The LaoisToday Podcast: Recent Episodes

LaoisToday

The LaoisToday Podcast, bringing you in-depth interviews with Laois people from the world of business, politics, sport and the arts

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On this week's special episode of the LaoisToday Podcast we chat to Laois native Elsie Trainor (nee McLoughlin) who is contesting the Northern Ireland Assembly elections on May 5 for the SDLP in South Belfast. 

She talks about her upbringing in Laois as the youngest of a family of ten, her decision to move to live in Belfast and how she ended up putting her name on the ballot paper. 

In an engaging and good-humoured chat, she talks about her experiences of living in Belfast, her desire to make a contribution - and how she made national headlines by chasing down two men who were pulling down her election posters. 

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Hello and welcome to the latest episode of the LaoisToday podcast, brought to you in association with iCashco. 

On this week's podcast we are joined by LaoisToday Talking Sport podcast presenter Alan Hartnett and Fr. David Vard, of Portlaoise Parish. 

We sat down and discussed many things with Fr. David, including why he joined the priesthood, his four years in Portlaoise, what he does in his spare time and some of his favourite TV shows. 

Fr. David also touched on the communions and confirmations in Portlaoise which he hopes will take place at the end of August. 

Steven Miller is joined by Shane Whelan, the Abbeyleix native who is Director of Digital Marketing and Communications with the Lions Rugby team and is currently in South Africa for this year's tour.

He chats about what his job entails, how social media has changed since the last Lions tour in 2017 and what it's like in South Africa as the country is in hard lockdown and grapples with the latest Covid wave. 

The LaoisToday podcast is presented by Portlaoise native, Paul Downey and is available weekly wherever you get your podcasts. 

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Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the LaoisToday podcast brought to you in association with iCashco. 

On the podcast this week, presenter Paul Downey is joined by Steven Miller and newly elected Chairperson of Laois County Council, Conor Bergin. It has been a busy few weeks for the Borris-In-Ossory man and he joined Paul and Steven to tell them all about it. 

Among the many topics, we discussed the role of Cathaoirleach and what his job will entail, what he hopes to achieve within the next twelve months, how he was chosen for the position and much more. 

Solas Eco Garden Centre was officially opened on the 23rd June and Steven Miller was there for us to speak with owners David Maher and John Carey. 

The lads have poured their hearts (and wallets) into this project and they believe they have created something really special – a destination garden centre which espouses the values of sustainability, good food, community involvement and innovative design. 

Steven discussed many great things with the owners including the ideas behind the shop, the site in which it is located and much more. 

The LaoisToday podcast is presented by Portlaoise native Paul Downey and is available wherever you get your podcasts. 

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Hello and welcome to the latest episode of the LaoisToday Podcast with thanks to iCashco. 

On the podcast this week: 

Stradbally based councillor Paschal McEvoy joined presenter Paul Downey and Steven Miller to discuss Electric Picnic and whether or not it should go ahead for 2021. 

Many locals have decided that they do not want the event to go ahead this year as the town itself has gone through a lot since the pandemic has begun. 

Noel Daly is the principal of Portlaoise College and he spoke with Steven Miller about Leaving Certificate 2021 which is a little different this year.

Noel discusses how he thinks the new way the Leaving Certificate is currently being done may be the way forward. 

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On this week's LaoisToday Podcast, we're joined by John Whelan, camper van enthusiast and the man behind the Vanhalla.ie blog.  John talks to us about his camper van conversion, his favourite spots around the country and why Laois as a county can be doing so much more to attract visitors.  He also gives plenty of helpful advice to anyone considering a camper van purchase and some of the basic things you need to know as you set off on your adventures. 

The LaoisToday Podcast is brought to you in association with iCashco, market leaders in automated cash handling.

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This week's guest on the LaoisToday Podcast is Aimee Alexander (or Denise Deegan to give her her proper name), author of The Little Book of Irishisms, 'Know the Irish through our Words'. 

She talks us through some of her favourite words and phrases, unique Irishisms that just can't be understood by people from outside the country. 

Banjaxed, bockedy, ructions, segotia and foostering all feature quite highly.

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On this week's episode of the LaoisToday Podcast presenter Brian Moss is joined by Colm Parkinson, host of the hugely popular Joe.ie GAA Hour Podcast and a former Laois footballer. 

