Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

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.

A Mullingar family is pleading for HSE approval of a €4k/month life-saving drug for their infant son with a rare metabolic condition. Farmers say they're being unfairly targeted by harsh inspections, with the ICSA calling for a mediator to address mounting distress and penalties. Laois pageant finalist Leah Mxotshwa is using her Miss/Mrs Africa Ireland platform to inspire women through entrepreneurship, music and resilience.

Irish farmers feel “persecuted and powerless” by agriculture inspectors, with the ICSA calling for a mediator and cultural shift in how farms are treated. An Offaly woman shared her powerful neurorehabilitation journey as campaigners demand urgent investment in specialist beds across the Midlands. A Portlaoise entrepreneur is using her Miss/Mrs Africa Ireland journey to inspire women and raise funds while juggling beauty, music and motherhood.

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

MEP Ciarán Mullooly says Ireland has been “hung out to dry” in the new US-EU trade deal, warning of €285m in losses for agri-food exports. The closure of Offaly’s HOMEFIX service has sparked calls for urgent intervention, with councillors saying it’s a lifeline for older people. Forest Fest returned to Emo with a bang, drawing praise for accessibility, atmosphere, and a music lineup hailed as one of the year’s best.

Clinics are calling for tighter regulations around Botox and injectables, warning that current rules leave patients vulnerable. A nationwide food recall has been issued after a listeriosis outbreak linked to ready meals, with one death confirmed and over 140 products affected. Judge warns the Ploughing Championships could lose future bar licences if organisers don’t address past assaults and meet court requirements.

A major listeriosis outbreak has triggered a nationwide ready-meal recall, with one death confirmed and food safety experts urging vigilance. The EPA says dozens of private water schemes are failing basic safety standards, calling for mandatory registration and urgent system upgrades. Rugby star Jordan Conroy opened up about childhood trauma and toxic masculinity, urging young men to rethink online influences and redefine strength.

A woman from Rathowen has called out Dublin hospitals for refusing complex referrals from Mullingar, after her elderly father had to seek care through A&E. National charity Turn2Me says lockdown’s mental health toll is still unfolding, urging long-term investment in supports in the next budget. Laois native Dylan Feane is among thousands of Irish thriving in Vancouver, where community, career and culture are helping expats settle and succeed.

Athlone scientist Dr Neil Rowan has been appointed to a UN panel on nuclear war, part of Ireland’s role in assessing global fallout risks. Tens of thousands of children are missing dental screenings due to a severe HSE dentist shortage, with some waiting until secondary school for first checks. The Government faces fresh criticism for delays in fixing legal issues around Athlone’s IPAS centre, with a High Court judge warning progress is stalled.

Concerns over the Defamation Bill are mounting, with retailers, media and civil rights groups warning it fails to curb legal threats and protect free speech. An oil spill in Portlaoise’s Kilminchy Lake has harmed wildlife and prompted cleanup efforts, with locals calling for better prevention and accountability. A Laois player has scooped €1 million in the Daily Million draw—marking the fifth top prize win in 2025 and sparking a hunt for the lucky ticket-holder.

A Laois woman shared her battle with endometriosis in the Dáil spotlight, as Sinn Féin slammed the lack of proper care and long delays in diagnosis. A Durrow man is raffling his €800k home for €6 a ticket, hoping to give a young family a dream house while raising funds to downsize. Bail has been granted to two teenagers after a “slammer” gun was fired at a Mullingar home during an alleged feud, sparking major safety concerns.

MEP Ciarán Mullooly says slashing CAP payments and phasing out supports for older farmers is “crazy” and will devastate Irish agriculture. Six more female paramedics have come forward with bullying and harassment claims, saying a toxic culture persists in the National Ambulance Service. Fundraising has topped €195,000 for a new outdoor pool in Banagher, with community events and EU support helping drive the €850,000 project forward.

TD Brian Stanley says nursing homes in Laois need more frequent HIQA inspections, after gaps of up to 15 months were recorded at two Emeis-run facilities. The Grogan family may challenge the legality of a marriage that took place one day before Offaly farmer Joe Grogan died, amid concerns over inheritance and medical care. Irish farmers fear major EU policy changes could strip agriculture of its dedicated CAP funding, worsening pressures already felt from US tariffs.

Midlands Today With Will Faulkner - Tuesday July 15th

Power delays in Portlaoise have left 80 families unable to move into new homes, exposing wider grid capacity issues across half the country’s substations. Offaly County Council has launched its Climate Action Plan and designated Tullamore as a Decarbonising Zone, aiming for a 51% emissions cut by 2030. Athlone’s Diarmuid Morrissey has summited Denali—his sixth of the Seven Summits—bringing him one step closer to completing the world’s tallest peaks.

Tributes are pouring in for Paul Loonam, a respected boxing coach and referee, following his death in a workplace accident near Tullamore. A Laois councillor says €40k is being redirected to tackle a rat-infested alley in Portlaoise, as the council cracks down on illegal dumping. Families say Portiuncula Hospital’s maternity service may no longer be viable, after reviews revealed major clinical and governance failings.

Tusla handled nearly 10,000 child protection referrals in the Midlands last year, as its annual report marks a decade of rising demand, reform and staff growth. Experts recommend transferring high-risk pregnancies from Portiuncula Hospital after critical reviews highlighted serious safety and staffing issues. Delays to electricity connections have left 80 Portlaoise families locked out of new homes, fuelling anger over infrastructure planning failures.

Two Midlands-based GPs and a medical secretary are facing over 130 charges for allegedly submitting false claims and laundering money through the HSE. A woman has spoken out about fleeing the country after her ex-partner beat her with a golf club in Athlone; he now awaits sentencing for the savage attack. Pat McDonagh has criticised the DPP’s refusal to prosecute a withdrawn injury claim, saying businesses deserve better protection from false affidavits.