Podcasts about portlaoise

Alpha Drives in Portlaoise is powering into its next phase, with a multi-million euro expansion and ambitious hiring plans. Managing Director John Dwan joins Ronan to discuss automation, engineering careers, and why advanced manufacturing is thriving in the Midlands. Louise McSharry of Make & Share outlines bold plans for a new Midlands Creative Cluster designed to connect designers, makers, and studios at scale. Kevin Scully of The Merry Mill shares the story behind Ireland's only certified organic flour mill—just in time for Pancake Tuesday. Plus, we preview National Enterprise Week 2026 and the packed schedule from the LEOs across Westmeath, Laois, and Offaly.

The trial of an American man who killed his father at the five-star Ballyfin Demesne hotel in Portlaoise 12th November 2024, during a psychotic episode told gardaí that he told his father he would always love him as he took his last breath.He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.Joining Shane was Frank Graney, Newstalk's courts correspondent.

Fiona from Portlaoise was on to play Rhyme It this morning. It was a close call for a weekly winner today

We had a newly engaged Rachael on to play Rhyme it with us this morning

A large brat bhríde, crafted by a group of Laois women, has gone on display in Dublin's GPO ahead of St Brigid's Day. Determined to keep the fading tradition alive, Portarlington woman Rita O'Loughlin founder of “My Brat Bhríde” teamed up with Portlaoise craftswomen to create an impressive 33-square piece.

Send us a text**NOT A CLIP FROM MARTIN'S LAST INTERVIEW**Ex-republcian prisoner Martin McAllister joins us again to share the story of one of the IRA's most brazen and risky one-man prison escapes, an escape that was masterminded & executed in the space of 2 hours. It resulting in an IRA man walking straight out of the British internment camp, all while being assisted, unwittingly, by one of the top prison guards.  Martin, not content with having once taken part in a mass-jailbreak from Portlaoise max-security prison, employed his skills of observation and opportunism to free a fellow republican prisoner who started the morning completely unaware that he would walk straight out of Long Kesh that day.

We had great fun chatting away to Donna on Rhyme It this morning. Cooper was a big fan of her sons name as well

We had great craic with Arlene on Rhyme It this morning. She even agreed to do something for Oonagh live on-air as well

New year, big dreams. Dave and Fionnuala test the waters to see how many iRadio listeners would be willing to get on a bus from Portlaoise to Prague for the World Cup Qualifier in March...

Karla who works at Screwfix in Portlaoise was on to play Rhyme It with us this morning. She gave Oonagh some vital information concerning her frost shield purchase that she still hasn't made yet as well.

One of the most shocking stories of the year was the disappearance of Kerry farmer Michael Gaine, whose dismembered body was found on his farm almost two months after he went missing. This murder remains unsolved.In June, Evan Fitzgerald (22) walked into a busy shopping centre in Carlow and opened fire. He then turned his weapon on himself and ended his own life.The year also saw some high-profile court cases, including the trial of Richard Satchwell, who was found guilty of murdering his wife, Tina. And there was the case of former superstar hurler DJ Carey, who was given five and a half years in prison for deception and fraud.For Crime and Security Editor Conor Lally, three stories stood out – for the events themselves but also for what they tell us about crime and policing in Ireland in 2025: the missing toddler Daniel Aruebose, whose absence went unnoticed for years and whose death is now a homicide inquiry; the discovery in Portlaoise of a far-right group who were allegedly planning an attack on Galway Mosque and the extradition of Sean McGovern from Dubai. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The annual Garda National Youth Awards celebrate outstanding young people aged between 13 and 21 years, and recognises the good work they are doing throughout their communities. The awards, held in Portlaoise, gives An Garda Síochána a valuable chance to truly recognise the remarkable influence young people have on their communities. In this episode, you'll hear from some of the 2025 winners. This podcast contains some discussion about suicide and self harm. If you are affected by anything you hear in the episode, you can call Samaritans on 116123, Pieta House on 1800247247 or in the case of an emergency, please call 999 or 112.

On Newstalk Breakfast yesterday, Tánaiste Simon Harris said he was “open to considering” tax breaks for developers.But, is this a viable solution to the housing crisis?Joining Andrea to discuss is Clement Herron, Real Estate Agent in Portlaoise, as well as listeners.

