Politics, back to school, Rathdowney Outlet Centre and the Ploughing

Our latest LoveLaois Podcast is a real mixed bag of topics - with everything from politics to school to agriculture and a potted history of the Rathdowney Outlet Centre. It's a big week on the local political scene with the Fine Gael party in Laois set to select their candidate to contest the next General Election. The retirement of Charlie Flanagan means there is a wide open contest to see who replaces him and it should make for a fascinating contest in the Killeshin Hotel on Thursday night. It has also been a big week for Sinn Féin, with the decision of long-serving Portarlington councillor Aidan Mullins to leave the party. Plus we talk about the Independents and if more candidates will enter the race. Away from politics we talk about Dan Donoher's first day at school, our interview with Sean Smyth, the new principal in Scoil Chríost Rí, the heartwarming story of Ballyfin woman Cathy Clear who returned to education in her 70s. Plus we discuss the launch of this year's Ploughing, which is in Ratheniska from September 17-19, and the Clonaslee Show, which has it's 70th event on this Sunday, September 8.