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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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A Garda helicopter
2024 has been a busy year for Laois.
Let's take a look at some of the top stories in Laois this July.
Portlaoise locals flocked to Midway service station to see the much-anticipated revamp following a €3 million investment.
The newly revamped location now features a new Braeburn Coffee Café, a Bakewell deli, as well as Burger King, Chopstix, and Subway restaurants. There was much excitement for the introduction of M&S Food in-store, with a special guest appearance of Percy the Pig on the service station's grand reopening.
Cullohill's Folly Festival was held on July 5 and 6 at Cullohill Castle, with activities and performances enjoyed by all ages. With heavy rain seen on the Saturday, spirits were still high in Cullohill.
Also in early July, Laois Senior hurling manager Willie Maher stepped down with immediate effect, having held the position since 2022.
“This decision was not made lightly, but after much reflection, I believe it is the right time for me to step away at this point," Mr Maher had said.
"I am proud of what we achieved together during my tenure and grateful for the dedication and hard work of the players, coaching staff, and supporters."
The festival, organised by Mountmellick Arts Collective and supported by Creative Ireland Laois, ran until Sunday, July 14.
Local talent was showcased across multiple venues, including a Video Art installation on the Famine Commemoration Walk remastered 1995 video that was shown in The Balcony Theatre.
On July 15, a Laois quarry was given permission from An Bord Pleanala to continue operating, despite objections from local residents.
Lagan Materials Ltd was granted permission, subject to conditions, which allow the removal of a maximum of 200,000 tonnes of material a year from an existing quarry at Knockbaun, Spink.
An Bord Pleanala approved the plans, subject to 16 conditions, which resulted in blasting resuming at the quarry, where up to 50 truckloads of material a day are removed.
July also saw the announcement of demolition plans for the old County Hotel in Portlaoise.
It is six years since a plan was first announced for the derelict building to become social housing apartments, to be built and owned by Clúid Housing. There will be eight 1 bed apartments and two 2 bed apartments.
Organisers of Laois' Forest Fest was embroiled in a High Court dispute with the Irish Music Rights Organisation Company Ltd (IMRO),which was resolved in July.
Portlaoise library celebrated one year open in their stunning new residence on main street. Since opening, the library has welcomed over 148,000 customers and issued over 90,000 items of library stock in this period.
The day was celebrated with events and festivities for the whole family on July 17.
That same evening, a garda helicopter was involved in a search for a number of individuals in Portlaoise.
Gardaí said they had responded to a car “acting dangerously on the motorway” earlier this evening.
When gardaí went to investigate a number of youths abandoned a car before fleeing into fields near the Portlaoise Plaza at Junction 17 on the motorway.
On July 23, makeup Artist and Netflix 'Glow Up' star James Mac returned to Laois for a special evening launch of his gallery exhibition ‘MakeupXART’ at the Dunamaise Arts Centre in Portlaoise.
The exhibition showcased the talent behind James' makeup artistry through a variety of prints, with the exhibition running from July to September.
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