The Big Story

Nearly half of workers in Ireland believe their teams are understaffed. The survey by human resources software company SD Worx found that many feel their skills are being wasted, and almost four in ten are already searching for a new job. So what’s really driving this wave of frustration? Is it burnout? Poor management? A lack of training and career growth? Or are employers simply struggling to keep up with a rapidly changing world of work? Colin Donnery, CEO of FRS Co-Op has been speaking with Will Faulkner on Midlands 103.

People are being asked to think big and come up with ideas to improve a midlands town. Over 70 people attended the Tullamore Chamber of Commerce's Tullamore Think big and Plan Mór public meeting last night. Issues around housing, employment, and derelict buildings were raised. A call was made for the local authority to hire a Development Officer for the area to ensure projects are realised. Midlands 103's Sinead Hubble was there and was speaking with Myles Shortall, Chair of Chamber Strategic and Infrastructure Committee, who gave a presentation which looked at what could be done in the town.

A Hollywood A-lister has been spotted in the Midlands this week. Brad Pitt is in Laois filming his new movie, The Riders. The Oscar winner was seen waving to fans as he left set in Ballyadams yesterday. The film is a adaptation of the Booker prize shortlisted Tim Winton book of the same name, which sees the story's protagonist setting up a new life in Ireland. Antoinette Brennan, PRO of St. Joseph’s GAA has been speaking with Will Faulkner on Midalnds says Brad Pitt filming 'The Riders' is now part of the story of Ballyadams Castle:

Boy George was in Ireland over the weekend to unveil some of his most iconic collection of clothes. The Culture Club singer says he loved the reaction he would get from the other members of the band when he wore the most outrageous clothes on stage. Some of the items are now on display at the Newbridge Silverware Style Museum for the month of May. They will then be flown to LA, where Martin Nolan, from Julien's Auctions, will put them under the hammer. South East Radio's Sinead Hubble has been speaking, with Boy George, about his love of style:

The Minister for Foreign Affairs is condemning the seizure of vessels participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla sailing to Gaza. Helen McEntee says her department is ready to provide consular assistance, adding the safety and wellbeing of all Irish citizens involved is a clear priority. 180 activists on the flotilla, who were detained by Israeli forces, were left on a beach in northern Crete overnight. It's claimed those taken away from the aid ship include seven Irish nationals. Moate's Louise McCormack has been speaking with Midlands 103's Sinéad Hubble and says they just received word this morning about what happened their comrades:

Former Children TV presenter Timmy Mallet is describing the Hidden Heartlands are a joy and the boglands are a brown jewel.  He has been cycling along the River Shannon since March and has been stopping off at towns and villages along the route from the Shannon Pot in Cavan to its mouth in Limerick.  Along the route, he stopped off in Athlone, Shannonbridge and Birr.  He is best known for his show Wacaday on ITV, when he had his trusty Mallet's Mallet, which he used to whack children on the head with. Speaking with Midlands 103's Sinead Hubble, he says he's had the warmest welcome

A midlands man has been left paralysed after a freak accident at home. Westmeath's Mark Leader suffered a severe spinal cord injury to his neck and his life changed in an instant. He is now in the Spinal Injuries Unit in the Mater Hospital. The 63-year-old was a passionate supporter of Clonkill GAA club and they are now helping to fundraise for his return home. A cousin of Mark's has also set up a Go Fund me page to raise €20,000 - Help Mark Rebuild his life! His sister Ruth Selby, from Castlepollard, has been speaking with Will Faulkner on the Midlands Today Show.

The 15th Annual JFK 50 mile challenge is taking place on June 6th. The event is inspired by US President John F Kennedy who created the challenge to test the fitness of soldiers. A committee in Moylagh in County Meath is now using it to raise money for Cancer services. The route will pass through Westmeath, Meath and Cavan and Midlands 103’s Sinead Hubble, has been speaking with committee member and cancer survivor Ann Marie Grall who has completed the challenge on 10 occasions:

An Offaly soccer club is welcoming people of all backgrounds to join their Football For All initaitive.  Gallen United Football For All aims to provide opportunities to people of all abilities to play football and be part of its community.  Applications are still open to anyone who wants to join the club. Cormac Melia is Juvenile Head Coach and Co-ordinator for Football for All and Paul Wynne from Gallen United have been speaking with Midlands 103's Will Faulkner on Midlands Today.