Birr is building its future—Barry Kennedy shares how the Birr 20:20 Vision is reigniting its Business Pillar and aligning with tourism to bring bold ideas to life. Aubrey Nuzum of Portlaoise-based Aubren reveals how their award-winning tech is cutting energy use and making waves globally. Bernie Everard and Ann Marie Feighery preview what's cooking in the Midlands Flavours marquee at this year's Ploughing Championships. And John Cusack celebrates 30 years of the Bridge Shopping Centre, from Gay Byrne's ribbon-cutting to 90 million visitors and counting.

Last night, Laois Rose Katelyn Cummins was crowned the 2025 International Rose of Tralee. The 20-year-old apprentice electrician from Kilkenny spoke to Jerry and to the managing director of the company she works for, John Dwan of Alpha Drives & Switchgear in Portlaoise.

This week on The Indo Daily, we are revisiting some of our favourite mini-series we produced in 2025 so far. Today we begin the first of our two-part special, Justice Derailed – The Sallins Train Robbery which was first released on April 21st; On the night of March 30th, 1976, a gang of armed men held a family hostage in rural County Kildare and derailed a mail train carrying the equivalent of over €1 million in cash and valuables. It was one of the most audacious robberies in the history of the Irish state—but today, it is remembered for very different reasons. What followed was one of the longest and most controversial trials in the history of the Irish state—one that would see Osgur's conviction overturned, but not before spending 17 months in Portlaoise prison. The IRA would later claim responsibility for the Sallins robbery, and nearly five decades on, Osgur is still seeking justice for his treatment in the Bridewell Garda station and wrongful conviction. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Claire de Mézerville López is joined by co-host, IIRP Associate Professor, Dr. Fernanda Fonseca Rosenblatt, for the “Powerful Intersection Between Restorative Justice and Art” podcast series, a special initiative by the IIRP together with the European Forum for Restorative Justice (EFRJ). Art has the unique ability to connect and facilitate dialogue, making it a powerful tool in restorative justice practices. Throughout the series, we will examine how artists from different disciplines and cultural backgrounds use their creative expression to foster communication, build empathy, and potentially repair harm. Each episode will highlight a different aspect of this intersection, featuring conversations with artists who have contributed to restorative justice processes through various art forms — be it visual arts, music, theatre, film, and dance. Geoff Power joins us to share his compelling journey integrating restorative justice into his creative works. From producing documentaries highlighting societal issues to crafting impactful plays like Stronger, Geoff's artistry explores complex themes of community, relationships, and personal transformation. Geoff reflects on his experience teaching creative writing at Midlands Prison, offering a unique perspective on how art can empower individuals within the justice system. His plays poignantly portray the human side of restorative justice, inspired by real-life stories of resilience and healing. Geoff is a playwright, documentary producer, print journalist, and sports reporter, with creativity having always been at the heart of his work. Based in Dublin, Geoff also works in Portlaoise prison, one of Ireland's maximum-security prisons, as a creative writing teacher.  This work has helped to steer Geoff's documentary work with Midas Productions, as well as to inspire the writing of Stronger for Gúna Nua's production in the Dublin Theatre Festival and featured in the EFRJ's 2020 REstART Festival. Across a range of creative mediums including film, tv, theatre and literature, Geoff's skills as a creator and producer reveal consistent themes of social justice and inequality often expressed through the voices of the marginalized in society.   Tune in as we uncover the profound impact of storytelling in advocating for restorative practices globally.

Zach was still a teen when he was scouted by the AFL in Ireland, beginning a great adventure in Australia, where he fell in love and unexpectedly became a dad. On his way home from training, a 24-year-old Zach would have to pull over on the side of the road to cry before he got home to his young family.Zach Tuohy was just 17 years old when he was scouted by the Carlton Football Club at a Gaelic football tournament in his home country of Ireland.He did two trials for the club before taking the plunge, leaving his family behind in Portlaoise and moving to Australia to become a professional footballer, first for Carlton and then for the Cats in Geelong.By the time Zach retired from the AFL in 2024, he had accumulated an astonishing 288 games, a premiership title, a loving Aussie wife and two beautiful sons.But Zach's great Irish-Australian adventure wasn't always a dream run.He struggled as a young, first-time dad, and didn't know who to turn to.On the way home from training, Zach would feel compelled to pull over on the side of the road and cry, alone in his car before coming home to his young family, pretending everything was ok.Further informationThe Irish Experiment is co-authored by Catherine Murphy and published by Simon and Schuster.Keep up to date with Zach's post-footy exploits on his Instagram page.Find out more about the Conversations Live National Tour on the ABC website.This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris and presented by Sarah Kanowski. Executive Producer is Nicola HarrisonIt explores the AFL, Carlton, Geelong Cats, Premiership, Grand Final, West Coast Eagles, fatherhood, post postpartum depression, postnatal depression in men, young fathers, migration, Irish in Australia, Aussie Rules, hurling, grandma's love, relationships, raising children, life after sport, professional athletes, Sydney Swans, Grand Final, footy.

