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The week that was – our most read stories of the last seven days

1 – Arrest made as man in his 60s found dead in Laois hotel

It was the news on everybody’s lips in Laois and the country as a whole this week.

Shortly before 8.00pm on Tuesday evening, Gardaí were alerted to an incident at Ballyfin Demesne where a male aged in his 60s was found deceased.

2 – Sadness in Portlaoise with the passing of GAA legend John Joe ‘Old Timer’ Ging

To captain your club to four senior hurling championship successes is the real stuff of legend – and that’s what John Joe ‘Old Timer’ Ging was in Portlaoise GAA club.

He passed away suddenly this week at his home on Greenmill Lane in the town, opposite the old Dunne’s Stores, aged in his late 70s.

3 – Laois woman set to feature on next episode of hit RTE TV game show

A Laois woman is set to feature on the latest episode of a hit RTE game show this weekend.

Sandra Maher, from Stradbally, will appear on The Money List on RTE One this Saturday from 8.35pm.

4 – Brian Stanley: ‘I have a family, I have a wife, I have children … they have been a source of immense strength’

Brian Stanley said this week that his family have been a “source of immense strength” over the past couple of weeks since his high-profile resignation from Sinn Féin.

A Sinn Féin member for more than 40 years – and a TD since 2011 – he left the party in a blaze of controversy last month and will contest this General Election as an Independent Republican.

5 – St Francis Special School plunged into ‘crisis’ as Department of Education order major reduction in classes

The Department of Education have plunged into ‘crisis’ the most vulnerable people in Laois, with the news of a class reduction being demanded of St Francis Special School, Portlaoise.

So says principal John Moran following correspondence he received from the Department recently.

6 – On the Canvass: Energy in abundance as Elaine Mullally and her ‘Mullarmy’ hit the streets of Portlaoise

An election campaign has the ability to bring kindred spirits together and that’s very much evident as Elaine Mullally and her team of campaigners gather outside the Beladd housing estate in Portlaoise for a Wednesday evening canvass.

It was dark, foggy and even beginning to rain lightly. But spirits are high and the humour was good.

7 – General Election: Once deemed utterly predictable, the Laois constituency is boring no more

The country goes to the polls on Friday, November 29. Counting will begin the following day and will continue into Sunday and Monday, at the very least.

The new Laois three-seater constituency would have been deemed one of the most predictable in the country, but things are no longer quite so straight forward.

8 – Amazing young Laois man and his dog set for festive fundraiser

An amazing young man from Laois will be giving up his time on Christmas Eve to do a 3km walk in the name of a very worthy cause.

Reilly Kinahan, 12, from Portlaoise, will be joined by his stability assistance dog Miller on the festive walk through the town.

9 – The Laois GAA Award winners for the 2024 season have been announced

The Laois GAA award winners for the 2024 season have been announced this morning – with 17 handed out.

A total of 15 GAA clubs are represented among the winners with a fine spread across the county.

10 – Kind-hearted Laois seven-year-old makes the cut for charities

Poppy Behan

A seven-year-old Ballybrittas girl recently sacrificed much of her crowning glory by taking part in the Locks of Love for LauraLynn hair donation fundraiser.

Poppy Behan, a first class pupil at Rath National School, parted with a substantial amount of her beautiful long blonde tresses to fundraise for LauraLynn, Ireland’s children’s hospice.