How do you spot the signs of heart failure? Laois' Nicholas Hines suffered a stroke in February 2020. The 47-yea-old says it led to a diagnosis of underlying dilated cardiomyopathy and sarcoidosis, and to a successful heart transplant operation in 2024. Both conditions came as a surprise to him, Emer Burke, Nurse and Heart Failure Nurse Specialist and President of the Irish Association of Heart Failure Nurses and from Edenderry also spoke with Will Faulkner about how to spot the signs of heart issues:

An Offaly singer is marking 50 years in music, after he quit his goverment job and put 'all cards on the table'. Tullamore's Dave Lawlor rose to fame with his 1991 hit 'Nostalgia Time', and he stars in the 'Reeling In The Showband Years' tour. He says the best piece of advice he ever got was to get singing lessons which he did from Sister Peter in Ferbane. The musician is celebrating the milestone with a special anniversary show in Tullamore on May 6. Mr Lawlor has been speaking with Midlands 103's David Hollywood and says you have to have the passion for music to take on the industry:

An Offaly athlete is heading to the Roller Derby World Cup. Birr's Susan Verney will be representing Ireland in Orléans, France next week. Each game lasts for one hour, and is plated on quad stakes. The two teams of five are battling to score the most points, by ensuring their jammer laps opposing skaters. The team with the most points after two 30 minute halves wins. Susan's Ireland squad will face Mexico in their opening game next Thursday. She has been speaking with Midlands 103's David Hollywood and says she can't wait for the tournament:

A midlands pharmacist says medicine shortages are now a “daily issue” across Ireland. Eamonn Brady of Whelehans Pharmacies in Mullingar says low prices for generic medicines are a key factor, making the Irish market less attractive for suppliers. He says shortages are affecting a wide range of treatments, including antibiotics, pain relief and hormone therapies. While pharmacists can usually find alternatives, he warns shortages can lead to delays and added stress for patients. He has been speaking with Midlands 103's David Hollywood and says long-term solutions are needed to protect medicine supply.

A Laois Mum says having no ambulance in the county when her daughter was experiencing a serious medical incident was a "punch to the stomach". Ciara called 999 after her daughter began to suffer a heavy nosebleed during her 10th birthday on Sunday because her blood doesn't clot. The nearest available ambulance took over an hour to arrive from Athy to take her to Portlaoise Hospital. She has been speaking to Midlands 103's David Hollywood and says the situation has to improve:

A Canadian woman is thanking the people of the midlands for all their support after her mum and step dad were in a serious car crash while on holidays in Ireland. Sandee Rosien and her husband Mike Wurm were visiting for a week when they were involved in a collision between Edgeworthstown and Ballymahon. Mike, who has dementia, is still in hospital. Their daughter Jenn McMillian took a flight from Toronto to help support them and is now staying in the Tullamore Court Hotel with her mum, who has been discharged from hospital. She says she reached out to the Tullamore community on Facebook and several people offered lifts and support to her mum. A Go Fund Me Page has been set up to support the family: Help Sandee & Mike return home & heal after accident abroad Jenn has been speaking to Midlands 103's Sinéad Hubble and says it's been a difficult situation for the family but they have also received such kindness:

Boyzone's Keith Duffy will perform in the midlands next month. He's be joining Bryan McFadden on stage in Shannonbridge on May 3rd. The singers formed Boyzlife 10 years ago. He's been speaking with Midlands 103's Roy Jennings about life since he left Boyzone.

The Westmeath woman in charge of Ireland's operations for the digital bank Monzo says so much of our day to day living is online so banking needed to keep pace with that. Elaine Deehan says people want to be able to access their bank out of 9 -5. Monzo, which was launched in Ireland this week, had a 100,000 user waitlist and five consecutive weeks as the most downloaded Finance App in Ireland. Ms. Deehan has been speaking with Midlands 103's David Hollywood and says there is a need for improved banking services.

