For the last three Monday evening’s, the people of Laois and indeed the country have been glued to their TV screens,
Virgin Media One (formerly TV3) have been showing a documentary series about the fastest growing town in Ireland – Portlaoise.
This is a three part program and the final installment of it airs tonight. The series, produced by Yvonne Kinsella for Motive TV, followed a number of people based around Portlaoise throughout the autumn and winter of 2017.
So far, it has featured a number of different people including ourselves in LaoisToday and our columnist Fr Paddy Byrne.
Well-known Portlaoise postman Richie Reid and his partner, Julieka, spoke about the tragic loss of their son Denis to suicide in December 2016.
Local panto personality Christy Bannon spoke about his mental health and his struggle with depression, the contrast between his work as a prison officer and how being part of Portlaoise Pantomine Group is a creative escape for him.
Portlaoise hospital has been the main issue so far, with all those involved, including Rose Maher and Anthony Knowles, Noel and Marie Tuohy highlighting the importance of the local hospital in its entirety.
The programme last week introduced Dubliner Nikita who, after growing up in care homes, moved to Portlaoise in her teens and now lodges with her ex-partner’s parents.
Tonight, the documentary takes a look at the lives of two people involved in the Irish Defence Forces, Mary-Claire’s parents hopes of alternative treatment and other issues involving people living in Portlaoise and the townslands around it.
Check out the preview below:
#TheTown concludes tomorrow night on Virgin Media One at 10pm. pic.twitter.com/IJtsqsK5Hb
— Virgin Media One (@VirginMedia_One) September 16, 2018
