1 – Deep sadness in Laois town as teenager passes away following brave cancer battle
There is deep sadness in Mountmellick this week following the news that a teenage boy has passed away following a cancer battle.
14-year-old Eoin Coss was diagnosed in February of this year and his community instantly rallied around him and his family.
A hugely popular member of the community, he was laid to rest on Monday of this week.
2 – Shock and sadness in Laois town as mother of three passes away
There is shock and sadness in Portarlington following the news that a mother of three has passed away.
Denise Geoghegan (nee Lyons) passed away suddenly on Tuesday afternoon.
She leaves behind her husband Emmet and sons Curtis (22), Corey (17) and Caeden (9). Her funeral mass takes place on Saturday morning.
3 – Man in his 30s arrested as woman in killed in Mountmellick
The town of Mountmellick was plunged into further sadness following the shocking murder of 34-year-old Sharon Crean at College Avenue in the town on Wednesday.
Originally from Wicklow, Ms Crean had been living in Mountmellick for the past number of years.
Sean Egan, aged 36, of Lios na Slí, Rathmiles, Portarlington, has been charged with the murder. He appeared before Portlaoise District Court on Friday morning where he was charged with the offence.
He has been remanded in custody and will appear again before the court on Thursday December 22.
4 – Warning issued after a number of reports of man impersonating Garda made in Laois
The Crime Prevention Officer for Laois and Offaly is warning people to be vigilant following incidents of a man impersonating Gardai.
Garda Graham Kavanagh said that several reports of such an incident have been made in recent times.
However, he thankfully confirmed that householders did not engage with this person after being tipped off by the Community Text Alert.
“Recent incidents of this type involve the ‘conmen’ requesting to check cash held by the injured party as a result of an increase in counterfeit cash circulating in the area, or that the ‘conmen’ need to check the security of the house as a result of an increase in burglaries in the area,” he said.
“An Garda Síochána will not cold call to a house and request to do either of these.”
5 – End of an era as long-serving Laois forward Ross Munnelly announces inter-county retirement
Laois’s longest serving footballer has announced his retirement from the inter-county game.
In 2023, Ross Munnelly will not represent the Laois senior footballers – ending a streak of unbroken service that goes all the way back to 2003.
The Arles-Kilcruise forward, who will turn 40 later this month, announced the news on Twitter this morning.
6 – Magic Mulhare leads Ireland to European cross country championship bronze medal
Mary Mulhare was the crucial runner as Ireland claimed a stunning bronze medal at the European Cross Country Championships this morning.
Ireland claimed a silver medal in this event last year but were without the talented Ciara Mageean and Fionnuala McCormack.
Therefore, many pundits didn’t give Ireland a chance of repeating a medal winning feat.
The battle for bronze was down between Ireland and Spain with Portlaoise’s Mary Mulhare set to be Ireland’s final scorer.
The Portlaoise CBS teacher crossed the line in 27th position and that was enough to secure the medal.
7 – Former intercounty manager set to be appointed new manager of Laois senior football champions
A former inter-county manager has appointed as the new boss of the Portarlington senior footballers.
Galway native Anthony Cunningham has been confirmed to succeed Martin Murphy in the hot seat.
Cunningham has a vast CV, including guiding the Galway senior hurlers to an All Ireland final, Roscommon to Connacht senior football success and Garycastle in Westmeath to the 2012 All Ireland club football final.
8 – Popular Laois county councillor announces decision to retire
Portlaoise-based Laois County Councillor Noel Tuohy has announced that he stepping down from his position due to medical reasons.
Cllr Tuohy, who was elected to the Council for Labour in 2014 and successfully retained his seat at the 2019 Local Elections, has undergone brain surgery in the past and announced at this morning’s Laois County Council meeting that he’ll be stepping back from his duties after the January meeting.
He said he’ll be returning to London for treatment in the new year and feels that he can no longer give the role his full commitment.
9 – Two Laois farmers set to go centre stage at annual Irish grassland association dairy conference
Laois farmers David Fennelly from Emo and Paul Hyland from Ballacolla will be among the guests set to speak at this year’s annual Irish Grassland Association National dairy conference.
The event, a significant occasion in the farming industry every year, takes place on January 18 in the Charleville Park Hotel in Cork.
The theme of this year’s event focuses on the changing practices required at farm level to farm successfully in a rapidly changing world.
10 – Portarlington duo return, goalkeeper changes, new faces – how the Laois senior football panel is shaping up ahead of 2023 season
Portarlington’s Colm Murphy and Robbie Pigott have returned to the Laois senior football panel ahead of the 2023 season.
A hugely influential figure during Portarlington’s three-in-a-row success over the past couple of seasons, Murphy hasn’t been involved with the county team since early 2020.
But along with Pigott – who missed the 2022 season – he has linked up with the Laois panel following Portarlington’s exit from the Leinster club championship.
