Joe Barrett

Leinster

Senior Journalist, Reporter at Laois Nationalist

Journalist and all round dog’s body at the Laois Nationalist. All views are my own.

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Articles

Laois band to perform at major music festival in June

2 days ago | laois-nationalist.ie | Joe Barrett

LAOIS band ‘Alright Then’ has been added to the line-up of the Night and Day Festival in June. The festival, from Friday to Sunday 27 to 29 June, will also see such acts as KT Tunstall, The Wailers, Kerbdog, The Stunning, Paul Brady, Sultans of Ping and Fionn Regan performing. The Portarlington based band of Conor McLoughlin, Colm Geraghty and Cillian Deegan booked their spot on the festival line-up after they were the overall winners the Night and Day song contest.
New 1,000 student secondary school in Portlaoise nearing development - News - Laois Nationalist

3 days ago | laois-nationalist.ie | Joe Barrett

THE Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB) has formally put Laois County Council on notice of its intention to seek planning permission to construct a 1,000 pupil secondary school in Portlaoise. The development is on lands at Downes, Borris Little and Mellick in Portlaoise.
Important notice for all businesses in Laois

3 days ago | laois-nationalist.ie | Joe Barrett

THE Midlands Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Network along with Laois Chamber of Commerce and Laois Local Enterprise Office (LEO) are holding a workshop aimed at businesses in Laois. Entitled ‘Let’s Talk: Cyber Security & Business – The Hidden Costs of Being Unprepared,’ - the event is taking place on Wednesday 21 May in the Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise from 10am to 1pm.
Laois TD appointed to National Security and Defence Committee

3 days ago | laois-nationalist.ie | Joe Barrett

LAOIS Independent Republican TD Brian Stanley has been appointed to the National Security and Defence Committee. In response to his appointment Deputy Stanley said: “I Welcome the opportunity to be part of this important committee and comes at a crucial time for both our foreign policy and our defence as a state.” He said: “The ongoing attempts by the Taoiseach Micheál Martin to abolish the Triple Lock and draw us into a military alliance must be countered.
Laois football club gets green light for major upgrade of facilities

4 days ago | laois-nationalist.ie | Joe Barrett

THERE was delight in the Ballylinan area when local football club St Anne’s AFC was granted planning permission for a major upgrade of its playing facilities. The upgrade will see the addition of a full-size astroturf pitch, a community walking track, new floodlighting and an upgraded car park, which will transforming the grounds into a state-of-the-art hub for sport and recreation.
Laois playground to get a €20,000 upgrade

4 days ago | laois-nationalist.ie | Joe Barrett

LOCAL TD Sean Fleming has announced that a €20,000 grant has been approved to upgrade the playground in Mountrath to include a major biodiversity element. The upgrade work will see wheelchair-accessible seesaws installed, inclusive sensory playground equipment and biodiversity improvements in the playground. A condition in securing the grant was that there had to be local consultation with children and young people before the application was submitted.
Third-level scholarship available to Laois students

4 days ago | laois-nationalist.ie | Joe Barrett

PORTLAOISE College has launched a new community-funded initiative aimed at supporting access to third-level education. The McAleese Ozanam Access Scholarship will provide significant financial assistance to one deserving student to help meet the costs of a four-year undergraduate degree and will be presented by the former President of Ireland and current Chancellor of Trinity College Dublin, Mary McAleese.
Train station in Laois is designated Age Friendly

4 days ago | laois-nationalist.ie | Joe Barrett

BALLYBROPHY Train Station was officially named ‘Age Friendly’ at a launch ceremony on Friday 2 May. The recognition is in line with the principles of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Global Network of Age Friendly Cities and Communities and was led by Age Friendly Ireland in collaboration with the Laois Age Friendly Programme, Laois County Council and Iarnród Éireann. The Laois Train Station became the second such one in Ireland following MacDonagh Train Station in Kilkenny.
New footpaths needed in Portlaoise cemetery

5 days ago | laois-nationalist.ie | Joe Barrett

LAOIS County Council told local councillors that it is currently reviewing and calculating the extent of work that is needed to be carried out at Portlaoise Cemetery along the Stradbally Road.
Over 60 homes in Laois brought back into use following government grants

6 days ago | laois-nationalist.ie | Joe Barrett

ACCORDING to the Minister for Housing James Browne €3.6 million in Vacant Property Refurbishment Grants have been paid out in Laois to bring 67 homes back into use. He said the figures show in Laois that since the launch of the grant in July 2022 there have been 215 applications of which 162 were approved and 67 received grant aid up to 31 March this year.