beaton, Ardskeabeag, Ballyglunin, Tuam, Galway/Corofin, Galway and formerly of Ashington Cresent, Dublin and Stradbally, Laois peacefully passed away at University Hospital Galway on 28 November in his 85th year, surrounded by ...

George Gallagher, Sanmigul, Moss Lane, Dublin Road, Portlaoise, Laois died peacefully on 27 November at the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise, in the presence of his brother Frank.

A LONG-RUNNING Laois charity has issued a warning about bogus collectors, who have been calling door-to-door over the past few days.

Michael (Mike) Flynn, Ross, Clonaslee, Laois died peacefully on 27 November in the excellent care of the staff at the Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore, surrounded by his loving family. Predeceased by his parents Annie and Martin.

THREE men accused of the theft of €138,063. 04 from Iarnród Éireann were each served with a book of evidence when they came before Portlaoise District Court last week.

LOCAL author, blogger, editor and Laois Libraries staff member Fiona Hogan who writes under the name F B Hogan, chilled horror and supernatural fans by reading from her latest book of short stories The Nightmare in Abbeyleix Library on the night ...

A WOMAN told gardaí that her former partner had allegedly tried to strangle and punch her when they responded to an emergency call-out to a domestic dispute.

GARDAÍ in Laois have arrested a man they dubbed the ‘Bluffer Trucker of Ballacolla’. The HGV driver gave false details and was committing a litany of traffic offences, when he was pulled in near the village yesterday.

NINE community projects in Laois will share more than €610,000 in CLÁR funding announced today. A Men’s Shed, schools and sports clubs are among those selected for grants ranging from €29,694 to €100,000, as part of a total county fund of €611,124.

STOLEN goods worth more than €3,000 have been seized by gardaí at a property in Portlaoise.

THREE Laois health centres are so outdated that they appear unchanged since the 1980s, a local councillor has claimed.

Mr Culleton suffered traumatic head injuries in an accident which was classified as a workplace fatality.

A NEW forum has been launched to help foster trust and cooperation between gardaí and the Traveller community in Laois.

Nora Kelly (née Byrne), Church Avenue, Stradbally, Laois died peacefully at her home on 27 November in her 92nd year, surrounded by loving family. Predeceased by her beloved husband Tommy.