1 – Interview with Niall Treacy, Manager of Treacy’s Bar & Restaurant – ‘A real family restaurant’
Our Business Briefing interview with Niall Treacy, manager of Treacy’s Bar and Restaurant in The Heath told the story of the hugely popular long established family business.
2 – ‘The experience has been unreal’ – Laois Rose Sinead Dowd ahead of Tralee TV appearance
The Rose of Tralee dominated our TV screens early this week. And our interview with Laois Rose Sinead Dowd generated considerable interest as she told of her story from New York to Cullohill – and what the Rose experience has been like.
3 – Fine Gael candidates line up as nominations close ahead of 2024 Local Elections
The 2024 Local Elections will get considerable coverage over the next 12 months – and this week Fine Gael moved a step closer to finalising their team as nominations closed in the Graiguecullen-Portarlington and Borris-in-Ossory/Mountmellick Municipal Districts.
4 – Electric Picnic set to take place two weeks earlier in 2024
It remains to be seen whether this is a good move or not – but Electric Picnic will take place two weeks earlier in 2024, from August 16-18.
Early Bird tickets went on sale during the week.
5 – ‘I think people are just surprised to see a young priest’: Fr David Vard on life as a 30-something priest and his recent move ‘just out the road’
As a 31-year-old who is an avid Munster rugby fan, is savvy on social media, enjoys travel and dotes on his nephew and nieces, Fr David Vard is like many others his age.
But as one of the youngest priests in the country who has featured on the Tommy Tiernan Show, his story diverges from those of other 30-somethings.
6 – Sadness following the passing of well known Laois publican
There was sadness in Laois this week following the news of the passing of the Paddy Ramsbottom, a hugely popular publican in Stradbally for a long number of years.
Paddy was the owner of Ramsbottom’s Pub in Stradbally for a long number of years before selling the business in recent times.
A giant of a man, he was a very talented sportsman in his younger years, playing hurling for Ratheniska, football for Stradbally and was one of the early members and players and a hugely influential and popular member of Portlaoise Rugby Club.
8 – Meet the Ottawa Rose who has strong Portarlington connections
Ottawa Rose, Aoife McDonald, whose dad Patrick is from Portarlington, grew up immersed in Irish heritage.
We chatted to Aoife McDonald ahead of her appearance in the Dome in Tralee.
9 – Laois GAA announce new U-20 hurling manager and confirm backroom teams for other squads
Laois GAA have announced that Damien Carter will be the new manager of the U-20 hurlers in 2024.
Ballinakill native Carter makes the step up from the minor managers role this year – having served as a selector in 2022. Laois GAA also confirmed the makeup of the backroom teams of their underage county sides for the 2024 season.
10 – Eight teams represented on our Senior hurling Team of the Week as group stage concludes
Abbeyleix led the way with five representatives on our most recent senior hurling team of the week – with Camross next in line with three.
