Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Mullingar boxer John Donoghue has claimed his second World Under-19 Boxing Championship title, while his brother Jason Donoghue and clubmate Louise Joyce secured bronze medals. Alicia Ennis and Layla Ayres also brought home European Under-15 bronze medals for St. Brigid's Boxing Club. Calls for a new prison in the Midlands are gaining support among local councillors, amid concerns over rising anti-social behaviour, prison overcrowding and the challenges facing Gardaí A major Traveller mental health conference in Tullamore is highlighting the disproportionately high suicide rate within the Traveller community and calling for more accessible, culturally appropriate mental health services.

Ballinahown in Co. Westmeath has been crowned Ireland's Tidiest Town for 2026, also winning the Tidiest Village award, while Abbeyleix in Co. Laois was named Ireland's Tidiest Small Town. Demand for youth mental health services is rising in Laois and Offaly, with Jigsaw recording 489 referrals in the first six months of 2026, compared to 318 during the same period last year. Offaly County Council has exceeded its annual housing targets, but local councillors warn that the targets remain too low to meet growing demand and are calling for greater Government support.

A Portlaoise woman living with PCOS is raising concerns about women's healthcare after spending days in hospital with severe pain, claiming her requests to see a gynaecologist have gone unanswered. A newly qualified nurse from Rosemount, Co. Westmeath, says she feels let down by the HSE after promised employment opportunities were put on hold, leaving graduates uncertain about their futures despite staff shortages in hospitals. The Government is facing criticism over a controversial consent awareness video encouraging grandparents to seek permission before hugging their grandchildren, with the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre removing the advertisement following widespread backlash.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has issued a formal State apology to the family of murdered Portlaoise Prison officer Brian Stack, acknowledging serious shortcomings in Garda investigations into his killing more than 40 years ago. Storm Austen is set to bring heavy rain and strong winds across Ireland, with Met Éireann issuing weather warnings and cautioning about flooding, transport disruption and dangerous travel conditions. New figures reveal Ireland lost more than 13% of its available wind and solar electricity during the first nine months of 2026, enough to power almost half a million homes, prompting calls for greater investment in battery storage.

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Tullamore cancer survivor Vanessa Mooney has launched Someone Like Me, a new app connecting cancer patients and their families with others facing similar experiences, offering private peer-to-peer support throughout diagnosis, treatment and recovery. The Sheraton Athlone Hotel is operating at limited capacity following a major water leak that forced guests to evacuate and temporarily closed Athlone Towncentre, with the full extent of the damage still being assessed. Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan has accused solicitors of deliberately targeting rape cases during industrial action over criminal legal aid payments, after six cases involving rape allegations were adjourned. Solicitors have rejected the accusation.

A man has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison for the manslaughter of Offaly man Paul “Babs” Connolly, who died following a prolonged assault while on a stag night in Athlone in 2022. The family of murdered Portlaoise Prison officer Brian Stack is set to receive a formal State apology over the mishandling of three Garda investigations into his killing by IRA members more than 40 years ago. Flooding caused by a sprinkler system fault at the Sheraton Athlone Hotel has forced the relocation of guests and affected neighbouring businesses in Athlone Towncentre Shopping Centre.

A new law will prevent cancer survivors who have completed treatment and been in remission for five years from being unfairly penalised when applying for mortgage protection insurance, with Junior Finance Minister Robert Troy sharing his family's personal experience of cancer. Diesel prices have climbed to a national average of €2.14 per litre, a 24% increase since February, with global supply shortages raising concerns that high fuel costs could continue into 2027. Award-winning Tullamore business Bon Chocolatiers has suffered extensive smoke damage following a fire at a neighbouring commercial unit, leaving its production facility badly affected as the owners work to reopen.

Gardaí are investigating threatening emails sent to schools across the Midlands, with at least 15 schools in Offaly and Westmeath reporting the communications and authorities assessing their credibility. A new report reveals the National Just Transition Fund created just 183 direct jobs in the Midlands, compared with a target of 1,094, raising questions about the effectiveness of the scheme. The Government and public sector unions are facing renewed pressure to reach a pay agreement following the largest public sector strike since 2009, with further industrial action threatened for October 21.

Ericsson's plans for a new innovation hub in Athlone, major disruption from nationwide public sector strike action, and financial support for farmers facing rising fertiliser costs feature on today's programme.

