Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Larissa Tormey, a songwriter based in Kilbeggan, is eagerly preparing to join the Irish delegation heading to the Eurovision Song Contest. The former owner of a tattoo and piercing studio has been sentenced to eight years in prison for sexually assaulting two women and a teenage girl who had attended his business. The Department of Health has confirmed that it does not intend to add any new conditions to the Long-Term Illness Scheme.

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

The College and Career Expo is a free, engaging event designed for teenagers aged 14–17 to explore educational and career opportunities. The expo offers interactive zones, live demos, and one-on-one conversations with industry professionals, educators, and college reps. The event emphasizes real-world skills, practical career insights, and direct exposure to potential future pathways.

Parts of the Midlands are to experience a hose ban. Will €4M Just Transition funds be well spent? And get the best out of your garden for the upcoming summer

Midlands Today with Ronan Berry

Senator Maria McCormack has demanded urgent reform of the National Ambulance Service after a tragic death exposed dangerous delays, calling for temporary policies to keep ambulances local. The Irish Road Haulage Association raised the alarm over a massive spike in learner drivers, criticizing the RSA for a broken driving test system that’s pushing unqualified drivers onto rural roads. BNL Sciences plans to build a new facility in Portlaoise’s J17 Enterprise Park, offering potential job growth and supporting Laois County Council's long-term strategy to curb outbound commuting.

A new report recommends changes to Ireland’s in-camera rule, aiming to make family law cases more transparent and less traumatising for domestic abuse survivors, including allowing them to waive anonymity. Michelle Kenny shares a powerful personal journey from childhood selective mutism to an adult diagnosis of autism and ADHD, highlighting the need for better diagnostic pathways and support for neurodivergent individuals in Ireland. Twin brothers from Portlaoise CBS created Mooving.ie, a business directory to help people relocate to the Midlands, earning them a spot in the Student Enterprise National Final.

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Homelessness has risen in the midlands by 25%. Midlands MEP Says Death Of Former Westmeath Racecourse Manager Should Be Heeded. And would you avail of Climate Leave?

Nearly 300,000 hospital appointments were cancelled in 2024 due to capacity issues, staff shortages, and system inefficiencies—sparking calls for reform despite major investments. A Laois woman is crowdfunding €7,000 to build secure fencing for Arnold, her clever rescue pig who keeps escaping and lives with a menagerie of other animals. A Laois Traveller group highlights that 53% of youth services for Travellers receive no UBU funding, despite engaging more with youth than mainstream services.

Ericsson is investing €200 million over three years into its Athlone facility, backed by IDA Ireland, to advance 5G network management and automation with AI and machine learning. Members of Addictive Eaters Anonymous shared personal stories revealing how food addiction deeply impacted their lives and how the program, modeled on Alcoholics Anonymous, helped them find support and recovery. Experts stress the importance of protection insurance (life, critical illness, and income protection) as the foundation of any financial plan, citing real-life payouts and personal impacts.

A four-year-old boy was killed after being struck by a car near his home. A new partnership between local authorities and IPB Insurance will eliminate insurance costs for over 1,000 Tidy Towns groups in Ireland, allowing them to focus more on community work without financial strain. A majority of INTO members surveyed want secular patrons for primary schools and believe religious education should be removed from the classroom.

The passing of the people’s Pope – Will discusses the death of Pope Francis as well as the other stories that made the headlines in the midlands and beyond today.

Fuel prices remained stable in April, and while electric vehicle running costs had been falling, they also levelled off. Scientists may have found strong evidence of alien life on exoplanet K2-18b, detecting potential biosignature gases using the James Webb Space Telescope. Ireland's historic observatories are being considered for UNESCO World Heritage status, reflecting the country's rich astronomical legacy and North-South cooperation.

Uisce Eireann is putting an action plan in place after waste water pollution in Mullingar. Rape survivor and activist Hazel Behan is bringing a case to the European Court of Human Rights over Portugal’s alleged failure to properly investigate rapist Christian Bruckner over her 2004 sexual attack. A Laois road that has claimed five lives in recent years has still received no safety improvement works.

A midlands couple have been turning Ireland’s chocolate scene into something truly sweet. Ireland must ramp up its biosecurity and surveillance measures to prevent invasive Asian hornets devastating bee populations across Europe, an expert has warned. The new Minecraft movie has ushered a new era of chaos into Irish cinemas this Easter break with staff and parents alike left scratching their heads at the hordes of screaming children launching popcorn at screens.

The US company showing confidence in the midlands, the Irish company recruiting 1,500 new staff, the Midlands 103 Customer Service Awards now open for nominations - plus Health Matters with Dr. Dee & some complaints made to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland

Ireland is to join a European maritime intelligence network in response to the increasing numbers of Russian naval vessels travelling through Irish-controlled waters. An Offaly Tidy Towns Committee is calling an emergency meeting. An Artillery Field Gun Gifted to the People of Mullingar by Óglaigh na hÉireann / Irish Defence Forces will be back on Display In Mullingar's Columb Barracks.