In a wide-ranging chat, he discusses his career with Laois - the memorable days at minor and U-21, how 2003 was a frustrating year for him and his relationship with Mick O'Dwyer. 

He also chats about how he fell out with Portlaoise GAA club but is now back on good terms. 

As well as that he talks about his media career, how he came to leave Off the Ball and his current role as presenter of the GAA Hour. 

And he addresses the infamous Eddie Brennan saga and what it was like for him at that time. 

The LaoisToday Podcast is brought to you in association with iCashco, market leaders in automated cash handling.

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The latest guest on the LaoisToday Podcast is Dr Colman Noctor, a Carlow-based child psychotherapist who writes a weekly column in the Irish Examiner and hosts his own podcast called Asking for a Parent. 

Here he chats about his own upbringing in Wicklow and how he came to work in the area of mental health.

He also chats about his own parenting experience, how has found the last year and his decision to start a podcast where he interviews a host of well-known personalities about their own childhood and parenting challenges.

He discusses what parents can do to help their children on an ongoing basis, why this past year has been so hard on young people, the importance of being back in school and why getting sporting activity is now so important.

The LaoisToday Podcast is brought to you in association with iCashco, market leaders in automated cash handling.

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In this week's LaoisToday Podcast, presenter Brian Moss chats to Rory O'Connor of Rory's Stories fame. 

He discusses his family connection to this area - which is disputed as to whether it's Laois or Offaly - as well as how a Laois business gave him a break in the business by asking him to do some promotional videos for them a number of years ago. 

He also talks about his own mental health battles, his lockdown experience, how he struggled in school and how he made Rory's Stories a full-time job. 

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On this week’s LaoisToday Podcast, we're delighted to be joined by former Fianna Fáil TD and Junior Minister John Moloney.

It’s 10 years this week since John lost his seat in the Dáil, bringing an end to his 30-year career as a public representative.

In this chat, John talks about the experience of losing that 2011 General Election, what it was like to serve as a TD for 14 years, his admiration for Brian Cowen and why he thinks Barry Cowen would make a great leader for the party.

He also chats about the challenges facing Fianna Fáil, his views on Micheal Martin and Bertie Ahern and the prospect of going into government with Sinn Fein.

As well that we discuss what it’s like in his current role as an undertaker during the Covid 19 restrictions.

The LaoisToday Podcast is brought to you in association with iCashco, market leaders in automated cash handling.

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On this week's LaoisToday podcast, presenter Brian Moss is joined on the line by RTE TV and radio presenter Claire Byrne. In a wide-ranging discussion, Claire chats about her career journey to date, what it was like to be one of the first well-known people in the country to get Covid and how she balances her busy professional role with a young family. The Mountrath woman also chats about the challenges of broadcasting during the pandemic and the rate of pay for RTE's top presenters. The LaoisToday Podcast is brought to you in association with iCashco, market leaders in automated cash handling.

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On this week’s episode of the LaoisToday Podcast, we're delighted to be joined by Sinn Féin TD Patricia Ryan. 

Patricia represents the Kildare South constituency in Dáil Eireann, a constituency that takes in a large part of Laois, including Portarlington, Killenard and Ballybrittas, 

Though based in Monasterevan, Patricia is a Laois woman having grown up near Ballybrittas and gone to primary school in Rath and secondary school in Portarlington. 

It’s exactly a year since Patricia topped the poll in Kildare South in last year’s General Election. In this interview she chats about that experience, the controversy about her holiday during the campaign and why she’s not one bit impressed with the current Government.

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It’s exactly a year since the 2020 General Election and on this week’s LaoisToday Podcast we catch up with one of the stories of that campaign - Independent TD Cathal Berry. 

The former Army Ranger and medical doctor won a seat in Kildare South, harnessing the support of the Defence Force community and a significant level of support in Portarlington, which is now in that constituency. 

In this interview, he chats about growing up in Waterford, joining and leaving the army and what his first year in the Dail has been like. 

He also gives his view on how the Government has handled the Coronavirus pandemic and what Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly can do to improve his performance.

The LaoisToday Podcast is brought to you in association with iCashco, market leaders in automated cash handling.

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Part 2 of the LaoisToday Podcast interview with former GAA president Liam O’Neill. 

In today’s episode, he reflects on his three years as GAA president as well as his views on some of the big issues. Was it a good decision to sell TV rights to Sky Sports? 

What is the solution to the dominance of the Dublin footballers? Why camogie, ladies football and the GAA must come together and why he’s against club amalgamations. 

