1 – Sadness at death of Portarlington auctioneer Kate O’Shea
The death occurred this week of Kate O’Shea after a short illness, a Portarlington-based auctioneer, who was highly respected in her industry.
Professional, courteous and hard-working Kate ran her own business – Kate O’Shea Auctioneers and Valuers based in Portarlington.
From Walsh Island in Offaly, Ms O’Shea lived in Portarlington and worked in the property business in Ireland and the UK for close on 30 years.
2 – Planning: Conditional approval for 72 houses in Portlaoise and Montessori school in Stradbally
Laois County Council have given conditional approval for two noteworthy projects in recent days.
The first is in Portlaoise, where Brook Advantage Ltd have sought to alter previously granted permission for a 72-house development on the Borris Road.
3 – Laois GAA on the look out for a new senior hurling manager as Willie Maher steps aside
Laois GAA will begin the search for a new senior hurling manager in the coming weeks following the news that Wille Maher has stepped aside after two years in the role.
The Tipperary native – who had previously managed his own county at minor and U-21 level – announced his decision late on Tuesday night.
4 – Ballyfin named Number 1 Resort Hotel in Ireland and UK at Travel and Leisure World’s Best Awards 2024
Laois’s five-star historic country house hotel, Ballyfin Demesne, has been named the Number 1 Resort Hotel in Ireland and the UK at the 2024 Travel and Leisure ‘World’s Best Awards‘.
The award is in recognition of Ballyfin’s “commitment to providing exceptional service, breath-taking surroundings, and an unparalleled guest experience.”
5 – Drainage work to O’Moore Park means senior hurling and football championship matches fixed for club grounds and Centre of Excellence
The opening round of both the Laois senior hurling and football championships will be played in club grounds and in the Centre of Excellence this year as a decision has been taken to keep O’Moore Park closed for another couple of weeks due to drainage work.
Stradbally, Portarlington, Annanough and Mountmellick will host senior football games in the opening round of this year’s championship while Colt will play host to a senior hurling championship game.
6 – This is what I’m studying: David Moore (Medicine)
Our student series is back again for another week, a series of pieces where students are quizzed on their respective courses.
Every part of student life is acknowledged, from the course work itself to the pubs and nightclubs as we aim to give young people planning on attending college in September an idea what it is like to attend college or university.
7 – REVEALED: Most popular new cars sold in Laois during first half of 2024
New car sales figures are up slightly – both nationally and here in Laois; but how are the trends looking after the first half of 2024?
Across Ireland, new car sales went up in the first six months of the year on the same period in 2023, but only by a modest 1.7%, up from 77,602 to 78,934.
8 – ACFL Division 1: Kelly goal in extra time helps St Joseph’s claim glory
Jamie Kelly was the hero for St Joseph’s this evening, scoring the match-winning goal in the last minute of extra time to help his side claim the Laois Shopping Centre ACFL Division 1 crown.
Courtwood were the better team and should have won the game in normal time, but they simply wasted too many chances.
9 – How the club leagues will look in 2025 as standings finalised in this year’s competitions
The guts of 500 league hurling and football games have taken place in Laois in 2024 – and with the exception of the ACFL Division 3 final between Clonaslee-St Manman’s and Kilcavan, they have all now been completed.
And the picture for 2025 is now clear, as to who will be playing where.
10 – Incredible achievement as Brophy claims momentous All-Ireland Handball Title for Laois
Aoife Brophy of Cullohill Handball Club was crowned the Ladies All-Ireland 60×30 Junior Handball champion after a scintillating victory over a skilled opponent in Aishling Shanahan of Limerick.
En route to the All-Ireland Final, Aoife had defeated her own sister Úna in a thrilling Leinster Final that required a tiebreaker to decide the eventual winner.