A nationwide strike involving 300,000 public sector workers is set to take place on Wednesday, forcing the cancellation of the Dáil sitting as the dispute over a new pay agreement continues. House price inflation has slowed to 3.9% nationally, its lowest level in over three years, with the number of properties listed for sale increasing by 12.5% compared with last year. Community groups in Kilcormac are appealing for an end to vandalism following repeated damage to public seating, signage and planting, with volunteers warning that valuable funding is being diverted towards repairs.

More than 23,000 Teachers’ Union of Ireland members are beginning industrial action over delays in negotiating a new public sector pay agreement, ahead of Wednesday’s nationwide strike. Credit unions are warning that excessive spending on online prize competitions and raffles could affect loan applications, potentially reducing how much people can borrow. Birr GAA kitman Pio Spillane shares his personal journey through addiction and mental health struggles, and how the support of his local GAA club helped him rebuild his life.

Former GAA president John Horan has been appointed to lead the integration of the GAA, LGFA and Camogie Association, replacing Mary McAleese following disagreements over the timeline for merging the three organisations. RTÉ could have €20 million in funding restored following Budget 2027, provided the broadcaster demonstrates sufficient progress on its reform and redundancy programme. Renewed calls are being made for improvements to endometriosis care in Ireland, with women reporting years of pain, delayed diagnoses and difficulties accessing specialist treatment.

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Midlands Today with David Hollywood - covering Budget 2027

Midlands Today with David Hollywood

- Specialist adult Type 1 diabetes services in Mullingar have been suspended due to staffing shortages, with no firm date for reopening and new referrals currently not being accepted. 
- An Athlone man has received a six-year prison sentence for stabbing a former friend seven times while on bail for a separate violent attack, with the sentence to run consecutively to his existing jail term. 
- Calls are being made for a universal tax-free inheritance threshold ahead of Budget 2027, amid concerns the current system is creating financial difficulties for families inheriting property or money. 

Midlands Today with David Hollywood

The long-awaited Midlands Hospice is running €12 million, or 30%, over budget, with the HSE carrying out a value-engineering exercise on the project following years of campaigning and local fundraising. 011026 Family Carers Ireland says 71% of carers are struggling to make ends meet and is calling for the Carer’s Allowance means test to be abolished, alongside increased weekly payments and greater practical support in Budget 2027. 011026 EU authorities have launched an investigation into popular online games including Candy Crush, Minecraft and Clash of Clans over concerns surrounding virtual currencies, in-game purchases and consumer protection.

More than 100,000 public sector workers are beginning industrial action today over delays in securing a new pay agreement, with work-to-rule action ahead of two planned strike dates in October. 
A nationwide 15-minute walkout is taking place to highlight violence against women and girls, following the deaths of 10 women in violent circumstances in Ireland during the first nine months of the year. 
New research shows a sharp rise in the number of people receiving ADHD medication through public schemes, increasing by 314% between 2015 and 2024, amid calls for patients to be reimbursed for medication costs

A father and daughter have died following a workplace incident at Banagher Precast Concrete in Offaly, with the Health and Safety Authority launching an investigation and the local community described as being in deep shock. 290926 Irish households are estimated to throw away around €60 worth of food every month, with the EPA highlighting the financial and environmental impact of food waste. 290926 A €5-per-person nightly tourist tax could generate almost €220 million a year for local authorities, according to new research, although the hospitality sector has raised concerns about the potential impact on tourism

More than 1,000 people attended a meeting in Moate over rising fuel and living costs, with organisers warning further fuel protests will take place if the upcoming Budget fails to deliver the action they are seeking. House price inflation is showing signs of easing nationally, but prices continue to rise across the Midlands, with listed prices up 8.9% in Laois, 4.3% in Westmeath and 2.4% in Offaly compared with last year. Doubts have emerged over whether the Government will approve a proposed 79-cent increase in the national minimum wage, which would bring the hourly rate to €14.94 from January.

Health insurance customers are facing higher premiums alongside reduced benefits, with some policyholders potentially left with shortfalls of up to €6,000 for procedures such as hip, knee and shoulder replacements. A new round of fuel protests could take place ahead of Budget 2027, with campaigners due to meet in Moate this weekend to discuss their next steps as concerns grow over rising fuel and energy costs. Rank-and-file Gardaí are set to refuse overtime on five dates next month, including Budget Day and Halloween, with the Garda Representative Association saying the action follows growing frustration among members.

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Midlands Today with David Hollywood

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Nine prisoners overdosed at the Midlands Prison after drugs were reportedly delivered by drone, with one prisoner left in a coma and targeted searches underway to recover the remaining contraband. Primary school teachers are set to begin industrial action next month over delays in securing a new public sector pay deal, including a work-to-rule from October 5 and a proposed nationwide strike on October 14. A new smartphone pilot involving Longford and Westmeath ETB will restrict students’ access to social media, gaming, internet browsing and cameras during school hours, while keeping calls and texts available.

RTÉ has confirmed Ireland will not participate in or broadcast the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, citing the ongoing humanitarian crisis and loss of life in Gaza. The National Ploughing Championships will move to Rathangan, Co Kildare next year, following two years in Screggan, with this year’s event attracting 243,000 visitors over three days. Additional funding is being announced for the national DRIVE project, which supports people affected by drug-related intimidation and violence, alongside a new drug prevention lead for the Midlands.

Midlands Today LIVE from the National Ploughing Championships 2026

Midlands Today LIVE from the National Ploughing Championships 2026

Midlands Today LIVE from the National Ploughing Championships 2026

Midlands Today with David Hollywood

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary is facing widespread criticism and calls to apologise over comments comparing rival airlines to “rapists,” with campaigners and politicians describing the language as deeply offensive and inappropriate. Offaly golfer Stuart Grehan’s absence from the Irish Open is being questioned despite a remarkable year that has included winning the Amateur Championship, the European Amateur Team Championship and the Walker Cup. Midlands Today broadcasts live from Athlone to explore ReSHAPE, an AI-enabled platform helping people identify their existing skills and career pathways while supporting employers with upskilling and workforce development.

Four HSE regions, including Dublin and Midlands, are set to lose control over day-to-day spending after significant overspending, with the health service recording an overall deficit of €577 million by the end of July. Offaly County Council is proposing to charge Uisce Éireann €100,000 per kilometre for the planned Shannon water pipeline, which would amount to €8.2 million for the 82 kilometres running through the county. Criminal legal aid certificates have fallen dramatically since a new scheme was introduced, with just eight granted in Portlaoise in July compared with 171 during the same month last year.

The future of plans to integrate the GAA, LGFA and Camogie Association has been thrown into doubt following Mary McAleese’s resignation as chair of the Integration Steering Group, amid disagreement over timelines and costs. Irish students remain among the world’s strongest performers in reading, maths and science, but new PISA results show a significant decline in reading and maths scores in recent years. Forty Irish firefighters travelling to New York for 9/11 commemorations were left stranded at Dublin Airport following widespread flight disruption, with Offaly firefighter Phil Keegan among the group.

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Reaction to Katie Taylor’s historic retirement fight at Croke Park, with her photographer James Crombie reflecting on the occasion alongside author Louise Coghlan. Thousands of tents and pieces of camping equipment can be abandoned after festivals, with Electric Picnic sustainability campaigner Pip Sheridan calling for more to be recovered, repaired and reused. With Irish hospital waiting lists approaching one million patients, greater awareness is being urged around the EU Cross-Border Healthcare Directive and the option of accessing planned treatment elsewhere in Europe.

Seven non-native skunks were captured and destroyed after being discovered near a protected raised bog, amid concerns over the potential threat they posed to native wildlife and breeding birds. Westmeath and Longford have emerged as Ireland’s strongest broadband hotspots, with both recording 96% coverage for gigabit fibre broadband, as rural counties outperform many urban areas. A woman has appeared before Athlone District Court accused of allowing her Westmeath home to be used for drug-taking during an incident in which a two-year-old girl consumed cocaine and was left critically ill.

Mullingar businesswoman Una Leonard shares the story of her late mother Pauline and the vital support her family received from the Irish Cancer Society’s Night Nursing service, which provides free end-of-life care at home. US President Donald Trump is expected to visit Ireland next week, with plans for meetings with President Catherine Connolly and Taoiseach Micheál Martin before travelling to Doonbeg for the Irish Open. A strengthening “supersized” El Niño is expected to bring increased risks of extreme heat, drought and flooding around the world, with its effects forecast to continue well into 2027.

Public service unions are warning of potentially widespread industrial action, with Fórsa backing strikes amid demands for measures to protect workers’ pay against rising prices. TUS has unveiled an ambitious €750 million development masterplan to 2040, including major new research, teaching, student and sporting facilities at its Athlone campus. The HSE has been fined €645,000 over serious data protection failures involving sensitive medical records, including documents stored in poor and insecure conditions at St Loman’s Hospital in Mullingar.