Christmas lights and political fights: December 2024 Laois news review

December began with a fitting start to the end, seeing an intense two days of tallying and counting within the General Election.

Scoil Chríost Rí opened its doors to count staff, media and politicians on November 30 and December 1.

Former Fine Gael County Councillor Willie Aird TD topped the polls, and was the first candidate elected to Dáil Éireann in Laois.

Deputy Aird secured almost a quarter of all Laois votes, earning 9,000 first preference votes in the county.

Fianna Fáil's Seán Fleming TD comfortably retained his seat, while he and his fellow candidate Austin Stack took a combined 22.5% of the vote. 

Independent Republican Brian Stanley TD took the final seat in Laois, following what he described as a 'dirty campaign' from political rivals.

Deputy Stanley made the shock annoucnement of his resignation from Sinn Féin in October, following Sinn Féin's handling of allegations of sexual misconduct against him.

Just 58.4% of the 65,873 people registered to vote in Laois exercised their right to vote on November 29. Despite voters having the choice of 12 candidates, the turnout is below the 59.7% recorded nationally. 

Storm Darragh tore through Ireland, leaving over 12,300 Laois customers without power. With fallen trees and power lines down across the country, it several days for some households to regain power.

Portlaoise has 3,911 premises without power, across eight separate outages.

Mountmellick has 3,556 without power, essentially the whole town.

In Portarlington, 1,306 were without electricity. Abbeyleix had 2,378 premises without power.

Shanahoe, Mountrath had 408 affected, while Mountrath had 844 without electricity.

Nearly three dozen motorists who had GoSafe speeding cases dismissed for being “unjust” despite being proven at Portlaoise District Court. 

In all, 32 motorists had summonses for speeding at Clogheen, Monasterevin dismissed by Judge Andrew Cody, who had previously voiced serious concerns about the level of GoSafe speed prosecutions in the 60km zone on a short stretch of the R445 road between Monasterevin and Ballybrittas.

“The question has to be asked, how can a 700 metre of roadway have the same level of prosecutions as all of Kilkenny, Louth or Mayo and over five times for the entire county of Leitrim?” asked Judge Cody. 

He listened to details of 38 speeding  summonses issued to motorists for driving over 60km/h  at Clogheen.  All summonses for driving below 80 km/h were dismissed as Judge Cody said  “it would be unjust to convict” the drivers.  Just six motorists who exceeded 80 km/h were convicted.   

A sister of young Laois man Joe Drennan said the man who killed the (Univerity of Limerick UL) student “should have been locked up like the animal he is” at the time of the fatal road traffic collision.

Sarah Drennan fought back tears as she read out an emotional victim impact statement at Limerick Criminal Circuit Court on Friday, December 13.

Joe Drennan, aged 21, of Knocknagad, Camross, Mountrath was killed at Dublin Road, Castletroy, Limerick almost on October 13, 2023 while he was waiting for a bus after working a shift in a local restaurant.

Earlier in the sentencing hearing, Insp Padraigh Sutton, said that Mr Fogarty was driving at 122kmph on the Dublin Road on the wrong side of the road, went through a red light, struck a glancing blow to a car which caused Mr Fogarty's car to spin.

A new Managing Director was appointed to the luxurious five star Ballyfin Demesne hotel. 

Ballyfin Demesne announced the appointment of Seamus Crotty as Managing Director following the retirement of Jim Reynolds, who oversaw the restoration of the hotel which opened in 2011.

“I am delighted to be joining the team at Ballyfin as Managing Director and I look forward to working closely with our owners, Jay and Liam Krehbiel. Ballyfin is a truly exceptional hotel, ranking amongst the finest in Europe,” said Mr Crotty. 

Schools across the county sent pictures to The Leinster Express / Laois Live of fantastic nativity performances, Christmas Concerts and carol services.

Towns across the county turned on their Christmas lights, and held festive markets and craft fairs.

Singer Daniel O'Donnell took to the stage in Rathdowney for a Christmas concert that rocked the town.

An eight year old Laois boy represented his county on RTÉ's Late Late Toy Show.

Mountrath eight year old Mason Omoregie had homes across Laois cheering for him as he proudly waved a Laois flag in the first ever Late Late Toy Show County Parade.

Dozens of events took place across Laois this December, with a wide range of tractor runs closing out the year.