More than 5,000 STI cases have been recorded in the first three months of this year, a sharp rise compared to the same period last year. 5,160 cases of sexually transmitted infections were recorded in the first 13 weeks, 293 more than the figures recorded in 2025. Chlamydia, gonorrhoea and trichomoniasis are the most common viral infections since January, according to latest figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre. Laura Tully, Sexual Health Service Manager at TUS Athlone has been speaking with Midlands 103's David Hollywood and says there are more people coming forward for testing. Photo credit: tus.ie

A Laois man and his friend have travelled 20,000km in 20-year-old OY Mitsubishi Pajero. Brendan Bergin from Cullohill and Max Lavelle from Galmoy set off from Ireland to South Africa. They have travelled through 14 African countries after ferrying to Spain and crossing into Morocco. They converted their second hand jeep into a camper and are documenting their journey online. They have been speaking with Midlands 103's David Hollywood and say they have made memories for life on the trip:

'Everytime there's a death on the road you relive it'. Westmeath's Donna Price is reflecting on the 20th anniversary of her son Darren's death. He was killed in a crash and the end of March in 2006. Following the tragedy, she established the Irish Roads Victim Association to support others facing similar situations, as well as those living with the physical and psychological effects of road collisions. She has been speaking with Midlands 103's David Hollywood says her world fell apart when she got the news:

A carpenter, from England, has quit his job after his dog went viral on social media and started to earn more than him. TJ the Frenchie has 700,000 followers on TikTok - with his videos racking up tens of millions of views, and has done sponsorship deals with P&O Ferries and DFS furniture. His owner, 33-year-old Duncan Tout, says he originally set up an Instagram account when his French Bulldog was a pup in 2021, as a place to collect photos and memories. Irene McCormick, Lecturer of SETU's Social Media Influencer Course has been speaking to Midlands 103's David Hollywood about what it takes to go viral: Photo credit: Facebook - TJ The Frenchie

There are calls for better supports and services for people with Parkinson's Disease in the midlands. Stephanie Connor, Chair of the Offaly Branch of Parkinson's Ireland and a caller for her husband David says they have to travel outside of the county for appointments. The group is holding a "Walk in the Park", which is sponsored by Dovida, tomorrow in Lloyd Town Park,Tullamore, to raise funds for their local services. David first experienced symptoms after open heart surgery for a leaking valve in 2015, which led to an eventual diagnosis in 2017. They've both been speaking with Midlands 103's Caoimhe Killeen:

17 years ago a young mother of four from the midlands died from cervical cancer. Maria Fitzpatrick left behind her sons, 12-year-old Niall, Darren who was 10, eight-year-old Eric and Sean who was four. Her family later found out there was an missed opportunity to diagnose her earlier. Her husband Kevin and along with their sons have received an apology after a long legal battle. Kevin has been speaking with Will Faulkner and says his wife was a dedicated mother:

The Tánaiste is being urged to come and examine the impact of rising fuel prices in the Midlands. Convoys have been gathering this morning across the country enroute to Dublin. A significant demonstration is causing delays on the Tullamore Bypass on the N52. Country Music star Robert Mizzell from Mullingar is taking part in that protest and says Simon Harris needs to listen to people properly:

A Laois family is aiming to give back to a charity that's provided massive support to them. Gordan Gee's five-year-old daughter Maddie lives with a very rare brain disorder GNAO1, and was diagnosed before her first birthday. The family receives support from the Jack and Jill Foundation. A special open day and raffle draw is taking place in E.C Pratt and Co in Abbeyleix this Saturday from 2 o'clock. Mr Gee has been speaking with David Hollywood on Midlands 103 and says their daughter is the light in their lives:

A new 40-thousand euro Taylor Swift wax figure has been unveiled in Dublin. The National Wax Museum Plus spent nine months designing and creating the pop star's lookalike. It comes after a Sinéad O'Connor figure was removed to be updated to look more like the singer. Owner and Westmeath's Paddy Dunning has been speaking with Will Faulkner about ensuring that the figure was up to their standards: Photo credit: Facebook: The National Wax Museum plus

A midlands chocolatier says it takes three days to make an Easter Egg. Daniel Linehan from Bon Chocolatiers in Tullamore. says they normally come up with the flavours first and then plan out what they need to do to create it. He has been showing Midlands 103's Zoe Ryan how to make the perfect Easter egg:

Clear cut guidelines on women slowly returning to exercise postpartum are being aided by a new study at a Midlands university. The SHE Research Centre at TUS Athlone and the Regional Hospital Mullingar are partnering up for MAMAMOVE, a practical focus group based project. It will aim to find out what prevents women from returning to exercising after giving birth. Dr Emma Cowley from TUS Athlone is the lead researcher of the project and says it aims to go beyond academia:

A Carlow mum has gone before the patrol board to ensure the man who killed her children is not released from prison. Kathleen Chada's children Eoghan and Ruairi were killed by their father Sanjeev Chada in 2013. He is not seeking to released. She has been speaking with Will Faulkner about what she told the parole board:

A midlands man is hoping that his plans for vineyards could boost tourism in the region. Stephen Whyte, founder of Irish Wine Estates, says there are over 1,000 vineyards in the UK so he thought why not do it in Ireland. He's been speaking with Will Faulkner on Midlands Today and says he also wants to do wine tours on the site in South Offaly.

