Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner and Santa on Christmas Eve

Controversial teacher Enoch Burke has been released from prison by the High Court, even though he refused to address his contempt of court. The National Meals on Wheels Network has raised concerns about service gaps leaving some elderly and vulnerable people without hot meals. Also, Denise and Syl Sexton join us with baby Noah.

Aidan Barry sits in for Will Faulkner and discusses workers downing tools at an asylum seeker centre in Westmeath, violent assault in Athlone - and the Friday panel join him to discuss the big stories of the week

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner LIVE from Insomnia Coffee in Athlone

The ongoing freight logjam in Holyhead, could Offaly have 3 independent TDs supporting the next government?, the Mullingar actor who spent 15 years in London ahead of his big break and our Monday sports review.

Midlands Today - Friday 13th 2024

IRHA calls for Taoiseach to urgently take over operation of Transport Department. Vision Ireland welcomes a landmark High Court ruling delivered on 31 October 2024 which held that the Valuation Tribunal was incorrect in law in subjecting one of its charity shops in Virginia, Co Cavan to commercial rates. And, we find out how exotic mushrooms saved an Offaly couple when Brexit was killing their business.

An anti racism group based in Athlone has hit back at the events which took place at the Lissywollen IPAS site over the weekend. County board officials from across the country attended an emergency meeting called by the GAA last night to discuss the Revenue Commissioners' risk review of counties. Coffee could be about to get more expensive after the price of arabica beans hit record levels.

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris will meet later to discuss forming the next government. Both have chosen their teams for coalition talks. It could take up to a week for power to be returned to some customers following Storm Darragh. An Offaly family could be €5,500 out of pocket in the run up to Christmas after a Tullamore business closed its doors without communication or explanation.

Overnight weather models have remained consistent in their forecasting of locally destructive winds from Storm Darragh later this evening and overnight. NASA announced additional delays on Thursday for returning astronauts to the Moon, over 50 years after Apollo. Molly Minh O'Brien, a Midland Drama School student from Tullamore, will appear on Ireland's most-watched TV show, The Late Late Toy Show, this Friday on RTÉ 1.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will need more Independents to support their coalition, as Seán Ó Fearghaíl is likely to be re-elected as Ceann Comhairle in two weeks. A Chinese restaurateur will stand trial for allegedly causing millions of euros in damage by deliberately setting fire to a commercial property in a Midlands town. There are calls for research to find out why boys have significantly outperformed girls in maths and science.

Siptu, the trade union, will begin discussions with thousands of disability workers and other staff regarding potential industrial action due to the government's ongoing inaction on a pay claim that has persisted for months. Election posters will be used in the construction industry thanks to a midlands company. Enplast Extrusions in Granard will grind the posters into pellets, which will then become part of heavy gauge sheeting. The Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael leaders will get party approval on Wednesday to start government formation talks, with both sides urging serious discussions with Independent TDs.

Despite a significant public campaign by the Electoral Commission and the addition of 400,000 new voters to the register, voter turnout in the general election has decreased. A High Court challenge has been launched by a local councillor, supported by four other representatives, against a plan to accommodate 1,000 male asylum seekers in Athlone, Co Westmeath. The country could be braced for another storm over the coming days.

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Midlands Today LIVE from Abbey Blooms in Multyfarnham

Midlands Today LIVE from the New ALDI in Tullamore

All the top stories from around the Midlands as we close in on Election weekend.