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.
1991 Election Memories: Liam Hyland champion of rural Ireland; Cathy Honan’s Senate term, the...
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‘Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose’, the more it changes, the more they...
Issue of Climate Change ‘is coming up on the doors’
The issue of climate change and extreme weather events is a topic that is coming up on the doors in the build up to...
Sleepless nights as heavy trucks and ‘boy racers’ take their toll in Laois villages
Lorries leaving the motorway to avoid the toll charges were causing horrendous noise at night-time and making it impossible for people along the Main...
Election Diary: Madigan calls for more play areas; movement on Carlow Southern Relief Road;...
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Call for more play areas
Portlaoise councillor, Pauline Madigan has called for the provision of more...
Astronomical cost of Mountmellick footpath gets the cold shoulder
A suggestion that the Council would provide a hard shoulder instead of a proper public footpath between Debicott and the Rock School in Mountmellick...
Councillor John Moran signs off with a few tears and admiration ringing in his...
‘All political careers end in failure,’ goes the well-worn quotation. Almost all, but certainly not John Moran’s.
The Ballylinan man attended his final Laois County...
Treacy’s of The Heath the main hub for Gordon Bennett June weekend Classic
This June bank holiday the roads of Laois, Carlow and Kildare will see some of the most spectacular classic cars, in celebration of the...
2009 Election Memories: End of the Bertie era, end of the PDs, demise of...
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When Bertie Ahern won his hat-trick of general elections and was installed for his third...
Respond reply to justify housing tenant deposit scheme
Respond, the voluntary housing association have replied to criticisms from some Laois county councillors to their practice of requiring a deposit from tenants who...
WATCH: Abbeyleix Bog punching above its weight for biodiversity
A Laois bog is back in the news headlines this week…and this time it’s good news.
It’s not a bog that’s being abused and dumped...
Say goodbye to beef farmers warning over poor prices
Where’s the beef? That was once a challenge to a previous government and their threadbare policies. Today it has changed to farmers having a...
1999 Election Memories: The count that ended up in court as Fianna Fáil glory...
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If it’s nail-biting drama, excitement and intrigue you are looking for, forget about the Game...
End of an era in Mountrath as Mai Dooley passes away
The removal takes place this evening of the late Mai Dooley from Mountrath. She was 86.
Mai, from Shannon Street, Mountrath will be fondly remembered...
Laois fire service ‘the best in the country’
Laois has the best fire service in the country. That’s no idle boast, it’s official. The Laois firefighters will travel to France in September...
In Pictures: Willie tries to milk it at best farm practices awards
Never one to miss an opportunity Cllr Willie Aird pounced on the revelation this week by Cllr Pauline Madigan that she is a farmer’s...
Row over lack of information on Rathdowney ‘refugees’
There was a bit of an argy bargy at the monthly Council meeting this week with contrasting views on the treatment of refugees coming...
An errant ‘y’ causes a sign problem for Laois village
They are not as provocative as the infamous Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri but there are three signs outside Borris-in-Ossory County Laois causing as...
Election Diary: All the President’s men, road repairs in Rosenallis and Mountmellick litter bins
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Road repairs in Rosenallis
Cllr David Goodwin has asked the Council to carry out road repairs...
Zach is back as Geelong put down an early season marker
Zach Tuohy has made a winning return to the Aussie Rules top flight this weekend.
It’s still early days but his Geelong team sit alone...
2014 Election Memories: Carnage even before the off, FF and FG power sharing, a...
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In the biggest blow to local government in forty years and the greatest damage inflicted...
Laois venue for prestigious open-air theatre tour
This sounds delightful. Laois has been included as one of a select number of venues for the performance of a prestigious outdoor theatre production...
Portlaoise woman was renowned soprano and chorister
One of Portlaoise’s best loved and well known parishioners, Lena Connolly has died. She was 82.
Mrs Connolly was famed for her gifted singing voice,...
Weekend Read: A campervan conversion is not just for Easter
Easter traditionally marks the start of the new camping season.
The evenings are longer, the weather is improving and the campsites which had been in...
In Pictures: Remembering the day Feargal Quinn came to town
President Michael D Higgins has led tributes to businessman and former senator Feargal Quinn, who has died at the age of 82.
Mr Quinn, who...
Laois Chamber to be revived as CEO position is advertised
Considerable progress is being made to re-establish a Laois Chamber of Commerce in the county. Up until this month, Laois was one of only...
1985 Election Memories: A Fianna Fáil landslide, first woman elected, some big casualties, and...
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The local elections of 1985 in Laois were the most significant and dramatic in more...
Mounting concerns over road safety at schools
Portlaoise councillors have spelled out in no uncertain terms to local authority officials their growing concerns about road safety and traffic management in the...
Election Diary: Kilminchy bigger than most towns, road safety at Crookedy, and issues at...
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Kilminchy bigger than most towns
With more than 700 houses there, many with young families, the...
Bord na Móna propose major renewable gas plant near Portlaoise
Bord na Móna have unveiled plans for a major renewable gas facility at Cúil na Móna near Togher outside Portlaoise.
The semi-state company engaged in...
2004 Election Memories: No TDs, some PDs, a Sinn Féin breakthrough and a split...
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While the country was still basking in the warm afterglow of Bertie Ahern’s second term...