Fresh calls are being made for investment in housing as businesses expand. The latest survey from the France Ireland Chamber of Commerce reveals 73 per cent of Franco-Irish firms see growth potential, but are frustrated over housing shortages and delayed infrastructure. The Chamber's survey shows skills shortages and geopolitical uncertainty also pose a challenge. Meanwhile, analysis of the power network shows that half the country's electricity substations have little or no capacity to connect new housing or other developments. The concern over capacity follows the news that 80 families have been left waiting months to move into their new homes in Portlaoise, Co Laois, with many now facing eviction from rental properties and loss of mortgage approval. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by, Joe Cooney, Bodyke Fine Gael TD and Mark Nolan, Shannon Chamber President.

Peter O'Connell speaks with the owners of homes in the Sandwood Estate in Portlaoise about delays connecting their homes to the electricity network.

In the heart of Portlaoise a forgotten patch of land, that was once a forgotten patch of land, has been completely transformed into a place of restoration and community.

A new mobile app, ESB Networks AR: The Story of Electricity, developed by Walton Institute at South East Technological University, was recently launched during the annual ESB Networks' Apprentice Network Technician of the Year. This innovative app offers an interactive, educational experience that brings the history and infrastructure of electricity in Ireland to life using cutting-edge augmented reality (AR) technology. The app also allows users to explore the ESB Networks Training Centre's live field in Portlaoise through a guided AR tour. Onsite visitors can use the app to access multimedia content, presented by a virtual tour guide, that explains the real-world electrical equipment and infrastructure they see around them. For those accessing the app, ESB Networks AR offers a rich multimedia journey through the evolution of electricity in Ireland - from generation to transmission, distribution, and final delivery to homes and businesses across the country, both urban and rural. The project was delivered through a research and development collaboration between the ICS Technology Gateway at Walton Institute and ESB Networks. Stephen Barnes, Senior Project Manager of the Extended Reality (XR) team at Walton Institute, said: "We're delighted to launch an app that combines education, storytelling, and technology. It's an exciting new way to engage people with the story of electricity and the important work ESB Networks does every day. As a former electronic engineer, I hope that this will not just give users a better understanding of the great work done by ESB Networks but also inspire the next generation of apprentices." David Harrington, Training Design and Systems Manager at ESB Networks, added: "This app reflects ESB Networks commitment to innovation and education. It enhances how we engage with visitors, apprentices, and the public, offering a hands-on, immersive understanding of the infrastructure that powers Ireland." This app is more than a tour. It serves as an educational tool that demystifies the fundamentals of electricity and showcases the vital work of ESB Networks. Schools, training centres, and colleges can also benefit from its use as an engaging introduction to electrical systems and infrastructure. One of the standout features is a virtual tour guide, created using advanced 3D scanning and facial animation technologies. Users can also experience immersive 360° footage from a technician's climb up a transmission tower, offering a unique and thrilling perspective on the work carried out by ESB professionals. The ICS Technology Gateway Programme is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Southern, Eastern & Midland Regional Programme 2021-27.

To preview the sporting fixtures, Alan Morrissey was joined on Monday's Morning Focus by Clare FM's GAA Commentator Syl O'Connor. Games Previewed: All- Ireland Senior Football Championship – Group 3:  Clare v Louth (Sunday, Laois Hire O'Moore Park, Portlaoise, 2pm)   All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship, Semi-Final:  Clare v Cork (Sunday, FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles, 1pm) 

