The first programme of a three-part documentary series on Portlaoise called The Town will be broadcast on Virgin Media One, formerly TV3, on Monday, September 3.
This series, produced by Yvonne Kinsella for Motive TV, followed a number of people based around Portlaoise throughout the autumn and winter of 2017.
Among the previous work of the producers was a programme called Bypassed which focused on the towns affected by the M7 Motorway. A number of Portlaoise and Mountrath people featured on that.
Those to feature include Richie Reid and Julieka Cahill as Richie prepares for the Dublin Marathon in honour of his son Denis who died by suicide in late 2016; Christy Bannon about his life and how being involved in the pantomine helps him deal with depression; Nikita Quinn, a young single mother on her search for her forever home; newly weds Stephanie and Glen Kelly as they house hunt in Portlaoise and gym owner Yvonne Culleton.
The controversy surrounding the proposed downgrading of Portlaoise Hospital is also expected to feature strongly.
Fr Paddy Byrne and local councillor Noel Tuohy are set to feature as well as Rose Maher and Anthony Knowles and their young daughter Mary Claire who needs to be close to hospital services.
The camera crew also followed Steven Miller and the LaoisToday team, filming in the office, at Steven’s home and at a number of events.
Three one-hour programmes will be aired at 10pm over the next three Monday evenings and is the culmination of almost six months of filming.
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