PICTURES: Laois Year in Review: July a month of festival fun

July was a month of fun filled family festivals across Laois, but serious issues arose at Laois nursing homes, while swans were rescued from a Portlaoise lake oilspill. Full review story below photo gallery. Tap NEXT or the arrows to view it.

An incredible number of July Laois festivals included the Folly Festival, Laois Walks Festival, Midland Indian Fest, the Twin Trees arts festival in Ballinakill and Heywood Gardens, Old Fort Quarter Festival in Portlaoise, Timahoe Heritage Festival, Abbeyleix House summer open day, the Laois Brazilian community’s Festa Junina and Forest Fest in Emo.

The Health Information and Quality Authority threatened to take Emeis Ireland to court, over ongoing issues at The Residence Nursing Home in Portlaoise, with admissions also suspended at the French company’s Kilminchy Lodge nursing home.

A Laois man was killed in a tragic workplace death. John Maher, originally from Rathevan, Portlaoise and living in Rathangan died in an incident in Wicklow. He was married with two sons.

A fire hit two terraced houses in Portlaoise and damaged a third, on July 4, with luckily nobody injured. Laois County Fire & Rescue Service described the fire in Maryborough Village as “severe”.

The community of Abbeyleix came out in force for the visit from the judges in the international competition, Communities in Bloom. The town later won an award.

Ballacolla teacher Padraic Kavanagh celebrated his huge feat of cycling 1,000 km across the county to work, a gruelling 76km daily commute to Naomh Eoin NS in Killenard. He raised €16,480 for children’s hospitals, in thanks for the care of his premature twins, now aged three and thriving.

A wildlife rescue took place in Kilminchy lake in Portlaoise with an investigation launched after a serious oil spill. About 100 birds and chicks including a swan family saved, and later returned after a clean-up by the council.

About 80 families were unable to move into their expensive new homes at Sand Wood in Portlaoise, because it hasn’t been connected by the ESB. They had paid big deposits and many had to keep paying rent. “It is absolutely horrific,” one said.

Two Portarlington brothers claimed squatters rights on derelict land at Cooltederry, which Laois County Council was seeking to buy by Compulsory Purchase Order for housing. The brothers said that their horses grazed the land. Their claim was later overruled.

Also in July, hundreds of concerned people attended a meeting over two planned IPAS centres in Durrow, both by a local bar owner.

Archaeological finds were uncovered at the Rock of Dunamase, including pottery. The summer long dig was held ahead of construction of a new visitor carpark.

A major upgrade of facilities at Portlaoise GAA club took a big leap forward when Laois County Council approved permission for a new clubhouse.

The council promised to “drive on” the Portlaoise derelict county hotel housing project, after Clúid pulled out due to the cost of providing 10 small apartments, set to exceed €7m.

Meanwhile Portlaoise was at “grid capacity issue” for electricity usage. Laois County Council CEO Michael Rainey said that the ESB would resolve an immediate shortage within weeks.

“This town needs a further substation. We're actively engaged with the ESB. However Laois is open for business,” the CEO said.