It's claimed Clare need to prepared to withstand constant pressure and be wary of retribution in their do or die clash with Louth this weekend. The Banner round off their Sam Maguire group stage campaign on Sunday with a trip to Laois Hire O'Moore Park in Portlaoise to face the Leinster Champions, with the winners progressing to an All Ireland preliminary quarter final. Peter Keane's side delivered a strong performance in their Round 2 defeat to Monaghan in Clones, kicking 14 first half points including four two-pointers, while Cillian Brennan and Cillian Rouine are hoped to return to bolster the backline. Clare FM analyst Paudie Carmody says if the defence can hold firm, the firepower is there to punish Louth. Throw in on Sunday is at 2pm, with commentary on Clare FM with Ennis Home Furniture Quinn road Business Park, Ennis and Jones's Supervalu Milltown

jQuery(document).ready(function(){ cab.clickify(); }); Original Podcast with clickable words https://tinyurl.com/28jd5fzy Contact: irishlingos@gmail.com More inspections to be carried out on Emeis nursing homes. Tuilleadh cigireachtaí le déanamh ar thithe altranais Emeis. The Health and Safety Authority is to carry out inspections of two nursing homes owned by the French company Emeis in light of revelations about the two places in the RTÉ Investigates documentary which aired last night. Tá an tÚdarás Sláinte agus Sábháilteachta le cigireachtaí a dhéanamh ar dhá theach altranais leis an gcomhlacht as an bhFrainc Emeis i bhfianaise ar nochtadh faoin dá áit i gclár faisnéise RTÉ Investigates a craoladh arú aréir. The Authority indicated that inspectors would look at general health and safety matters at the centres in Portlaoise and Glasnevin in Dublin. Thug an tÚdarás le fios go mbreathnódh cigirí ar chúrsaí sláinte go ginearálta agus ar chúrsaí sábháilteachta sna hionaid i bPort Laoise agus i nGlas Naíon i mBaile Átha Cliath. Concerns have been expressed about the quality of care provided in both places since the documentary revealed that vulnerable elderly people were being neglected there. Tá imní léirithe faoi chaighdeán an chúraim a chuirtear ar fáil sa dá áit ó léiríodh sa chlár faisnéise go rabhthas ag déanamh faillí i seandaoine leochaileacha iontu. There is particular concern that appropriate policies are not being implemented when moving elderly people from room to room. Táthar imníoch go háirithe nach bhfuil beartais chuí á gcur i bhfeidhm agus seandaoine á dtabhairt ó sheomra go seomra. The Health Information and Quality Authority confirmed yesterday that it was reviewing every nursing home owned by Emeis in this country. Dheimhnigh an Údarás um Fhaisnéis agus Cáilíocht Sláinte inné go raibh siad ag déanamh athbhreithniú ar gach teach altranais atá ag Emeis sa tír seo. The Authority also said that in April they had banned Emeis from accepting more patients in Portlaoise and Glasnevin but that order had fallen on deaf ears. Dúirt an tÚdarás freisin gur chuir siad cosc i mí Aibreáin ar Emeis glacadh le tuilleadh othar i bPort Laoise agus i nGlas Naíon ach gur tugadh an chluas bhodhar don ordú sin. RTÉ News and Current Affairs Nuacht agus Cúrsaí Reatha RTÉ

Following two intense days of competition in the CanSat Ireland National Finals, a team of students from Confey Community College, Kildare, has today clinched the coveted national title. The CanSat Ireland competition is an ESERO Ireland collaboration, co-funded by the European Space Agency and Research Ireland and coordinated by MTU Blackrock Castle Observatory. The victory marks the end of a campaign that began in September 2024. All participants in this year's competition have displayed incredible technological prowess, with judges lauding the expansive expertise on display from the teams of young scientists. A CanSat is a simulation of a real satellite developed in the size and shape of a soda can. A European Space Agency initiative, the competition fosters an interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) careers by offering students a hands-on experience of a space-themed project. The multidisciplinary nature of the project ensures students are exposed to industry standards in a broad array of potential career paths. In recent months, regional competitions have taken place across Ireland, in partnership with the Technological Universities in Dublin, Athlone, Limerick, Tralee, and Cork. Regional winners gathered in Emo Court, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, on Thursday 1st May, and launched their mini-satellites in rockets to a height of over 350 metres. On Friday 2nd May, these national finalists presented their analysis, recordings and flight patterns to the judging panel consisting of experts from a range of STEM fields. Congratulating Confey Community College, Alan Giltinan, project coordinator for CanSat Ireland said: "Confey College can't be praised enough for this achievement. Winning the National Final of the CanSat competition is no small feat. Year on year, the STEM literacy of the participating students seems to increase as rapidly as the technology they're working with. The technical competency displayed by teams all over the country continues to surpass the expectations of the judges. These students represent Ireland's STEM future, and I think it's safe to say we're in very good hands! ." The students from Confey have been invited to attend the celebratory event, 'Space Engineer for a Day', at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in The Netherlands. The students will have the opportunity to explore ESTEC facilities and laboratories, network with space experts, and present their work to a panel of experts. The CanSat competition will re-open in September 2025. Students or teachers interested in competing in the next iteration of the project are encouraged to visit the CanSat project page at esero.ie. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

We recently had an email from Alan Phelan in Portlaoise. He was surprised to come across a pair of pigeons nesting on his windowsill. Fascinated with their behaviour, Alan contacted the show and we sent roving reporter Terry Flanagan down to investigate.