A midlands man is preparing for the challenge of a lifetime this weekend, Laois' Tony McAllister is running the 270km Marathon de Sables in Morocco. The Mountmellick man will be running across the Sahara Desert for six days. He's been speaking with Will Faulkner on Midlands Today and says he has to carry all his supplies with him:

Those over the age of 65, along with homeowners and people who are retired, report the highest levels of happiness. Data from the CSO shows overall, just over a quarter of the population feel a high level of satisfaction with in their life. Women were more likely to report feeling depressed, however, men are more likely to feel lonely. Aoife McGrath, Psychotherapist with Inner Therapy, Portlaoise has been speaking with Will Faulkner, on Midlands Today, and says people over 65 tend to reflect more on their lives:

An Offaly man has released his new song following his struggles with addiction. James McKelvey from Shinrone, overcame personal challenges and has come out the other end with a brand new song to show for it called 'See Me Now'. He began writing this song while getting treatment and during a relapse the song was put on the back burner - since then he has come out of it stronger than ever and has learned to 'take every day as it comes'. He spoke with Midlands 103's Courtney Callaghan about his upcoming live gigs and more music that is on the way:

A Bernese Mountain Dog has been rescued from an abandoned well, close to Birr Castle in Offaly. Three year old 'Bru' was out for a walk with his owner when disaster struck, and he slipped into a 10-metre hole, covered with grass. A specially trained unit from Laois Fire and Rescue Service assisted their Offaly Fire and Rescue colleagues, in a three-hour operation to hoist him safely back out. Keith Lewis from the Laois confined space rescue team and Denis Canty, Assistant Chief Officer of Offaly Fire and Rescue Service have been speaking with Will Faulkner on Midlands 103 about the rescue.

A search party was organised to help locate four teenagers lost in a dense midlands woodland last Saturday. Former soldier Robert Wallace was called to assist Athlone Gardai, as he runs Westshore Survival and has helped in previous searches in Monkslands Forest. The four youngsters had been in the forest for five hours and were very cold. He has been speaking with Will Faulkner on Midlands Toady and says temperatures were dropping and darkness was setting in when he found the teenagers:

One in two people will hear these words "you've got cancer". The Irish Cancer Society says around 44,000 Irish people will develop cancer this year. Today marks Daffodil Day, the biggest fundraising day of the year for the charity. Schools and workplaces across the midlands are holding events today and selling the trademark daffodil pin in order to raise money for research. Over 1,400 free lifts for patients to appointments and 850 free counselling sessions were provided last year across the counties, which is directly funded through public donations. Midlands 103's Caoimhe Killeen has been speaking with those who both avail of and contribute to these services. Photo: Caroline Overton from Emo

Offaly's Fintan Costello has working with Penneys for over 30 years. In 2023, he became Head of Penneys Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. He's been looking back on his career with Will Faulkner on the Midlands Today Show.

A group of students in Our Lady's Bower in Athlone have come up with a simple idea that's solving a problem many farmers know well - what to do with all those large empty bags. Their invention, called Rebag, is designed to neatly store and reuse big sacks like feed bags, fertiliser bags and turf bags instead of throwing them away. The idea has already caught the attention of the farming community and helped the students win the Westmeath stage of the Student Enterprise Programme National Finals. They'll now go on to represent the county at the national finals in May. Joining me are the three students behind the project - Amy Reynolds, Hannah O'Connor and Ruby Duane from Green Yard have been speaking with Midlands 103's Sinéad Hubble.

