Claim OwnershipThe LoveLaois Podcast
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© 2025 LaoisToday
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A weekly news podcast brought to you by the team behind LaoisToday
136 Episodes
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Over and out. As 2025 comes to a close, we look back on some of the top stories from the year that was. Electric Picnic, the Presidential Election, a trip to New York and more time spent in the County Council chamber than we care to remember. Steven and Alan look back on the 2025 year and some of the major moments locally, what they enjoyed and what they didn't - and the types of stories and interviews they'd like to do in 2026.
A year after being elected to Dáil Éireann for the seventh successive term, Laois Fianna Fáil TD Sean Fleming joins us for a chat. In a wide-ranging discussion he hits on a number of big topics. He chats about the disappointment of not being re-appointed as a Minister for State after last year's General Election, his current role as chairman of the Oireachtas Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery and his ministerial experience in Finance and Foreign Affairs. He also discusses the recent Presidential Election, the Jim Gavin fiasco and why he voted for Billy Kelleher. Will he run again at the next election, what does the future hold for Fianna Fáil and how does he tune out from the almost 24/7 demands of being a TD?
When we last spoke to Aaron Doran, he had just assisted Evan Ferguson to help Bohemian's win the U-17 League of Ireland. Fast forward almost five years, and the Ratheniska man is still playing the sport that he loves. While some of his teammates from that game are plying their trade in England, Italy and Scotland, the midfielder's journey has taken him around Ireland. When his time at Bohemian's came to an end, Doran signed for First Division club Wexford FC. After a difficult 2023 season in the sunny South East, Aaron received the news that his contract would not be extended and he found himself without a club for the first time ever. But rather than pack it in, Doran dropped into the Leinster Senior League and rebuilt his career with Maynooth - a place where he was also in college at the time. A successful spell there saw him score a move to Longford Town this season where things took off again. Operating in midfield, Doran led his side up the table and they just missed out on a place in the playoffs. In the off season, Doran was named the club's Player of the Year and in the middle of his off season, Aaron joined Alan Hartnett for a chat.
In the latest LoveLaois Podcast, we chat about Steven's trip in the Laois Chamber dinner, enjoying Pat McDonagh's stories and why Alan was well impressed with Supermac's festive offering. Steven also looks back on the latest wonderful showing from the Portlaoise Musical Society while the lads also discuss some of the issues that came to the fore at this week's meeting of Laois County Council.
This week's LoveLaois Podcast focuses on a young Laois man whose political activism saw him score an invite to the inauguration of President Catherine Connolly. 18-year-old Harry McGree, a Leaving Cert student in Portlaoise CBS, was one of just 200 people who attended the event in Dublin Castle. Harry played a role in the Connolly campaign and was invited along with his parents Noel and Antoinette. In this interview, Harry explains how his interest in politics came from what he has endured since a very young age. Harry's dad Noel made protected disclosures against the Irish Prison Service where he highlighted alleged corruption.Public Accounts Committee hearings were told a Department of Justice report put the cost of the alleged wrongdoing exposed by Mr McGree at more than €20m.He has received formal apologies from the Department of Justice and the Irish Prison Service after his disclosures resulted in him being subjected to harassment and intimidation.But Harry is very much his own man and, despite being made homeless last month, he is an extremely positive person who says he wants to make a difference in the world.
The latest edition of the LoveLaois Podcast is here and it is a wide and varied episode. Steven Miller is joined by Alan Hartnett to look back at some of the stories that have made the headlines on LaoisToday. Catherine Connolly has been inaugurated as president since we last recorded following her election. There were plenty of council stories while the lads also took a trip to the AVIVA stadium recently.
The Irish public will go to the polls on Friday in the 2025 Irish Presidential Election, bringing the curtain down on a campaign that had all its drama in the early days. Will turnout reach 40%? What sort of vote will Jim Gavin get? How many spoiled votes will there be? Steven intends going to the Laois Count Centre on Saturday to observe this most occasional of elections. Alan hasn't been overly excited by the whole thing, Steven wonders what type of candidate Heather Humphreys would have taken out in a one-on-one contest and they both marvel at Catherine Connolly's ability to soak up the political pressure and bat away any type of question with considerable ease. From presidential chat, the lads then segue into a discussion about the Cumann na mBunscol after Alan spent all of Tuesday and Wednesday in O'Moore Park at this year's finals. Steven has an idea for a Laois GAA World Cup - would it work?
There's a lot to catch up on in the latest LoveLaois Podcast. Jim Gavin, Micheal Martin (Bertie gets a mention), Catherine Connolly, Heather Humphreys and Mick Wallace are all discussed on this week's LoveLaois Podcast. So too is the new Portlaoise Bus Service, the anti-social behaviour in Portlaoise Town Centre, the e-bikes, Alan's love of cyclists and, of course, the excitement of county final season as Steven reflects on a morning in Camross and Killanure.
With the summer well and truly behind us now, it was another eventful week on the local political scene. Alan was in the Laois County Council chamber on Monday for September's full meeting, the first since June, and it was a rather humdrum affair until a dispute broke out over the make-up of a new committee. Cllr Aisling Moran (Independent) and Cllr Paddy Bracken (Fianna Fáil) got embroiled in a war of words with Cllr Bracken provocatively suggesting that Cllr Moran return to Fine Gael, her former party. "You are more Fine Gael than me," thundered Cllr Moran in response. "The big Fine Gael head on you," she told the staunch Fianna Fáiler. Alan gives the backdrop to that story and he discusses with Steven whether you can have a certain political head or not. Steven is adamant that he could identify the leanings of politicians by just looking at them. They also discuss Jim Gavin (of Fianna Fáil) and his presidential campaign visit to Portlaoise on Thursday where he put down a lengthy canvass around the town.