Meath and Louth will contest this year's Leinster Senior Football Final after the Royals beat Dublin at O'Moore Park in Portlaoise on Sunday.This will be the first time since 2010 that Dublin are not in the decider. Instead, Meath will face Louth after they beat Kildare on Saturday.Former Kildare footballer Johnny Doyle and Will O'Callaghan from Off The Ball spoke to Matt about the weekend's results.Hit the ‘Play' button on this page to hear the chat.

On the night of March 30th, 1976, a gang of armed men held a family hostage in rural County Kildare and derailed a mail train carrying the equivalent of over €1 million in cash and valuables. It was one of the most audacious robberies in the history of the Irish state—but today, it is remembered for very different reasons. What followed was one of the longest and most controversial trials in the history of the Irish state—one that would see Osgur's conviction overturned, but not before spending 17 months in Portlaoise prison. The IRA would later claim responsibility for the Sallins robbery, and nearly five decades on, Osgur is still seeking justice for his treatment in the Bridewell Garda station and wrongful conviction. Host; Kevin Doyle. Guest; Osgur Breathnach See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South East Technological University (SETU) and ESB Networks Training were pleased to announce a new collaboration aimed at enhancing the energy sector in Ireland. The collaboration will create learning opportunities, foster innovation, and strengthen industry-academic partnerships in the sector. The collaboration leverages the outstanding strengths and expertise of each partner that will benefit the wider community. This initiative builds on the unique strengths and expertise of both organisations. SETU's Extended Campus, based within the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, began preliminary consultations with ESB Networks Training in August 2024. These discussions have since led to the formation of a dedicated steering group tasked with guiding the partnership. The group's focus is on delivering key outcomes in education, skills development, instructor upskilling, and technological innovation within the energy industry. The collaboration was officially launched this week at the ESB Networks Training Centre in Portlaoise. Speaking at the event, Dr Frances Hardiman, Head (Carlow) of the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, said, "This partnership with ESB Networks Training represents a significant step forward in bridging the gap between academia and industry. By working together, we are not only enhancing learning opportunities but also driving innovation in the energy sector." Anne Meaney, SETU's Head of Extended Campus, added, "Our upskilling programme will be tailored to enhance the teaching and learning skills of ESB Networks instructors, fostering a culture of teaching excellence within the organisation. Alongside this will be the creation of a strong community of practice, to facilitate knowledge-sharing and collaboration. It will be comprised from a network of electrical lecturing staff from SETU, and instructors and subject matter experts from ESB Networks' Training Centre." Keith Kavanagh, Senior Manager, Technical Training and Development at ESB Networks, stated: "At ESB Networks, we are committed to fostering a highly skilled workforce equipped to meet the evolving demands of the energy industry. Our collaboration with SETU will enable us to share expertise, develop cutting-edge training programmes, and ultimately benefit the entire sector." The partnership highlights the shared commitment of SETU and ESB Networks to skills development, education, and technological progress. This ensures a sustainable and innovative future for the energy sector. The partnership will explore new methods of technology-enhanced learning, including blended delivery models and virtual reality applications. One of the steering group's initial priorities is to focus on the development of an SETU-accredited training programme in Electrical Network Operations. Learners enrolled on this programme will be formally registered as SETU students. Upon successful completion, this programme will pave the way for a broader suite of validated training opportunities. Access to vital infrastructure, including high-voltage substations, will provide learners from both organisations with invaluable, hands-on experience in real-world environments - ensuring Ireland's energy workforce is prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the future.

On the night of March 30th, 1976, a gang of armed men held a family hostage in rural County Kildare and derailed a mail train carrying the equivalent of over €1 million in cash and valuables. It was one of the most audacious robberies in the history of the Irish state—but today, it is remembered for very different reasons. What followed was one of the longest and most controversial trials in the history of the Irish state—one that would see IRSP menber Osgur Breathnach's conviction overturned, but not before spending 17 months in Portlaoise prison. The IRA would later claim responsibility for the Sallins robbery, and nearly five decades on, Osgur is still seeking justice for his treatment in the Bridewell Garda station and wrongful conviction. Host; Kevin Doyle. Guest; Osgur Breathnach Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ian and AL are joined in fight week by 2 lads who will feature on the upcoming ‘Night of Champions at the National Stadium where they boxed all their amateur careers. Cian Reddy boxed out of Portlaoise in the amateur vest & will look to go 5-0 with a win on Saturdays show. And Cork's Steven Cairns had a hugely successful amateur career - laden with Irish titles and now boxing under Dave Coldwell. | Keep up to date with us on social media?

Rory Burke's goal was crucial as Galway romped to a 1-28 to 0-8 victory over Laois in their opening game of the Leinster under-20 hurling championship in O'Moore Park, Portlaoise on Saturday (29th March 2025). Cullen Killeen, Conor Lawless, Jason Rabbitte and Brian Callanan were also instrumental in the scoring as Fergal Healy's charges effectively booked a quarter-final place. Galway Bay FM's match commentary team were Niall Canavan, Johnny Coen and Sean Walsh. == Galway's next game is against Offaly on Tuesday, 8th April.  Throw-in at Duggan Park, Ballinasloe is 7.30pm.

John Conroy's colorful career has taken him from Wall Street to the White House. He most recently set up an investment fund dedicated to investing in food start up companies. He joins us to discuss the falling US stock market as well as his new novel, inspired by a sex scandal in American politics.

ePower is to supply over 20 shopping centres across 14 counties nationwide with high speed EV charging points, following a partnership agreement with Lanthorn, which manages a portfolio of over €1.6bn of property throughout Ireland. Rollout will begin in 2025, and the sites where chargers will be installed include Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway, as well as busy urban areas like Navan, Dundalk, Mullingar, Athlone, Maynooth, Portlaoise and Kilkenny. ?ePower is working closely with Lanthorn in association with their project managers, KSNPM. ePower has been selected following a competitive process, which took into account the company's ability to offer high speed charging facilities, tailored specifically to each site, and crucially, the assurance that the sites would be maintained and serviced by ePower's 24/7 help desk, field engineering and remote management. Commenting on the development, John O'Keeffe, CEO of Power, said: "We're very proud to be part of the drive towards making electric vehicles a better choice for consumers. The rollout and delivery of chargers, be it through public or private partnerships, is key to this. Through this partnership with Lanthorn, ePower plans to have super-fast chargers installed at shopping centres around Ireland, from Donegal to Cork and many places in between; it's a great expansion for us in what's been a hugely successful year of growth." It's been a busy year for ePower; the company recently joined forces with Dublin's local authorities to bring online up to 200 fast chargers across the region in 2025. The initial phase of the project will see ePower's high-speed chargers installed at more than 40 Dublin locations across the four Dublin local authorities. The company also won six of 17 government contracts for the rollout of new high-speed electric car charging hubs across Ireland, due to be operational by the end of 2025. Shopping Centres that will see the installation of ePower chargers · Dunnes Stores, Stephens Green SC, Dublin · Swords Central Shopping Station, Dublin · Dunnes Stores, Donaghmede SC, Dublin · Nutgrove SC, Rathfarnham, Dublin · Dunnes Stores, Manor Mills SC, Maynooth, Kildare · Beechmount Shopping Centre, Navan, Meath · Navan Town Centre, Navan, Meath · Fairgreen Shopping Centre, Mullingar, Westmeath · Harbour Place Shopping Centre, Mullingar, Westmeath · The Golden Island Shopping Centre Athlone, Westmeath · Galway Shopping Centre, Headford Rd, Galway · Dunnes Stores, Parkway SC, Dublin Rd, Limerick · Castlewest SC, Ballincollig, Cork · Thurles SC, Slievenamon Rd, Thurles, Co. Tipperary · McDonagh SC, Kilkenny · Dungarvan Shopping Centre, Dungarvan, Waterford · The Marshes Shopping Centre, Dundalk, Louth · Long Walk SC, Dundalk, Co. Louth · Port Road, Letterkenny, Co Donegal · Cavan Retail Park, Dublin Rd, Cavan · Penneys, Laois Shopping Centre, Portlaoise, Co. Laois

Brian Stack, a Senior Prison Officer in Portlaoise, was brutally shot by the IRA in 1983, leaving him paralysed and brain-damaged. He died 18 months later, and to this day, no one has been convicted of his murder. Now, his son Austin Stack, who was just 14 when his father passed away, has written a new book, ‘Justice For My Father', detailing his ongoing quest for justice and his fight to uncover the truth behind the crime.Austin joins Kieran to discuss.

