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.

Featured in: Favicon

laois-nationalist.ie Favicon

irishtimes.com Favicon

dailypress.com Favicon

carlow-nationalist.ie Favicon

kildare-nationalist.ie Favicon

msn.com

irishexaminer.com Favicon

petnews2day.com

Articles

Students get a tour of quarry in Laois

1 week ago | laois-nationalist.ie | Joe Barrett

HARD hats and high-vis vests were all the rage when pupils from the Doonane and Crettyard areas of Laois who attend Newtown National School were given a guided tour of the Breedon Ireland quarry site in Spink as part of Biodiversity Week. The company deals in construction materials and provides materials to Great Britain, Ireland and the United States. Its Irish operations are headed up by the former all-Ireland GAA medal winner and manager of the Dublin Senior Gaelic Football team Pat Gilroy.
Laois pupil takes top spot in national poster competition

1 week ago | laois-nationalist.ie | Joe Barrett

A PUPIL from Saint Fiacc’s National School in Laois was among the winners at an annual national awards ceremony recently. Sixth class pupil Tia Keating was named as an overall winner in the Green-Schools Poster Competition and received the award at the ceremony that was held in Dublin.
Portlaoise man caught up in Liverpool parade horror crash

1 week ago | laois-nationalist.ie | Joe Barrett

A PORTLAOISE man who was injured in the Liverpool parade horror crash has spoken of the distressing scenes he witnessed on the day. Father of three Gary Hearns said that he along with his father-in-law Anthony Dunphy had flown over to see the title winning premiership match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace on the Sunday before the parade.
Workers targeted by union-busting employers says Laois TD

1 week ago | laois-nationalist.ie | Joe Barrett

INDEPENDENT Republican TD for Laois Brian Stanley said that all workers must have a right to Trade Union. Speaking recently on an opposition Bill in the Dáil he said: “As a state, Ireland is well behind other EU states in terms of the rights of workers to be represented by a Trade Union. In most other EU states this is legally guaranteed.
Petition organised in Laois calling for the retention of LEADER funding

1 week ago | laois-nationalist.ie | Joe Barrett

AN appeal has been made to the people of Laois to rally behind a campaign calling for the retention of funding for the LEADER programme. People in Laois are being asked to ensure the continued development of the county’s rural infrastructure by signing the petition calling on EU decision-makers to maintain funding for the LEADER programme.
New Kingdom Hall in Portlaoise

1 week ago | laois-nationalist.ie | Joe Barrett

TO CELEBRATE the construction of a new Kingdom Hall the Jehovah Witness congregation is inviting the community to an open day on Saturday 31 May from 10am to 4pm. After months of volunteer construction work by Jehovah’s Witnesses who handled every aspect of the project, from laying the foundations to applying the final touches to the building, the work began in December 2024 and was completed by February 2025.
Free seminar in Laois on orphan girls sent to Australia during the Great Famine

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

AS part of the 2025 National Famine Commemoration, a one-day history seminar will be held in Mountmellick Museum, this Saturday. The event is free to attend and will take place on Saturday next 24 May from 10am to 4pm. A week-long programme of events is underway across the country to mark this year’s National Famine Commemoration, which looks back on the catastrophic events of the Famine and how it affected every part of Ireland in the generations that followed.
Open day at new Laois premises of Jehovah Witness community - News - Laois Nationalist

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

TO CELEBRATE the construction of a new Kingdom Hall in Portlaoise, the Jehovah Witness congregation is inviting the community to an open day on Saturday 31 May from 10am to 4pm. After months of volunteer construction work by Jehovah’s Witnesses, who handled every aspect of the project, from laying the foundations to applying the final touches to the building, the work began in December 2024 and was completed by February.
Laois teen ambassadors honoured for promoting cycling among girls

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

FOUR cycling ambassadors from Portlaoise College have been recognised for their leadership and innovation in promoting cycling among girls. As part of the national ‘AndSheCycles’ campaign, Aeon, Celina, Kinga and Emilia travelled to Galway on 1 May to attend a special awards ceremony, where they celebrated their achievements alongside 11 other schools from across Ireland.
Over €300,000 approved for extension to childcare centre in Laois

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

A SUM of €309,475 has been approved for a childcare centre in Portlaoise which will allow for an additional 42 places for children. Laois TD Sean Fleming said the Government has approved the funding to provide an extra 42 places for children at the Birchgrove Childcare Centre that is located in the Respond Housing Estate in Portlaoise. “This is welcome news,” said Deputy Fleming. “It is or an extension to their existing facilities for community early learning and childcare services.