Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Westmeath Rose Caoilfhinn Ní Choiligh celebrates being crowned the 2026 International Rose of Tralee after making a powerful impression by removing her wig on stage and speaking openly about living with alopecia.

Universities are criticising the handling of visa applications for Palestinian students from Gaza, after more than half of a group awarded scholarships to study in Ireland were refused entry.

Irish shoppers could face additional charges on goods bought from outside the EU, while new EU packaging regulations are also raising concerns about the potential costs for small businesses.

Tullamore Credit Union are launching their first student bursary, where 5 students will get €1,000 each to help them in their third level journey. Tullamore Credit Union are also offering reduced rate loan specifically for education. Head of Loans, Olive Jordan and Member Engagement Controller, Catriona Lawlor, joined Will Faulkner on Midlands Today to give our listerners more information on their initiatives.

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland warns that retaining teachers is becoming as difficult as recruiting them, with growing administrative workloads, burnout and staff shortages affecting schools.

Garda representatives are calling for greater pursuit training and legal protections following the fatal M9 crash, as the Justice Minister pledges additional resources to tackle dangerous driving.

A critically endangered bee has been discovered in Offaly for the first time, with the Silver-sided Nomad Bee recorded in Ireland for the first time in 26 years.

The ongoing drought is putting severe pressure on Midlands farmers, with reduced grass growth, rising feed costs and fears of a fodder shortage prompting calls for an emergency response from Government.

Westmeath Rose Caoilfhinn Ní Choiligh shares how losing her hair to alopecia at 15 inspired her advocacy work and her plans to become a wig maker supporting others experiencing hair loss.

Banagher actor Michael Hough discusses starring in Netflix’s new adaptation of Little House on the Prairie, where he plays railroad worker Eli James.

The parents of eight-year-old Oisín Gill from Rathdowney say they are desperate to secure a suitable school place for their son, who has been out of school since 2025 amid a shortage of special education places.

Household costs remain under pressure, with inflation at 3.4% in July as electricity, mortgages, home-heating oil and other expenses continue to weigh on consumers.

Questions are being raised about Ireland’s prison system after Alison Chawke was released under the community return scheme less than a month after being jailed, amid severe overcrowding in the country’s prisons.

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Calls are being made for consent education to begin from pre-school age, with children taught about personal boundaries and given age-appropriate choices around physical contact.

Daingean community groups outline ambitious plans for the town, including the €3.4 million redevelopment of the historic Town Hall, new sporting facilities and efforts to improve local amenities.

Hauliers are warning against plans to unwind fuel excise cuts as diesel and petrol prices continue to rise, amid concerns over the impact on motorists, businesses and the wider cost of living.

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Daniel Kinahan has been extradited from Dubai to Ireland and remanded in custody, facing a charge of directing the activities of a criminal organisation between 2015 and 2017.

Four Westmeath women who were sexually abused as teenagers speak about their decades-long journey to justice, the backlash they faced after coming forward, and why they want other survivors to seek support.

New crime figures show Westmeath had one of Ireland’s highest overall crime rates in 2025, including the country’s highest rate for assaults and threats, despite burglaries falling nationally.

Concerns are growing over rising fuel costs, with the fuel industry and road hauliers urging the Government not to reinstate excise duties, warning the move would place further pressure on rural households and businesses.

Plans for a new domestic violence refuge in Laois have moved a step closer, with proposals to increase capacity from eight to ten units awaiting final ministerial approval.

Killenard entrepreneur Barry Moroney explains how artificial intelligence helped him launch ApexGolf, an innovative app designed to help amateur golfers improve their game.