He also talks about the experience of running for Fianna Fail in the 2019 Local Elections and how he converted the primary school in Trumera to a Gaelscoil.

The LaoisToday Podcast is brought to you in association with iCashco, market leaders in automated cash handling.

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This week's guest on the LaoisToday Podcast is former GAA President Liam O'Neill from Trumera.

In a wide-ranging conversation with presenter Steven Miller, he recalls his early life growing up in a large family in Trumera, going to secondary school in Knockbeg College and then on to third level in UCD and St Pat's.

He looks back on his first job as a teacher in a primary school in Haddington Road in Dublin 4 and his involvement at that time with the Clan na Gael and Fontenoy clubs in Ringsend.

He chats about his introduction to the GAA administrative world and how he was twice beaten for the Laois GAA secretary's role before finally getting it 1999.

He remembers that tumultuous time for Laois GAA, how he was adamant that he would stay in the role for three years and his subsequent rise to the highest office in the GAA and his three-year spell as president of the association.

The interview with Liam will be broadcast in two parts with the second part next week focusing on his three years as GAA president, his views on a number of issues effecting the association at the moment and his experience of running for the Local Elections in 2019.

The LaoisToday Podcast is brought to you in association with iCashco, market leaders in automated cash handling.

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In our first podcast of 2021, we chat with John Mulholland, chief executive of Laois County Council. 

He chats about the challenges of managing Laois County Council during the Covid-19 pandemic and his background in public service. 

He addresses some of the main issues locally at the moment including economic development, housing, the future of Portlaoise, the development of the library, remote working hubs, Portlaoise courthouse and how he'd love to see a municipal sports facility in Laois. 

The LaoisToday podcast is brought to you in association with iCashco, bringing automated cash payments to the independent retail sector. 

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Welcome to episode three of the Midweek Podcast with LaoisToday. 

On the podcast this week, we speak with Dr Michelle Byrne of the Maryborough Family Practice in Portlaoise. She was in conversation with Steven Miller about dealing with Covid as a GP, the influx of calls the practice has received and how people are dealing with the pandemic. 

Portlaoise Pantomime Group should be in full rehearsals for their 37th production, unfortunately it is not to be this year. Paul Downey speaks with Ciara Dollard and Vikki Byrne from the group on what Panto life is like, virtual Panto's and performing on stage.  

Like what you hear? Please make sure to rate, review and subscribe! 

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Coming up on episode 2 of the LaoisToday Midweek Podcast with Paul Downey. 

We speak to The Finns from Rathdowney about music, Covid19 and their future plans as well as a live performance of a great Christmas song.

Rathdowney's Own is a brand new annual published by some Rathdowney locals and we speak to one of the members behind the book.

Steven Miller speaks to Brendan McDonald from Arles about his new children's bedtime story, Elephant on the Farm. 

And for the first time in 36 years, Michael Dowling from Dowling's Bar in Mountmellick will not be opening his doors for Christmas. We hear from Michael and how he has been doing throughout the pandemic. 

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In the latest LaoisToday Podcast interview, Steven Miller is joined by well-known comedian Bernard O'Shea who discusses growing up in Laois, his new book, his career to date and his plans for 2021. 

The LaoisToday Podcast is brought to you in association with iCashco, bringing automated cash payments and self service to the independent retail sector. 

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Welcome to this brand new podcast on LaoisToday. 

The Midweek Podcast will be brought to you weekly, bringing you a round up of the weeks news stories and interviews from all across Laois. 

On the podcast this week we are joined by Steven Miller to talk about the weeks news stories including, Brian Stanley's recent Dail statement, tickets for mass and the recent Laois GAA County Board appointments. 

Also on the podcast this week, Mountrath native Jean Kennedy, joins us from Taiwan, as she is on tour with Lord of the Dance and we talk to her about her travels and performances to thousands of Irish dancing fans. 

And finally, Portlaoise man James O'Connor, speaks to us about his new Christmas song, COVID19, his music and how he has continued to teach music during lockdown. 

To get in touch with us on the podcast email: info@laoistoday.ie 

Music credit: James O'Connor - Memories of Christmas Day

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In this episode we chat with Paddy McDonald, owner of Laois's first craft brewery - 12 Acres in Killeshin. 

Although he started out his working career as a Quantity Surveyor, he always had an interest in brewing and soon developed this into a business.

