Hello and welcome to episode 13 of The Midweek Podcast with LaoisToday. 

Coming up on the podcast this week: 

On January 31st John 'Ulick' Conroy died following his battle with Covid19. As the family continue to come to terms with John's passing, they have started a fundraising campaign to help raise funds for Portlaoise Hospital ICU, St James Hospital ICU and Kolbe Special School in Portlaoise. 

John's daughter, Audrey Norton joined me on the podcast to discuss the fundraiser, how you can donate and the wonderful care that her dad received from the nurses battling this pandemic everyday on the frontline during her dad's stay in hospital. 

Garda Sergeant Graham Kavanagh is back with our monthly crime prevention discussion. Sergeant Kavanagh, discusses car crime, particularly that of theft of vehicles and theft from vehicles.  Graham also gives advice on how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of these crimes. 

Abbeyleix man Brian Killeen has been involved in music for many years, Brian is currently working on his own music career as well as working with the recently founded band, Shadybird. Brian chats to me about writing music, his love for The Beatles and performing in his favorite venue in his hometown of Abbeyleix. 

Thanks for listening to the Midweek Podcast with LaoisToday. This podcast is presented by Portlaoise native Paul Downey and is available to download every Wednesday on all podcast platforms. 

Hello and welcome to episode 12 of the Midweek Podcast with LaoisToday. 

Coming up on the podcast this week: 

On the 17 February, a draft bill was published by the Labour Party to end the link between entertainment and betting. One of the Senators behind the bill is local Senator, Mark Wall. 

Senator Wall joined us on the podcast to speak about the draft bill, how it came about and the ads that are currently out there at the moment promoting betting. 

Maureen Culleton has been involved in Irish dancing for many years. This year, Maureen will be dancing virtually for St. Patrick's Day with people from all over the world. Over the last few weeks, Maureen has been teaching people over Zoom the St. Patrick's Day dance. 

Maureen speaks to us about her love for Irish dancing, her home in Ballyfin and the people worldwide that are dancing with her. 

Continuing with our local artist feature: this week we are joined on the podcast by Portlaoise native Chris Conroy. Chris joins us to discuss his recent releases, his future work and who inspires him in the music industry. 

Welcome to episode 11 of the Midweek podcast with LaoisToday.

We have yet another jampacked line-up on the podcast this week: 

Mountmellick woman Joan Fennelly is currently preparing to swim across the Bristol Chanel. This follows on from her epic swim of the English Chanel in July 2020, with her fellow group members from the Henley Mermaids. 

We speak to Joan about preparations for the swim, life in the UK and her first time swimming in the Four Banks in her hometown of Mountmellick. 

At the age of 19, Niamh Cahill's life changed forever. Niamh was struck down by a rare brain infection that left her fighting for her life. After a tough journey through hospital and intense rehabilitation, Niamh has made a miraculous recovery. 

We spoke to Niamh about her journey, living with a brain condition and her work with Acquired Brain Injury Ireland and brain injury awareness. 

Continuing with our musical interviews, this we we speak with Brian O'Mahony. Brian known for his time in many bands over the years is currently with the well known band Pogueology and is now embarking on a new journey with a band called The Street Parade. 

Brian speaks to us about new music, recording music online, working in a studio during the pandemic and his bands new single out March 15th called 'Rabbit Hole'. 

The Midweek Podcast with LaoisToday is out every Wednesday and is presented by Portlaoise man, Paul Downey. 

Please remember, to rate, review and subscribe now to never miss and episode. 

Hello and welcome to episode 10 of the Midweek Podcast with LaoisToday. 

Coming up on the podcast this week: 

Following a workplace accident in 2014, Portlaoise native Gary O'Reilly was left paralysed from the waist down. After his accident, Gary spent the next year  going through intense physiotherapy and rehab. 

Fast forward seven years and Gary is now preparing for the final qualifying stages of Tokyo 2021 as Paracyclist. 

Gary is currently undertaking extensive training and he explains to us about paracycling and what it is. 

Having amassed nearly 13,000 Instagram followers, my next guest was named the LaoisToday Top Instagrammer in 2020. 

Lisa Sheppard from Durrow in Co. Laois is the founder of StayHomePlay. The page shares simple play and learning ideas for parents to follow. 

Lisa joined me to discuss life as a teacher, being mum to Tommy and how important it is for parents to take some time for themselves. 

Continuing on with our local musicians, The Electrix are a successful and very popular wedding band who have had what they love doing taken from them in the blink of an eye. 

Damian Carroll is the front man of The Electrix and he joined me to discuss many things including how important it is to keep the bands name out there during these challenging times for musicians. 

Music by: James Bay - Hold Back The River - The Electrix cover. 

Hello and welcome to episode nine of the Midweek Podcast with LaoisToday. 

Coming up on the podcast this week: 

Former Scoil Chriost Ri student Anna Lee Dowling is heading to the European Debating Championships.

The current NUIG student is one of only two first year students to be chosen to represent the college. Anna Lee spoke about her excitement of being chosen, sitting her Leaving Cert in a pandemic and much more. 

"About Milking" is a short story penned by Laois man, Peter Farrell. Peter was crowned winner of the Macra na Feirme short story competition this week.

Peter caught up with Steven Miller to discuss his recent win, studying law, working with RTE and Macra. 

Continuing with our musical guests, Abbeyfolk are a four piece band based here in the midlands.

I caught up with lead singer and guitarist John Hosey and Jim Ring who plays the whistles and Harmonica, to discuss how life has been for the band throughout the pandemic. 

Hello and welcome to episode eight of the Midweek Podcast with LaoisToday. 

Coming up on the podcast this week: 

From a career break in Brazil, to a book deal in Ireland, O'Dempsey's man and school teacher Michael Egan has had a busy few weeks. Michael has wrote a series of children's GAA books and they are now set for release in the coming months publisher, Gill Books. Michael joined me to talk about school life, The GAA and how important it is for children and his new books. 

Continuing with our musical guests, Laois lady Emer Dunne speaks to me as like many artists she continues to adapt to this new way of living throughout this pandemic. Emer plans to release a new single and album in the coming months as well as continuing to teach and do what she loves doing, making music. 

Music by - Emer Dunne - Untold Story. 

Hello and welcome to episode seven of the Midweek podcast with LaoisToday. 

Coming up this week: 

As we begin a new year and the Christmas season is behind us, how can we save money? Steven Miller speaks to David Peavoy of Peavoy Financial Planning about some top tips for saving you money and also how important Life Assurance is. 

Portarlington is home to Paralympic Swimmer Nicole Turner. Last year, hopes were dashed for Nicole as the Coronavirus pandemic saw the cancellation of the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. 

Two weeks ago, the Olympic Council set a provisional date in August for the 2021 games to go ahead. Following on from that, we speak to Nicole about her current training regime, travelling, school life and how important it is to shut off from social media during games. 

It's every bands dream to travel the world and play music. Back in March, Laois band The Crooked Jacks embarked on their yearly trip to the U.S. Unfortunately, they were no sooner there when they were told they would have to return home as a lockdown was imminent. 

Nearly one year on I speak to David Fitzpatrick from the band and we talk about what it is like travelling with the band, playing to different crowds and how The Crooked Jacks are coping throughout the pandemic. 

Music from The Crooked Jacks - 'Home Tonight' 

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Hello and welcome to episode 6 of the Midweek podcast, with LaoisToday, presented by Paul Downey. 

Coming up on the podcast this week: 

The Irish Forest Owners (IFO) are a national organisation that have been formed to support independent primary producer groups within the forestry industry. The group consists of nine forest owner groups and of those groups is the Laois Farm Forestry group. 

One man involved in the newly formed organisation is Laois native Andy Dunne and he discusses the role of forestry and what the Laois Farm Forestry group do. 

Crime doesn't stop just because we are in the middle of a pandemic. Now more than ever, it is important to be mindful and prevent yourself from becoming a victim of crime. Garda Sergeant Graham Kavanagh is the Crime Prevention Officer for the Laois/Offaly division, and he joins us for the first of our new monthly crime prevention section. 

Graham discusses many measures and tells us how important it is to update your emergency contacts on your phone. 

And continuing with our music series, we speak to Shane, John and Ros from Laois band Cua. They speak to us about missing performing, world tours and we hear there new single 'Sunrise' 

Like what you hear? Don't forget to share and subscribe. 

Hello and welcome to episode five of the Midweek podcast with LaoisToday. 

Coming up on the podcast this week: 

Who doesn’t love a new car? The look, the new car scent and that first drive. Stephen Butler is the Sales Manager for Joe Mallon Motors in Portlaoise, and we talked to him about sales so far in 2021 and how they’ve been working throughout the pandemic. 

Roghan Hayden is part of an organisation set up to enhance Timahoe. Tigh Mochua Le Cheile, have recently been granted €100,000 to carry out remedial works on the Timahoe Round Tower and Visitor Centre. Roghan tells us how Timahoe is better than Glendalough. 

Continuing with our local artist interviews, Drops of Green are a fantastic band on the Irish music scene at the moment, we speak to two of the members of the band, brothers Robbie and Lee Campion hailing from Durrow, in County Laois. 

Don't forget to like, share and subscribe. 

Welcome to episode 4 Midweek on LaoisToday. 

On this weeks episode, Portlaoise Panthers have been around for many years and are in search of new home, somewhere they can call there own. Seamus 'Shay' Dooley and Peter O'Sullivan are two club stalwarts and they speak about their plans and what they want to see in the county. 

Julie-Anne Miller is a LaoisToday photographer and this time last year she set off on a trip to Australia. She spent time in different parts of the country and met some Laois people along the way. She spoke to Steven Miller about her experiences in the country and also how the pandemic affected her trip. 

Durrow man Davie Furey is no stranger to the stage. Unfortunately he has had to swap the stage for his spare room where he continues to write music and do what he loves. Davie has a brand new album out called "Haunted Streets" and he tells us about that as well as performing, the pandemic and performing with family. 

Like what you hear? Make sure to like, share and subscribe!