Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

The UN mission of Peacekeeping in Lebanon is being wound down, and Noel O'Callaghan, a retired sergeant major from Mullingar was one such solider who served on those missions. The Asian Hornet is an invasive species with a bottomless hunger and little to no natural predator, what are you to look out for? And the Friday Panel reviews the headlines and stories of the week gone by with David Hollywood.

Chaos in first day back to school as secretaries and caretakers go on strike, A lifetime in property sales and how it's changed. The Department of Education on the lack of school bus space. And knowing the difference between fair and unfair dismissal.

CAO offers are out today for 65,000 students, with experts urging parents to show compassion as grade deflation makes points races tougher. Students across the country say spiralling rents are forcing dropouts, couch surfing, and exploitative rental deals, worsening the higher education crisis. Vhi will raise health insurance prices by 3% from October—the second hike this year—adding up to €180 for families as costs continue to climb.

Over 35,000 people received free Ozempic for diabetes last year, costing the State €41m, with calls growing to restrict access as demand surges for weight loss. A Mullingar mother says Gardaí failed her family after her daughter’s suicide, with vital messages withheld for months and calls for formal family liaison roles. A new biodiversity project in Offaly will create 1,600 habitats this year, including ponds, orchards and mini-woodlands, as part of Hare’s Corner’s expansion.

A major review has linked youth vaping to serious health issues including migraines, pneumonia, infertility risks, and higher chances of smoking and drug use. Rents in Ireland are now double Celtic Tiger peaks, with average monthly rents at €2,053 and record affordability gaps shutting many buyers out of the housing market. A Mullingar mother has criticised Gardaí for failing to provide support after her teenage daughter’s suicide, as a coroner recommends new procedures for families.

Barry Cowen MEP says the new EU-US trade framework is a “major win” for Ireland, capping pharma and semiconductor tariffs at 15% and easing fears of harsher hikes. Mullingar’s regional hospital is joining Uisce Éireann’s water-saving programme as 50,000 Westmeath customers remain under hosepipe bans amid drought worries. New figures show almost 90% of children are waiting longer than the legal six months for an Assessment of Need, with average waits now stretching to 25 months.

Gardaí are investigating a social media influencer accused of scamming fans out of Electric Picnic tickets, allegedly making a six-figure sum before repaying part of it. School secretaries and caretakers will strike indefinitely from next week, demanding equal entitlements with teachers and SNAs. A Westmeath school has been ordered to pay €85k in compensation after a teacher was discriminated against during an interview, when the principal commented she should “enjoy every moment at home with the baby.”

Leprino Foods will shut its Portlaoise plant in 2026, ending mozzarella production and affecting local jobs despite promises of redundancy support and transition plans. Fine Gael’s presidential race has kicked off, with Heather Humphreys and Seán Kelly both declaring their bids to replace Mairead McGuinness as party nominee. Laois businesswoman Marie Byrne has gone public about repeated sexual harassment at her holistic therapy centre, vowing zero tolerance for inappropriate requests.

Filmmakers from Birr are creating The Last Dance, a documentary on the closure of Melba’s nightclub, exploring its legacy and the decline of rural nightlife. Donald Trump hosted European leaders and Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Washington after his Alaska summit with Putin, as he pushes for a Ukraine peace deal. Domestic abuse calls to Gardaí have soared 45% in four years, with nearly 42,000 already logged this year, prompting concern and calls for stronger support.

The Jim O’Connor Memorial Castle to Castle Swim returns this weekend, aiming to raise thousands for Pieta in memory of the late Athlone swimmer. Thousands marched in Ballinasloe demanding full maternity services be restored to Portiuncula Hospital, accusing the HSE of abandoning rural mothers. Oasis electrified Croke Park with their long-awaited reunion gig, delivering a slick 21-song set that left fans in euphoric nostalgia.

A damning Crowe Report has found poor productivity, weak supervision, and equipment issues within the Garda Roads Policing Unit, prompting calls for an urgent overhaul. Fine Gael is scrambling for a new presidential candidate after Mairead McGuinness withdrew from the race on health grounds. Developer Ciaran Fitzpatrick says his firm could build 10,000 homes in three years if given land with planning permission and proper infrastructure.

Laois TD Brian Stanley says over 80 families in Portlaoise are locked out of new homes due to missing ESB connections, accusing developers of misleading buyers. Records show subversive prisoners in Portlaoise Prison have long been allowed to order luxury groceries, from rib-eye steaks to speciality coffee, paid for from personal funds. Fashion chain Claire’s has entered administration in Ireland and the UK, putting over 2,100 jobs at risk as the company seeks a rescue deal.

An Indian nurse in Portlaoise says cancelling India Day after recent racist attacks sends the wrong message, arguing the event should have gone ahead. Fierce opposition has erupted in Clara after plans to expand Inchmore House’s capacity for asylum seekers from 36 to 230 were confirmed without community consultation. Mental health charity Turn2Me warns that nearly 1 in 10 Irish adults had a romantic relationship with an AI chatbot in the past year, calling it a sign of a deepening loneliness crisis.

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Abbeyleix native Martin Whelan has been appointed CEO of the Housing Agency, tasked with driving sustainable and affordable housing delivery. Laois primary schools are facing severe funding gaps, with some relying on parents to fundraise for basics like toilet rolls. A coroner in New Zealand says the electrocution death of Laois man Sean Clear on a farm could have been prevented by “simple, no-cost steps.”

The Fleadh Cheoil in Wexford has broken a Guinness World Record, with 1,018 musicians forming the largest céilí band ever. A political row has erupted in Athlone as Minister Boxer Moran is accused of hypocrisy over his withdrawal from legal action against a planned 1,000-capacity asylum centre. Health researcher Charlotte Blease says AI could help tackle gender bias in medicine, but warns it risks repeating mistakes if trained on flawed data.

A Kildare social media star has gone public about being diagnosed with haemochromatosis, urging young people not to ignore unexplained fatigue or pain. A major protest is taking place in Durrow against a planned wind farm, with campaigners warning of rural "industrialisation" and planning double standards. Irish woman Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra has died in New York under unclear circumstances, with tributes pouring in for the Carlow entrepreneur.

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner 6th August 2025

A leading gut health expert warns many trendy supplements are a waste of money and urges people to focus on real food and fibre-rich diets. Minister Boxer Moran is calling for permanent flood relief centres to improve Ireland’s response to extreme weather and protect lives. A new Mullingar-based organisation, Éist, has launched to support survivors of sexual violence and train communities in trauma-informed response.

With 300,000 households in energy arrears, the government insists October’s budget will still be “fair”—despite no plans for new energy credits. An Edenderry couple is fighting to secure a life-saving €4k/month drug for their baby with a rare condition, after HSE funding was refused. Clodagh Farrell, a 20-year-old UCD ag student, is gaining local fame with her self-service Cake Shed on a family farm in Offaly.