Initially he used a contract brewer in West Cork before building his own facility on the family farm in Killeshin. 

He now supplies supermarkets, off licenses, hotels and bars all around Ireland and also exports to customers in France and Russia.

In this chat, he discusses the ongoing challenges, his hopes for the future and the thrill of securing a good deal. 

The LaoisToday Podcast is brought to you in association with iCashco, market leaders in automated cash handling.

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It's been an incredibly tough year for publicans and in our latest podcast, we're joined by PJ and Niamh Kavanagh, proprietors of one of Portlaoise's oldest pubs. 

They chat about the challenges they've had to overcome this year, what the future of their sector might look like and what it's like growing up in a pub. 

As well as looking back on the major revamp of the pub done back in 1999, PJ recalls the history of the premises and some of the great characters that have come through the doors over the years. 

They also talk about the greater good of organising big festivals and the possible pedestrianisation of Main Street.

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Labour Senator Mark Wall is our latest guest on the LaoisToday Podcast.

From Castlemitchell outside Athy, he was elected to the Senate earlier this year having been unsuccessful in the previous two General Elections.

In a wide-ranging discussion, he chats about his early political memories and recalls the moment his father Jack was first approached run for the Labour party.

Mark discusses what it was like to work alongside Jack during his time as a TD before successfully contesting the Local Elections himself in 2009 and 2014 in the Athy local area.

He ran for the General Election in 2016 but wasn't helped by the fact that the boundary was changed, meaning a large part of Kildare - including Wall's own home - was moved into the newly-formed Laois constituency.

It meant that he wasn't able to even vote for himself though he did go close to winning a seat.

In this year's General Election, the boundary decision had been reversed and he performed well again, receiving 12% of the first preference vote, the highest percentage of any Labour candidate in the country and three times greater than what the party polled nationally.

But it again wasn't enough as he missed out on one of the three seats. However, it did open the door to contest the Senate elections.

And he chats about the surreal feeling of watching that election count from his home in Castlemitchell.

As well as that, he takes our quickfire round where he reveals his best and worst decisions and the best advice he ever got.

You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or below on Soundcloud.

The LaoisToday Podcast is brought to you in association with iCashco, market leaders in automated cash handling.

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Green Party Senator and Super Junior Minister Pippa Hackett joins us to chat about her background, from growing up in Mayo to going to college in Wales, working in UCD and UL, farming in Offaly and joining the Green Party in 2016. 

She chats about her political rise as she went from councillor to senator to minister in a little over a year. 

She discusses what it was like being part of Government formation talks, being told by Micheal Martin of her ministerial appointment and what it's like now being away from home so often. 

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This week's Down Memory Lane podcast looks back at the breakthrough Laois senior hurling success of Clough-Ballacolla in 2009, when they ended an incredible 91-year wait since their last county final win. 

Though a parish steeped in hurling history, they hadn't conquered Laois since the glory days of the Ballygeehan club and it was the first final to be contested under the Clough-Ballacolla name.

Indeed a team from the area hadn't even been in the final since St Canice's in 1965. 

But in 2009, following a number of minor and U-21 glory days throughout the earlier part of the decade, their talented group of young players came of age at senior level. 

On this week's Down Memory Lane podcast, presenter Steven Miller is joined by the captain of that team Michael McEvoy as well as goalkeeper Danny Hanlon and full-back Darren Maher. 

Over the course of a very enjoyable discussion, they look back on their gradual progress over the previous decade, beginning with intermediate success in 1998, flirting with relegation in the early part of the 2000s and consecutive semi-final losses to Portlaoise in 2007 and 2008. 

In 2009, they survived a scare in the quarter-final against Mountrath before advancing after a replay and then beating Ballinakill in the semi-final. 

With 2007 champions Camross and 2008 winners Rathdowney-Errill both knocked out in the quarter-finals, Portlaoise were odds on favourites in the decider - in what was their third final appearance in a row. 

But under the guidance of former Tipperary player Raymie Ryan - who only linked up with them mid-summer - Ballacolla would blitz Portlaoise early on and run out relatively comfortable winners. 

Cue wild scenes of celebration and a couple of magic days in Ballacolla. "It was like being in Ibiza for two or three days," joked Darren Maher.

"There was no work done in the parish. The pubs made enough money that week to last them until Christmas." 