The runners and riders are confirmed now for the presidential election and Steven was in Portlaoise Library on Thursday morning for the visit of Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys. Steven and Alan chat about the race - is it boring, should we have more choice, who should Maria Steen blame for not making it on to the ballot sheet and who is the most likeable candidate?Why didn't Sinn Fein field a candidate themselves, can Fine Gael win a presidential election for the first time ever and how will The Left all work together for Catherine Connolly. Steven previously met Catherine Connolly on her visit to Portlaoise so it means that the last show to get to town, if it does, is Jim Gavin and Fianna Fáil.
The latest episode of the Laois Football Podcast is here and this one focuses on everything bar senior. Steven Miller is joined by Alan Hartnett for this one where the duo start with Intermediate. The championship final between Park-Ratheniska and Arles-Kilcruise forms most of the chat as the lads evaluate both teams. They also look ahead to the B and relegation finals at that grade. While they briefly look at the Junior A semis and Junior C final which will also take place.
We return with our latest episode of the LoveLaois Podcast this week where the Alan and Steven chat about the shenanigans around the Irish Presidential Election - and in particular what happened in Laois County Council this week. Alan describes some of the characters that came before the councillors seeking a nomination, the drama over the vote and whether the Laois councillors were right or wrong to deny Gareth Sheridan a nomination.
The LoveLaois Podcast this week features a very special guest who has achieved international fame. Last month, Katelyn Cummins was crowned International Rose of Tralee - the first ever winner from Laois. On Monday, she was at Downey's to collect her brand new Kia car which she will drive for the year. Our own Steven Miller headed over for the event and caught up with Katelyn. Less than a month after her win, she speaks about how much her life has changed - and the parts she is trying to keep the same. Learning how to say 'no', what lies ahead for her in the next 12 months and her excitement at upgrading her car are also hot topics.
The 2025 Electric Picnic is now in the rear-view window and attention now turns to the 2026 edition.But before all of that, Steven Miller joins Alan Hartnett to look back at the weekend. LaoisToday performed on Friday with our sports quiz while Steven then took to the Main Stage with the Timahoe Choir. Tickets for 2026 went on sale this morning and sold out in an hour - leaving many locals disappointed.
It's Electric Picnic Eve and ahead of this year's festival, we caught up with chef Neven Maguire and Leo Moran of the Saw Doctors for separate interviews. The incredibly eclectic nature of Electric Picnic is epitomised by Neven Maguire. He's a well renowned chef who has had a national profile via his TV shows for a number of years. He's also the proud owner of Macnean House and Restaurant in Cavan. What isn't as well known is that he has also done DJ sets over the years and has an incredible collection of vinyl records. This Saturday in the Theatre of Food in Electric Picnic, he'll be doing a cookery demonstration as well as a DJ set. He chats about that, the history of his family business and his new upcoming show on RTE. We also hear from Leo Moran of the Saw Doctors, who will be playing Electric Picnic for the third year running. After a Main Stage appearance last year, they move to a prime time Friday night slot in the Electric Arena this year. On the go for almost 40 years, he chats about how Electric Picnic has opened them up to a whole new generation of young fans.
The LoveLaois Podcast returns this week as Steven and Alan chat about this year's Electric Picnic. Alan was at the press day on Tuesday - which is generally regarded as the Junket of the Year. As well as a free lunch and a bag load of goodies, he also came back with an array of random thoughts, chief among them his observations on other members of the media. Alan tells us all about who he met at the press day and who he's looking forward to seeing while Steven discusses his Main Stage appearance as a newly signed-up member of the Timahoe Male Choir. The lads also chat about a debut appearance in Hazelwood for the Stradbally Community Choir, the impact of the Electric Picnic locally and, of course LaoisToday's QuizCast in the Ah Hear tent in the Mindfield arena on Friday afternoon.
New Cathaoirleach Cllr Barry Walsh from Ballyroan dropped into the LaoisToday offices last week for a chat about his journey, his experience of politics so far and what he'd like to see achieved over the next year.
Laois man Shane Whelan has a bird's eye view of one of the world's biggest sporting event this year. As Director of Digital Marketing and Communictions with the British and Irish Lions, he's currently in Australia for this year's tour. It's his fourth tour to work on, having been in Australia in 2013, New Zealand in 2017 and South Africa in 2021. From Abbeyleix, he previously worked in communications roles with Basketball Ireland and the IRFU before moving to the role with the Lions where he oversees their considerable marketing, communications and social media operation. On this week's LoveLaois Podcast he chats about what the role entails, the team he oversees, being in the dressing room for some of the big moments and being away from his family for long spells of time. This episode was recorded on Tuesday of last week while Shane was in Brisbane ahead of the warmup game against the Queensland Reds. They then moved to Sydney to play the NSW Waratahs on Saturday and they play the ACT Brumbies in Canberra this Saturday. Indeed it's a tour that sees them traverse Australia - from Perth to Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide and Melbourne. The first test against Australia takes place in Brisbane on July 19 with the second and third tests in Melbourne and Sydney on the subsequent Saturdays.
After a couple of weeks of Alan and Steven, the LoveLaois Podcast changes tact again as it focuses on an interview with a very impressive Laois person. Last week, Alan sat down with Portlaoise teenager Jack Cleland who spoke about his journey in the world of soccer. The 16-year-old, who started out with Portlaoise AFC, is now ripping it up with St Patrick's Athletic in the U-17 League of Ireland. Comfortable as a striker or on the wing, Jack details how he has ended up where he is today. He highlights the ups and downs of such a cut throat sport and talks about his hopes for the future.
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