The life of this week's final Scriblerian, Thomas Parnell, rounds out the picture of the entire Scriblerus club as a fraternity of wildly brilliant men all carrying some great pain or wound. Some of them clearly write out of that wound, while others seem to write in spite of it. Parnell straddles the line, and today's poem is a fine example of his blending of bright energy with a sharp edge. Happy reading.Thomas Parnell (11 September 1679 – 24 October 1718) was an Anglo-Irish poet and clergyman who was a friend of both Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift.He was born in Dublin, the eldest son of Thomas Parnell (died 1685) of Maryborough, Queen's County (now Portlaoise, County Laois), a prosperous landowner who had been a loyal supporter of Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War and moved from Congleton, Cheshire to Ireland after the Restoration of Charles II. His mother was Anne Grice of Kilosty, County Tipperary: she also owned property in County Armagh, which she left to Thomas at her death in 1709. His parents married in Dublin in 1674. Thomas was educated at Trinity College, Dublin and collated as Archdeacon of Clogher in 1705. In the last years of the reign of Queen Anne of England he was a popular preacher, but her death put an end to his hope of career advancement. He married Anne (Nancy) Minchin, daughter of Thomas Minchin, who died in 1712, and had three children, two of whom died young. The third child, a girl, is said to have reached a great age. The marriage was a very happy one, and it has been said that Thomas never recovered from Nancy's early death.He spent much of his time in London, where he participated with Pope, Swift and others in the Scriblerus Club, contributing to The Spectator and aiding Pope in his translation of The Iliad. He was also one of the so-called "Graveyard poets": his 'A Night-Piece on Death,' widely considered the first "Graveyard School" poem, was published posthumously in Poems on Several Occasions, collected and edited by Alexander Pope and is thought by some scholars to have been published in December 1721. It is said of his poetry, "it was in keeping with his character, easy and pleasing, enunciating the common places with felicity and grace."-bio via Wikipedia This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dailypoempod.substack.com/subscribe

emocleW, emocleW, emocleW to the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip!This is your bonus FRIDAY REWIND episode! Today, we catch up with Robert Sheehan, originally episode 128 from 2016-12-107.Original writeup below!–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––As ever it's a heavyweight slammer of an episode as this week's guest of honour is television and big screen's Robert Sheehan! A delightful peek behind the curtain of the wild hectic acting game with Ireland's very own Robert, who drops gold at every step of this awesome chat with Pip. Everything from battling his caffeine demons, growing up in the easy to say and hard to spell Portlaoise, his acting career ladder and what each step entailed, his starring role on the amazing 'Misfits', his insane and dream (nightmare?)-like experiences on the set of his new film 'Jet Trash' (out on Friday 9th December!), and all kinds of nail-biting gossip from all over the set of his frenetic journey! Grand stuff - super energetic and inspiring goodies right here from a glowing gem of an actor.PIP'S PATREON PAGE if you're of a supporting natureIMDBINSTAGRAMPLAYING DEAD bookPIP TWITCH • (music stuff)PIP INSTAGRAMSPEECH DEVELOPMENT WEBSTOREPIP TWITTERPIP IMDBPOD BIBLE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To preview the sporting fixtures, Alan Morrissey was joined on Friday's Morning Focus by Clare FM's Derrick Lynch. Games Previewed: Sports Preview National Football League Division Three: Clare v Laois (Saturday, Portlaoise, 6pm) Munster U20 Football Championship: Tipperary v Clare (Saturday, Thurles, 2pm)

Aisling Kavanagh from Portlaoise tells Ray of her tale of losing her diamond on a Dublin to Portlaoise train.

Welcome to Tuesday's OTB Breakfast Bite - your bitesize sample of this morning's Off The Ball Breakfast.On this morning's show, James Tracy and Matt Dawson join us for some rugby chat.One of the country's best ever exports to the AFL, Zach Tuohy is with us in studio to discuss his new book 'The Irish Experiment'And our GAA correspondent Tommy Rooney looks back on the dazzling career of Dublin midfielder Brian Fenton, who is the latest player to retire from inter-county football.And it's there we begin our Breakfast Bite, as the Dubs exodus continues...Catch The Off The Ball Breakfast show LIVE weekday mornings from 7:30am or just search for Off The Ball Breakfast and get the podcast on the Off The Ball app.SUBSCRIBE at OffTheBall.com/join

Welcome to Tuesday's OTB Breakfast Bite - your bitesize sample of this morning's Off The Ball Breakfast. On this morning's show, James Tracy and Matt Dawson join us for some rugby chat. One of the country's best ever exports to the AFL, Zach Tuohy is with us in studio to discuss his new book 'The Irish Experiment' And our GAA correspondent Tommy Rooney looks back on the dazzling career of Dublin midfielder Brian Fenton, who is the latest player to retire from inter-county football. And it's there we begin our Breakfast Bite, as the Dubs exodus continues... Catch The Off The Ball Breakfast show LIVE weekday mornings from 7:30am or just search for Off The Ball Breakfast and get the podcast on the Off The Ball app.SUBSCRIBE at OffTheBall.com/join

Sinead Hussey, Midlands Correspondent, reports from Kolbe Special School in Portlaoise on concerns over the lack of therapists in special schools.

Eithne Dodd gets the reaction from people in Portlaoise to the resignation of Brian Stanley from Sinn Féin and Taoiseach Simon Harris explains what he wants to hear from Sinn Féin in the Dáil today.

Saoirse Brady, Executive Director Irish Penal Reform Trust, discusses issues facing the prison service following the hospitalisation of ten prisoners after suspected overdoses at Portlaoise Prison.

Gabriel Keaveny, Deputy General Secretary, Prison Officers Association

Conor Lally, Security and Crime Editor of The Irish Times // Prof. Colin O'Gara, Head of Addiction Services in St John of God Hospital and Clinical professor of Psychiatry at UCD // Michael O'Sullivan Former Head of the EU's Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre for Narcotics and former Assistant Garda Commissioner

Send us a Text Message.Around 130 bodies have been found in our Irish bogs to date, some male, some female, and children too. Some were thought to be there by accident, perhaps as a result of falling into the bog and drowning. Others were considered to be formal burials, and others appear to be murder or sacrafice.The most famous is known as Cashel Man, who was discovered near Portlaoise in 2011, and at over 4000 years old.  He is the oldest European bog body ever found with skin intact. Also discussed are Old Croghan Man from Co. Offaly, and Clonycavan Man from Co. Meath. Support the Show.Irish Mythology - Mythical Cycle - Book of Invasions

Brendan Hughes (not to be confused with the deceased Brendan ‘The Dark” Hughes) shares his truly extraordinary life story, a life shaped by his membership of the East-Tyrone PIRA in the early days of the conflict in the North.  Brendan tells us about his time ambushing British soldiers in the countryside and robbing banks to fund raise for the IRA and his thoughts on having to take human life for his cause. Brendan shares the incredible story of how masterminded the second ever prison escape involving a helicopter on Halloween 1973 and how he himself ended up leading a 19 man jailbreak from Ireland's most secure lock-up.His tale later involves a split form the movement and a team of assassins being spent to NYC to take out Brendan, one of whom Brendan would later meet.PLEASE SEND ANY & ALL SUGGESTIONS FOR GUESTS & EPISODE TOPICS to thegoodlistenerpodcast@gmail.com BUY THE BOOK: https://uplikeabird.comIf you would like to help out the show please like, subscribe and share. I plan on doing bigger things with this show including walk through of areas, documentary-type videos and more.. if you would like to help fund these efforts please consider donating on Buy Me a Coffee. (link below)Thanks a million!!https://www.buymeacoffee.com/goodlistenerpodcastTIMESTAMPS00:00 Growing up in Tyrone, first contact with sectarianism 07:20 Joining the IRA13:10 Robbing banks 24:40 AMBUSHING BRITISH SOLDIERS 31:00 Becoming an intel officer 35:50 Lead-up to MOUNTJOY HELICOPTER ESCAPE 45:30 DAY OF THE ESCAPE56:50 Getting caught & jailed 1:05:27 Planning the Portlaoise prison escape 1:14:20 DAY OF ESCAPE FROM PORTLAOISE 1:22:25 Immediately after escaping 1:36:25 Split from IRA (hit-team sent to NYC to get him)1:42:40 Back to prison1:44:25 Thoughts on united-Ireland

You just never know what kind of category you can get in Music Master.Today it was the turn of Claire Delaney in Portlaoise and Sara Lanigan in Kilkenny.