John Whelan
John Whelan has been a journalist, commentator, columnist, political analyst, campaigner, politician and publisher ever since he was 17. Having been Editor of the Leinster Express, Offaly Express and the Leinster Leader he has also contributed extensively on a number of issues to all of the country's flagship titles and programmes including the Irish Press, The Irish Independent, the Star, the Sunday Independent, the Sunday Business Post, The Sunday Times and Prime Time. He is founder of Communicate Ireland a PR, public affairs, event management and media services company.
He is the author of the popular camping blog, Vanhalla - Camper Heaven.
‘Welcome to Carlow’ signs out of place and out of order
Usually, ‘Welcome to Carlow’ or indeed ‘Welcome to Anywhere’ signs would be viewed as a positive, a gesture of friendship. But not if such...
Fine Gael shape up to win back seats in Borris-Mountmellick Area
It may have been freezing cold and snowing outside but there was a clear spring in the step of the Fine Gael members who...
Laois Fianna Fail Cllrs told to pull plug on Government as nurses strike looms
There were a few old sores opened as Fianna Fáil were warned that they should pull the plug on the Fine Gael led government...
County Hall finally gets its hands on County Hotel
In its heyday it was a hub of social activity on the Main Street but for years now it’s been one of the Town’s...
UPDATE: €20 million development for Portlaoise as Laois County Council secure CBS site deal
In a significant breakthrough for town centre regeneration in Portlaoise it has been confirmed that the Christian Brothers site at Tower Hill is set...
Wired with Whelan: Celebrating the great Jim Yorke, a photographer who excelled in a...
This is an extract from Growing Pains and Growing Up, John Whelan's new book celebrating 40 years in Journalism. It is available to buy...
Wired with Whelan: Portlaoise had an Arts Festival before Galway or Kilkenny – and...
This is an extract from Growing Pains and Growing Up, John Whelan’s new book celebrating 40 years in Journalism. It is available to buy in...
Lights, camera, auction – as Cafe en Seine fittings go on sale in Killenard
Ever fancy a piece of the American Dream? Well then, this stunning Airstream Safari Land Yacht travel trailer could be all yours.
It goes under the hammer...
Wired with Whelan: Politicians are great sports so now it’s time they sweetened the...
The Jacks are back,
The Jacks are back,
Let the Railway End go barmy,
‘Cause Hill 16
Has Never Seen
The likes of Heffo’s Army.
(1970s Dublin football fans chant...
‘Jerry will get a great send-off, and rightly so’
A tribute to Cllr Jerry Lodge by John Whelan
The Laois flag is at half-mast at County Hall. It’s for Jerry.
On Saturday he will make...
Wired with Whelan: There are three sides to every story
I got the Sky News blues
All over me
I got the Sky News blues
All over me.
Looking out my window,
Birds singing in the trees.
I believe that...
Wired with Whelan: Snow Patrol in the GAA, Skid Row at ‘The Mental’ and...
It's the dance you should know
When the lights are down low
Grab your baby
Then go
Do the hucklebuck
Do the hucklebuck
If you don't know how to do...
Wired with Whelan: Suicide is dangerous, it brings on many changes
Through early morning fog I see
Visions of the things to be
The pains that are withheld for me
I realize and I can see
That suicide is...
Wired with Whelan: ‘Shop local’ is not just for Christmas you know
How much is that doggie in the window?
The one with the waggly tail
How much is that doggie in the window?
I do hope that doggie's...
Wired with Whelan: On the contrary, we do need an election!
How can we be lovers if we can't be friends?
How can we start over when the fighting never ends?
Baby, how can we make love...
Wired with Whelan: Welcome to the new national pastime – the Blame Game
I'm gonna take your money
Count your loss when I'm gone.
I'm alright, Jack
I'm lookin' after number one.
If I want something I get it
Don't matter what...
Wired with Whelan: Demographics not demonstrations the only way to halt HSE Hospital plan
Your love is like bad medicine
Bad medicine is what I need, whoa
Shake it up just like bad medicine
There ain't no doctor that can cure...
Wired with Whelan Revisited: No Hollywood ending in sight for Portlaoise hospital
A prophetic piece on the hospital from LaoisToday back in April when we sounded a serious warning based on the ominous lack of commitment...
Wired with Whelan: We need the bottle to take on Coca Cola
Just a castaway
An island lost at sea
Another lonely day
With no one here but me
More loneliness
Than any man could bear
Rescue me before I fall into...
Sadness at passing of well-known local politician Joe ‘Hesh’ McCormack
Joe 'The Hesh' McCormack who passed away at the weekend at the age of 84 was for years a living legend thanks to a...
Wired with Whelan: Ode to Jack L … the boy from Athy finally makes...
Oh life’s a little mystery waiting to be solved
The questions they come pouring down
With a little pinch of salt
Forever poised to conquer, forever poised...
Wired with Whelan: The canonisation of Vincent Browne in the era of ‘experts’
Starry
Starry night
Paint your palette blue and grey
Look out on a summer's day
With eyes that know the
Darkness in my soul.
Shadows on the hills
Sketch the trees...
Wired with Whelan: Time to name and shame TDs who condone drink-driving
It was acceptable in the 80s
It was acceptable at the time
It was acceptable in the 80s
It was acceptable at the time
(Calvin Harris)
I don’t particularly...
Wired with Whelan: The Ballinspittle housing crisis comes to Ballymagash
Some of them were dreamers
And some of them were fools
Who were making plans and thinking of the future
With the energy of the innocent
They were...
Wired with Whelan: Rust never sleeps … and neither does greed
The king is gone
But he’s not forgotten
This is the story
Of a Johnny Rotten
It’s better to burn out
Than it is to rust
The king is gone
But...
Wired with Whelan: ‘Baptism barrier’ is an urban myth conjured up by church bashers
If I’m a pagan of the good times
My lover’s the sunlight
To keep the goddess on my side
She demands a sacrifice
Drain the whole sea
Get something...
Wired with Whelan: Leo is more my type, but Simon is not simple
Come gather ‘round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You’ll be drenched to the bone
Is your time...
Wired with Whelan: Forget about the IDA … they have gone away you know
I got a job working construction
For the Johnstown Company
But lately there ain’t been much work
On account of the economy
(The River, Bruce Springsteen)
On June 26,...
Wired with Whelan: Laois Surfers still making waves 15 years on
If everybody had an ocean
Across the USA
Then everybody’d be surfin’
Like California-a
You’d see ‘em wearing their baggies
Huarachi sandals too
A bushy bushy blonde hairdo
Surfin’ USA
(The Beach...
Wired with Whelan: Bord na Móna can sod off if they have nothing better...
Ho ro the rattlin’ bog
The bog down in the valley-o
And in that bog
There was a…
We are Bogmen! That includes you too girls, just...