1 – ‘I don’t need any lessons from a school teacher’ – Sparks fly as Portlaoise Municipal District meets for the first time
Willie Aird has been elected as the chairman of the Portlaoise Municipal District for the next 12 months – but only after a fairly intense debate.
This was the AGM of the Portlaoise area of Laois County Council and the only item on the agenda was to elect the chair and vice-chair.
2 – Tailteann Cup: Byrne the hero as goals help Laois see off Antrim and reach final
Brian Byrne was Laois’s hero as his two goals helped them reach the Tailteann Cup final for the first time ever.
Justin McNulty’s charges were three points down with 15 minutes to play but goals from Kevin Swayne and a second for Brian Byrne, helped
3 – Call made for Laois senior footballers to receive homecoming after Tailteann Cup final
A call has been made for Laois County Council to organise a homecoming for the Laois senior footballers after the Tailteann Cup final next month.
At the AGM of the Portlaoise District, the suggestion was made by Independent Councillor Tommy Mulligan.
4 – Full list of properties sold in Laois during May as average house price rises to €250,000
There were 97 residential properties sold in Laois in May according to the Property Price Register, a significant increase on the 2023 figure.
Last May saw 74 homes sold, meaning there was a 24% increase year on year.
It is the first time in 2024 that the sales figures have increase, following a significant decline in the first quarter of the year.
5 – First for Mullins as new agreement sees Sinn Féin Councillor elected chair for the first time
After the drama and exchanges in the County Council chamber this morning, it was all very amicable this afternoon.
After the Portlaoise Councillors clashed over the way the chair and vice-chair was decided, those sitting in Graiguecullen-Portarlington have brokered a deal.
6 – Tailteann Cup hero Byrne hailed ‘a warrior’ as long road to recovery leads to Croke Park
It has been a long, long year for Brian Byrne.
He sustained a serious knee injury at the end of the National Football league last year which caused him to miss all of the championship with Laois plus most of the club championship with Graiguecullen.
Sunday, in Croke Park, live on RTÉ television, Byrne put all that behind him, scoring two vital goals to help Laois overcome Antrim and book their place in the Tailteann Cup Final for the very first time.
7 – New car sales in Laois decline by almost 50% in June compared to 2023, while petrol overtakes diesel as most popular engine type
The number of new car sales in Laois saw a sharp decline in May, dropping by over 48% compared to the same month in 2023, according to figures released by the Society for the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI).
A total of 42 new cars were recorded as sold here in May compared to the 81 sold 12 months ago.
It is only the second month this year to show a decline in new car sales in the County.
8 – Planning: Applications made for medical clinic in Mountrath, car rental hub in Portlaoise, ball wall in Timahoe, and sprint lanes in Emo
Giselle Lopes Semedo dos Reis has applied to the County Council seeking planning permission to form a new medical clinic in Mountrath.
The application is for the change of use of an existing ground floor retail unit on Main Street, Mountrath to form the new clinic.
9 – Lalors, Lawlors and Lawlers are invited to a clan reunion in Laois in July
The Lalor Clan are celebrating their 30th anniversary in The Manor Hotel in Abbeyleix on July 12-14.
If you are a Lalor, Lawlor or Lawler by blood or marriage you are eligible to join the clan and celebrate this event in July.
10 – Weekend Read: Meet the Laois teenager making waves on the international volleyball scene
Mountmellick native Patrick Cawley began playing volleyball just over three years ago and has since represented Ireland all over Europe.
He has played matches in Liechtenstein, Andorra, Romania and Scotland representing Ireland U-20s before his performances earned him a call up to the senior team.
