Carmel Hayes

Portlaoise

Journalist at Laois Nationalist

Featured in: Favicon

laois-nationalist.ie Favicon

carlow-nationalist.ie Favicon

beat102103.com Favicon

kildare-nationalist.ie Favicon

irishtimes.com

Articles

Full house as Mountmellick looks to the future

1 week ago | laois-nationalist.ie | Carmel Hayes

A FULL house showed up for the launch of a draft Town Centre First plan for Mountmellick, which sets out ambitious but achievable steps to regenerate the town centre. Residents, community groups, shopkeepers and business owners were among the large turnout at a public information evening in Mountmellick Library on 17 June, where the plan was enthusiastically explored and discussed. There was also a strong turnout at a business breakfast the following morning.
Remembrance Garden for babies to open in Laois

1 week ago | laois-nationalist.ie | Carmel Hayes

THE official opening of a Reflection and Remembrance Garden in Abbeyleix next week will mark the closing stage of a poignant project, bringing justice and recognition for unbaptised babies buried in unmarked graves. The reflection area will also be used by a group of bereaved mothers from the local community, who gather for a prayer service every October to remember their own lost or stillborn babies.
Heartbreak at death of Laois bakery café worker

1 week ago | laois-nationalist.ie | Carmel Hayes

HEARTBROKEN tributes have been paid to a popular Laois bakery café staff member, who passed away this week after a brave battle with cancer. Dora (Dorota) Gabrysiak was a familiar smiling face at Mueller & O’Connell Bakery in Abbeyleix and previously worked at Costa in Portlaoise. Originally from Poland, the mother of two made her home in Portlaoise and was loved by friends and customers for her cheerful personality and unfailing kindness.
Laois home for disabled children failed eight HIQA standards

1 week ago | laois-nationalist.ie | Carmel Hayes

A LAOIS care home for children with disabilities failed eight regulations when it was inspected by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). During a short-notice inspection, the residential centre for children aged six to 18 did not comply with a series of important care standards. Corrig Woods in Portarlington, which caters for children with autism and intellectual disabilities, was purchased by private operator Lotus Care Ltd in late 2022 and was registered with HIQA only a year ago.
Caravans moved from Laois site after 'intimidation' and fear

1 week ago | laois-nationalist.ie | Carmel Hayes

CARAVANS parked illegally in Laois for over five years have finally been moved but locals want barriers installed to prevent their return. The encampment at Treacy’s Cross in The Heath led to “intimidation” and other incidents that left residents in the area “very frightened”, a council meeting was told this week.
Stradbally vet is new chair of Laois district council

1 week ago | laois-nationalist.ie | Carmel Hayes

A VETERINARY surgeon from Stradbally is the new chairperson of Graiguecullen-Portarlington Municipal District (MD), just a year since she was first elected to Laois Co Council. Fine Gael councillor Vivienne Phelan was unanimously voted into the top role at the district AGM this afternoon, when she was proposed by cllr Paschal McEvoy (FF) and seconded by cllr Pádraig Fleming (FF). Aged in her 30s, she takes over the chair from Independent councillor Aidan Mullins from Portarlington.
Dates set for Laois free repair café - News - Laois Nationalist

1 week ago | laois-nationalist.ie | Carmel Hayes

THE first free repair café in Laois will open for two days this month, accepting everything from broken kettles and torn clothes to damaged toys and furniture. The pop-up Community Repair Café will open at The CUBE Low Carbon Centre of Excellence in Portlaoise, as part of a Laois Co Council drive to promote recycling and prevent dumping. The café at the business centre on Tower Hill will run from 11am to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday, 28-29 June.
Porsche driver on cocaine does 175kph in Laois

1 week ago | laois-nationalist.ie | Carmel Hayes

A PORSCHE driver recorded doing 175kph in Laois tested positive for cocaine, after the car was pulled in by gardaí. The driver was arrested and the Porsche was seized, following the dangerous incident on the M7 motorway yesterday evening. The Laois Roads Policing Unit described the scorching speed as ‘well above the limit and putting lives at risk’. After stopping the driver, the unit carried out a roadside drug test which proved positive for cocaine.
Portlaoise nursing home: 40 abuse claims in 18 months

1 week ago | laois-nationalist.ie | Carmel Hayes

THE Residence nursing home in Portlaoise notified HIQA of 40 allegations of abuse of a resident within 18 months. The mandatory notifications were made between December 2023 and June 2025, in relation to ‘suspected or confirmed’ abuse claims. There were also four notifications regarding ‘unexplained absence of a resident’ from the home during the same time period, as well as 17 of serious incident or injury involving a resident.
Burst main cuts water supply in Laois

1 week ago | laois-nationalist.ie | Carmel Hayes

A BURST water main is causing supply disruptions in a large Laois town, with outages likely to continue for the afternoon. The burst main is affecting supply in Portarlington and surrounding areas. In a notification today, Uisce Éireann said: ‘Repairs to a burst water main may cause supply disruptions to Portarlington and surrounding areas in Co Laois.