Bressie says he hopes sharing the story of pregnancy loss will help break the silence and support others facing similar heartbreak. Mullingar's Niall Breslin says it was the most devastating moment when doctors told him and his partner Louize they could not detect their baby’s heartbeat. The mental health advocate says only minutes earlier they had excitedly discussing the kind of parents they hoped to become. The author and singer says he decided to write about the experience from a male perspective, in his new book The Place That Has Never Been Wounded, because it's not just about grief it’s about utter love. He's been speaking with Will Faulkner on the Midlands Today Show:

A 91-year-old Athlone man is among those waiting for a flight out of Dubai. Terry Carmody, was on holidays with his family and was due to fly home on Monday but the flight was cancelled. Two Emirates flights between Dublin and Dubai are going ahead today, the first ones since hostilities broke out last weekend. Terry's grandson in law Aaron Bannon Whelan says they arranged a flight themselves for Friday but there's been no contact from the embassy:

A Westmeath woman says she started noticing she had patches of hair loss at 15. Caoilfhinn Ní Choiligh has Alopecia Areata and says she was so scared when she had to go for a wig. She has set up the Hair Loss Haven to help others suffering with the condition. The Mullingar woman has been speaking with Sinéad Hubble on Midlands 103 and says she had always taken really good care of her hair:

The Government is considering charter flights to evacuate Irish citizens stranded in the Middle East. It comes as the conflict intensifies and commercial air travel remains severely disrupted. The Department of Foreign Affairs says contingency plans are being examined. Citizens in affected areas are being urged to register with the department. Ballymore's Anthony Kearney, who is living in Doha with his family, says it’s impossible to predict what will happen next:

A Westmeath couple who has been fostering for eighteen years says it's a special thing to open up your family home, on Focus on Foster Care Week 2026. Castlepollard's Alfie and Nicola Devine have fostered six or seven children over the years, including one girl who came to them at age two and is now 12. They, who also have a 29-year-old daughter, a 24-year-old son and one grandchild, believe the experience has proved both rewarding and challenging. Foster Care Week is taking place this week and Foster Care Ireland says there is a shortage of foster carers as there is an increasing number of children entering care. The Devines have been speaking with Will Faulkner and say its amazing to be able to set children up for life.

A midlands teenager, who was seriously injured in a collision, is out of ICU. Miya Connolly Loonam was transferred to Crumlin Children's Hospital in Dublin after the crash earlier this month. Miya's family say the move from ICU feels like nothing short of a miracle and she's beginning to regain some independence, by using a wheelchair and learning to use crutches. Valerie Rooney, Chairperson of Clara Ladies GAA Club has been speaking to Will Faulkner and says the family are grateful for all the support they have received.

A former midlands footballer says people will always find some reason to attack you online. Gemma Leahy from Mullingar says she noticed she lost a lot of followers after she posted a photo of her and her wife. She has been speaking with David Hollywood on Midlands 103:

An Irish Winter Olympian is being described as "very driven" by her Westmeath family. Annette Dalton, is a first cousin of the mother of Annabelle Zurbay, who is competing in the slalom and giant slalom at the Winter Olympics. Ms Dalton says Annabelle is dedicated to her craft:

A Laois mum says her six-year-old son won't be able to attend school, if two SNA posts are terminated. Aisling Donoher is making the comments after a number of schools, including her child's school, Rath National School, were told last week they're allocation of special needs assistants will be cut in September She says Dan has a range of complex needs and needs one-on-one support. Junior Education Minister, Michael Moynihan, says schools can ask the National Council for Special Education to reconsider the outcome of reviews. Ms. Donoher says she's upset and concerned:

Kirsty Fitzpatrick, who was assaulted with a golf club, is warning domestic abuse victims to "get out before it's too late". She was assaulted in her Athlone home by her former partner in February 2024. 39-year-old Mark Conway, Marine View, Athlone, received a six year jail sentence after pleading guilty to assault causing harm in July last year. She has been speaking with Will Faulkner on "Midlands Today" and says she's still trying to move on with her life:

The Minister of the National Drugs Strategy says the arson attack on a home in which two people lost their lives in Offaly was "absolutely horrific". Four-year-old Tadhg Farrell and his grand-aunt Mary Holt were killed when a suspected petrol bomb was thrown at a house in Edenderry on Saturday the 6th of December. Jennifer Murnane O'Connor made the comments while speaking with Will Faulkner on "Midlands Today". She says the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026-2029 sets out an equitable and evidence-based response to drug use, reflecting the Government's ongoing commitment to reducing harms through a health led approach:

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, new data suggests singles in the Midlands face longer odds when it comes to finding love. Offaly ranks among the bottom counties nationwide, with just a 1-in-56 chance of meeting a partner this Valentine’s. Laois also sits in the lower half of the table, with odds of around 1-in-36. Westmeath offers a stronger dating prospect with a 1-in-27 chance of finding love. The figures from Casino.org show how geography, nightlife options and dating-app activity can shape love luck across the region. Matchmaker Mairead Loughman from Love HQ in Mullingar has been offering advice on how to find love: