Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Ericsson is investing €200 million over three years into its Athlone facility, backed by IDA Ireland, to advance 5G network management and automation with AI and machine learning. Members of Addictive Eaters Anonymous shared personal stories revealing how food addiction deeply impacted their lives and how the program, modeled on Alcoholics Anonymous, helped them find support and recovery. Experts stress the importance of protection insurance (life, critical illness, and income protection) as the foundation of any financial plan, citing real-life payouts and personal impacts.

A four-year-old boy was killed after being struck by a car near his home. A new partnership between local authorities and IPB Insurance will eliminate insurance costs for over 1,000 Tidy Towns groups in Ireland, allowing them to focus more on community work without financial strain. A majority of INTO members surveyed want secular patrons for primary schools and believe religious education should be removed from the classroom.

The passing of the people’s Pope – Will discusses the death of Pope Francis as well as the other stories that made the headlines in the midlands and beyond today.

Fuel prices remained stable in April, and while electric vehicle running costs had been falling, they also levelled off. Scientists may have found strong evidence of alien life on exoplanet K2-18b, detecting potential biosignature gases using the James Webb Space Telescope. Ireland's historic observatories are being considered for UNESCO World Heritage status, reflecting the country's rich astronomical legacy and North-South cooperation.

Uisce Eireann is putting an action plan in place after waste water pollution in Mullingar. Rape survivor and activist Hazel Behan is bringing a case to the European Court of Human Rights over Portugal’s alleged failure to properly investigate rapist Christian Bruckner over her 2004 sexual attack. A Laois road that has claimed five lives in recent years has still received no safety improvement works.

A midlands couple have been turning Ireland’s chocolate scene into something truly sweet. Ireland must ramp up its biosecurity and surveillance measures to prevent invasive Asian hornets devastating bee populations across Europe, an expert has warned. The new Minecraft movie has ushered a new era of chaos into Irish cinemas this Easter break with staff and parents alike left scratching their heads at the hordes of screaming children launching popcorn at screens.

The US company showing confidence in the midlands, the Irish company recruiting 1,500 new staff, the Midlands 103 Customer Service Awards now open for nominations - plus Health Matters with Dr. Dee & some complaints made to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland

Ireland is to join a European maritime intelligence network in response to the increasing numbers of Russian naval vessels travelling through Irish-controlled waters. An Offaly Tidy Towns Committee is calling an emergency meeting. An Artillery Field Gun Gifted to the People of Mullingar by Óglaigh na hÉireann / Irish Defence Forces will be back on Display In Mullingar's Columb Barracks.

A Garda officer was injured in a hit-and-run while attempting to speak to a driver flagged by automatic number-plate recognition in Kinnegad. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has conditionally approved KAES Recycling’s acquisition of Bord na Móna Recycling. A survey by Croí and Global Heart Hub revealed that most Irish women are unaware of heart attack symptoms specific to them, with less than 1% able to correctly identify all relevant signs.

A man named Paul Earley was sentenced to seven years in prison for a single, alcohol-fueled attack in Mullingar that left Thomas Maher, a grandfather and father of five, with catastrophic brain injuries. A Dublin City University study found that over 85% of teachers in Ireland are experiencing moderate to high burnout. A Dublin Rape Crisis Centre report found that 71% of sexual violence victims in Ireland do not report incidents, largely due to fear of not being believed.

Midlands Today with Ronan Berry

“Don’t come knocking on our door” is the message that Westmeath County Council members intend sending to controversial MMA fighter Conor McGregor. Property market’s reliance on higher earners could see negative impact in case of EU-US trade war. The rising cost of groceries and household shopping has led to the slowest market growth in the sector since 2022, according to grocery data from research group Kantar.

The State will advocate for a “firm but proportionate” European response to US president Donald Trump’s tariffs when European Union trade ministers meet on Monday. New data from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) reveals a worrying trend—nearly half (45%) of people who tested their alcohol levels at Flinebox breathalyser kiosks mistakenly believed they were under the legal limit. The public have been called on to exercise awareness and vigilance of the fire risk in rural areas in warm and dry weather, after a fire on a “pristine” bog in Co. Westmeath.

HSS Hire Group PLC have reached an agreement with Chadwicks Group whereby parent company Grafton Group plc will acquire HSS Hire Ireland. A new bill to to regulate wind farms is being proposed by a midlands TD. A Kildare woman has told an inquest that she believed her stillborn son would still be alive if she had received proper care by medical staff at the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise during her pregnancy.

Minister Peter Burke discusses Donald Trump's tariffs, you'll hear about a Bill that criminalises catfishing and how to grow the perfect beard.

The death toll in Myanmar associated with the earthquake last week has risen. A marked drop in the number and value of personal injuries claims over the past five years should be reflected in lower insurance premiums, the Minister for Enterprise has said. The potential increase of €1,000 to third-level fees this year has left students feeling “disheartened”.

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Midlands Today with David Hollywood

Midlands Today with Sally-Ann Barrett

A dedicated ‘Night Mayor’ has been appointed to boost Dublin’s nighttime economy, aiming to enhance late-night culture and business. Gardaí have seized over €2 million worth of fake designer goods in a major operation targeting counterfeit sales in Ireland. A family-run business in Laois has been recognized with a prestigious national award, highlighting its excellence in the industry.