The lads also touched on the work Raymie Ryan did with them in the lead up to the final and describe a powerful moment when they all crammed into the tiny Clough-Ballacolla dressing rooms to listen to a motivational song before heading to O'Moore Park on county final day. 

And as well as looking back on that breakthrough success in 2009, they also chat about their wins in 2011 and 2015 and their disappointing final losses in 2012 and 2017. 

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Our latest Down Memory Lane podcast takes on a slightly different format as we take a look back on a specific sporting achievement.

In this case it was the incredible run that Ballyroan Gaels went on in 2006, one that saw the combined football forces of Ballyroan and Abbeyleix win the Laois senior football final.

Ballyroan had last won the championship in 1992 and hadn't been in a final since 1993. Indeed they'd voluntarily dropped back to the intermediate grade so their 'Gaels' arrangement with Abbeyleix could continue.

And in 2006 they enjoyed an incredible season.

It didn't get off to the most encouraging start, however, as they were beaten in the opening round by a Clonaslee side that hadn't won a senior championship game in seven years. At that stage Ballyroan Gaels were more concerned about staying up.

However, they beat Emo in their next game to give themselves a chance of a quarter-final place and they duly got the better of Crettyard to go through to the knockout stages.

Waiting for them in the last eight was the reigning champions Stradbally. Ballyroan Gaels needed a late goal from Michael Tierney to draw that game but they won the replay in Timahoe a week later in a game that really saw their season gather momentum.

Stradbally, Portlaoise, St Joseph's and Portarlington - who had won 14 of the 15 previous championships between them - had all bowed out by this stage, meaning it was to be the most open championship in years.

Arles-Kilcruise, however, had been the only club to have broken through with their 2003 success but they'd only narrowly beaten Ballyroan that season. There was no fear of them in Ballyroan.

They were to need another replay, before they got over the line at the second time of asking. It meant that for the fifth week running, they played championship football. Tiredness, it seems, wasn't an issue as they beat Arles-Kileen in the final by 0-10 to 0-7.

It led to incredible scenes of joy in O'Moore Park and a homecoming never to forget in Ballyroan that night.

In this podcast, Steven Miller is joined by three members of that team - Gerry Scully, Eoin Kearns and Alan Burnell - as they look back on an unforgettable season.

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1999 was another eventful year both locally, nationally and internationally.

Who’ll ever forget Manchester Utd’s treble winning season and in particular their incredibly dramatic Champions League final success?

And the Irish soccer team had their own dramas too in their failed attempt to qualify for Euro 2000.

It was also the peak of Harchester Utd and Dream Team, the end of Gay Byrne on the Late Late Show and the year that over half a million Irish people bought shares in the doomed Telecom Eireann flotation.

In Laois, the county footballers came within seconds of a famous win over Dublin - and were robbed by a dodgy late point - while the Portlaoise footballers end their ‘famine’ for county final success.

It was the first time the Irish rugby team had a disastrous World Cup - something we’d get well used to over the years - while the Laois County Council elections produced one epic battle that went all the way to the courts. 

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There are some years that just will never be forgotten and 1998 is one of them. 

This week, the LaoisToday Down Memory Lane Podcast series look back on the big events of that year, both locally, nationally and internationally. 

The Good Friday Agreement was an historic moment in Irish history but it was followed only four months later by the Omagh bombing, the biggest atrocity of the troubles with 29 people killed on a Saturday afternoon in the Tyrone town. 

The Tyrone minor football team would later give the county a lift when they won that year's All Ireland final, beating a Laois side going for a third title in a row.

Laois would give Tyrone a guard of honour off the pitch that day in Croke Park, a Tyrone team under Mickey Harte that had already experienced the tragic death of Paul McGirr a year earlier when he died while playing in the championship. 

They would later go on to experience success at senior level but suffer even more unspeakable heartache in the years that followed. 

Laois also lost the U-21 football final that year to a star-studded Kerry side while the All Ireland senior football championship was won by Galway, when they ended a 32-year-wait by beating red hot favourites Kildare in the final. 

But without doubt the biggest GAA story of that summer was the Offaly hurlers winning the All Ireland final after parting ways with manager Babs Keating midway through the season and then staging a sitdown protest on the Croke Park pitch after their All Ireland semi-final was blown up early by referee Jimmy Cooney. 

Presenter Steven Miller is joined this week by Offaly's Will O'Callaghan from Newstalk to look back at that time as well as by regular guests Brian Ramsbottom and Niall Miller. 

And they chat about many of the other big stories of 1998 too. Like the ending of both Know your Sport and Fr Ted, the sad death of Dermot Morgan, the Ireland soccer team of Mick McCarthy, France's success in that year's World Cup and the curious case of Ronaldo and Brazil. 

As always, our Down Memory Lane Podcast is recorded and edited by Paul Downey. You can hear Paul’s music show The Vibe on Midlands 103 every Thursday night from 10pm.

You can listen to the episode in full here and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify as well as listen on Soundcloud and Podbean.

If you have memories you’d like to us to discuss, please get in touch.

Down Memory Lane is brought to you in association with Mulhall Meats, located in Mulhall’s SuperValu in Lyster Square in Portlaoise.

SEE ALSO - Down Memory Lane - 1997: The start of the Bertie Era, the Diana tragedy and glory days again for Stradbally and the Laois minors

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The latest LaoisToday Down Memory Lane Podcast, presenter Steven Miller is joined by John Whelan and Brian Ramsbottom to back on the local, national and international events of 1997.    A General Election year, it was the year that saw Bertie Ahern become Taoiseach following a huge success at the polls when they won 77 seats.    Fianna Fáil's success was typified in Laois where John Moloney and Sean Fleming were elected for the first time, winning the seats previously held by party stalwarts Liam Hyland and Ger Connolly. FF won the first three seats in Laois-Offaly that year with future Taoiseach Brian Cowen comfortably topping the poll.    That election spelled the end of The Rainbow Coalition and John Bruton's term as Taoiseach while Dick Spring would later resign as leader of the Labour party.    It was also an explosive political year in Ireland with Michael Lowry resigning from Fine Gael and details of the £1.3 million given by businessman Ben Dunne to Charlie Haughey.    There was also a Presidential election in Ireland that year with Mary McAleese taking over from Mary Robinson having been supported by Fianna Fáil. A classic exchange between Bertie Ahern and his predecessor Albert Reynolds    The huge story that dominated the latter part of 1997 was the tragic death of Princess Diana in a car accident in Paris.    In the local sporting world, the Laois minor footballers won the All Ireland again, the Laois senior footballers were beaten by 13-man Kildare on a dark day in Croke Park while the Laois hurlers lost narrowly to Offaly.    In club football there was an historic breakthrough for Stradbally, the O'Dempsey's minors pulled off a shock county final win and Castletown continued to develop as a growing power of the club game.    It was also the year of the famous Lions rugby tour to South Africa, the year Ken Doherty won the World snooker title and the year the blockbuster Titanic film hit the cinemas.    And on TV, it was the end of some classic RTE shows like Live at 3, Blackboard Jungle and Sports Stadium.    As always, our Down Memory Lane Podcast is recorded and edited by Paul Downey. You can hear Paul's music show The Vibe on Midlands 103 every Thursday night from 10pm.

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In this week's Down Memory Lane Podcast we look back on 1996, a memorable 12 months in Laois where the highlight was undoubtedly the Laois minor footballers winning the All Ireland title. 

Over 20,000 people turned out in Portlaoise to welcome the team home and Jack Nolan, who was one of our guests this week, had a bird's eye view of the entire year - as Laois GAA PRO and Midlands 103 commentator. 

He looked back in detail at that season and joy and drama that that group of players brought to the county. 

It was also the year that Babs Keating arrived to manage the Laois hurlers and that Camross won the Leinster club hurling title - the last Laois club to do so. 

Outside of Laois, the two big stories in the GAA world was the success of the Wexford hurlers in winning the All Ireland and the massive row in the replay of the All Ireland football final between Meath and Mayo. 

We also discuss Michelle Smith's, eh, heroics in the Olympics, Sonia O'Sullivan's heartache in the same Olympic Games in Atlanta and the start of the Mick McCarthy era of Irish soccer. 

The murder of journalist Veronica Guerin was the big news story of the year while the film that everyone was talking about was Michael Collins.

Music by: The Wild Swans - Dancing at the crossroads

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Welcome to the all new LaoisToday podcast titled, 'Down Memory Lane'. 

Our first episode focuses on the year 1995, and what a great year it was. We touch on Sport, Music, Current Affairs and More! 

We hope you enjoy it and were looking forward to bringing you more from this series with LaoisToday. 

Music credit: The Outhere Brothers, Boom Boom Boom.