A retired Garda sergeant for the Midlands is developing a community safety toolkit to tackle issues such as domestic and gender based violence.

Graham Kavanagh is bringing his experience from working in crime prevention for Laois/Offaly division, to the role of Research and Development Officer at Muintir Na Tire.

It will consist of self led training modules on topics including domestic and gender based violence, and bystander intervention.

Mr Kavanagh has been speaking with Midlands 103's Will Faulkner and says he hopes to help people:

A community is coming together to raise funds in memory of a young Westmeath woman who lost her life while on holiday in Spain last month.

Michaela Newcombe, Michael McCullagh-Crichton and Amy McCullagh died after a road crash in Malaga and will all be laid to rest in the Mullingar area this week.

'Moving for Michaela' is a raising money for the Kevin Bell Repatration Trust which plays a crucial role in supporting families return their deceased loved ones from overseas.

Sinead Kelly from The Fitness Factory in Delvin will be leading a circuit class at St Patrick's Hall in the village from 8am on Saturday.

She has been speaking with Will Faulkner on the Midlands Today Show and says Michaela had a special way of connecting with clients in the salon she worked in:

Photo credit: Facebook/Havana Sun Mullingar

A Westmeath family has narrowly escaped devastating wildfires in Europe with just their passports and the clothes on her back.

Around 10,000 people have been evacuated near the French/Spanish border.

Mullingar's Orlaith Darcy was camping in Perpignan when a fire struck their site without warning.

She has been speaking with Will Faulkner on Midlands Today and says it was a traumatic experience:

A Westmeath man is set to represent Italy alongside his son at the GAA World Games next week. 

Rosemount's James Kinahan, who's been living in the northern city of Milan since 2001, will be lining out for Italy GAA, with his son Sean also taking part.

The games are an international celebration of Gaelic games, uniting players, clubs, and communities from around the world for a week of Gaelic football and Ladies Gaelic football competitions.

The event will take place in Waterford from Monday July 13th until Friday 17th. 

Despite only getting together once a month as a group, Mr Kinahan has been speaking with Will Faulkner on Midlands Today and says he keeps fit training on his own:

A Mullingar woman will represent Westmeath in this year's Rose of Tralee.

Caoilfhinn Ní Choiligh impressed judges by sharing her story of living with alopecia since the age of 15.

The 25-year-old wants to support others experiencing hair loss so she founded The Hair Loss Haven, a community that offers advice, support and meet ups for members.

She will now represent Westmeath at the 2026 Rose of Tralee Festival in Kerry, which takes place from August 14th to August 18th.

She says she wasn’t expecting it when her name was announced:

Applegreen is set to create up to 40 new jobs in Laois.

The American fast food restaurant Popeyes is partnering with its forecourts, with the first one opening at Midway Junction 17 off the M7 in Portlaoise in the coming weeks.

It's part of a €6m investment to open outlets at more locations over the next four years.

Applegreen's Managing Director in Ireland, and Emo's Seamus Stapleton has been speaking with David Hollywood and says Portlaoise was an obvious choice:

A Westmeath psychotherapist is warning of the dangers of gambling addiction, by sharing his own experience with it.

Daniel Coulter was first exposed to betting as a teenager when he placed and won his first one.

He says he use the money his mum gave him for food while he was in college to gamble.

He eventually went into treatment to overcome it, studied psychotherapy and opened his own business, Serenity Therapy, in Moate.

Mr Coulter has been speaking with Will Faulkner on Midlands Today and says he credits his family for helping him through recovery:

13 teachers from a Laois school are taking to the sky this September - and doing a parachute jump to raise funds for a therapy dog.

Presentation Primary School in Portarlington is looking to raise €15,000 euro to cover the costs to train and own one through charity My Canine Companion.

They were inspired to start fundraising after the visit of another therapy dog from another Laois school.

Karen Monaghan is a teacher at the school and says it will help the entire school community:

Forest Fest 2026 is almost here.

Echo and the Bunnymen, Madness and James wil headline this year's event in Emo from 24th - 26th of July.

Mary Coughlan will also be returning after a successful performance last year.

She's been speaking to Midlands 103's Sinead Hubble about why she's looking forward to the event:

Portlaoise is set to welcome a vibrant new outdoor space for its youth.

Local youth group 'Comhairle na nÓg Laois,' designed the outdoor space to be located in the People's Park in Portlaoise.

The new space will feature amphitheatre-style seating, a stage.

Páirc an Phobail is scheduled to open at the end of July.

Rori Keane from Comhairle na nÓg has been speaking with Midlands 103's Ann Marie Kelly and says it will be a great space for young people: