The LoveLaois Podcast LaoisToday

John Maye is returning to Knockbeg College as principal of the school for the forthcoming academic year.
After leaving in 2018, he became the deputy principal in St Conleth's Community College in Newbridge before taking up the role of principal in Duiske College in Graiguenamanagh.
Now, after Michael Carew’s retirement, John is set to return and before hand, he spoke to Alan Hartnett on the LaoisToday Podcast.

The Local Elections are behind us now and this final Podcast on the subject wraps it all up. 
Steven Miller is joined by Alan Hartnett to pick out the main talking points from the election. 
After inadvertently leaving it out of the Portlaoise Podcast, we also hear from Tommy Mulligan. 
While the lads then return to give out some 'awards' from the election itself.  

The most impressive breakthrough performance in this Local Election campaign in Laois was that of Independent candidate Tommy Mulligan.
He took the third seat in Portlaoise, with outgoing Fine Gael candidate Thomasina Connell the one to lose out.
Marie Tuohy was also a considerable success story as she held on to the seat she was co-opted into, impressively picking up a raft of transfers from across the board. Naeem Iqbal had polled strongly initially to be only eight votes behind Tuohy on the first count.
We look back at the count in detail as well as hearing from Tommy Mulligan (Independent), Naeem Iqbal (Fianna Fail), Catherine Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail), John Joe Fennelly (Fianna Fail), Marie Tuohy (Labour) and Barry Walsh (Fine Gael).
Plus, this episode plays out with an airing of the Skies oer Ballyroan, the famous Ballyroan song which gets an airing on big moments for that community as it did on this occasion when their man Barry Walsh was elected. 

There's always one area that throws up an election thriller.
And this year it was in the Graiguecullen-Portarlington Municipal District where Fine Gael candidates PJ Kelly and Vivienne Phelan slugged it out for the final seat.
After the first count Kelly was 191 votes ahead but the transfer-friendly Phelan eat into that lead bit by bit before final getting in front following the distribution of Aisling Moran's surplus.
As well as looking back over the count, we hear from Vivienne Phelan, PJ Kelly, Aisling Moran (Independent), Joey Kennedy (Fianna Fail) and Aaron Kelly (Sinn Fein).
All interviews were recorded in the Count Centre so may contain references to upcoming counts, which now have been completed.

Borris-in-Ossory/Mountmellick have returned the same six candidates to Laois County Council in this year's Local Elections.
But there is still a lot to talk about. Conor Bergin's massive vote, the enduring vote-getting ability of Fianna Fail duo Seamus McDonald and Paddy Bracken and how Paddy Buggy missed out on a seat despite a huge first preference showing.
As well as looking back on the count, we hear from successful candidates Conor Bergin (Fine Gael), James Kelly (Independent), Ollie Clooney (Independent), Seamus McDonald (Fianna Fail) and Paddy Bracken (Fianna Fail) plus Paddy Buggy (Fine Gael) and Fintan Cuddy (Fianna Fail) who lost out.
All interviews were recorded in the Count Centre so may contain references to upcoming counts, which now have been completed.

Day 2 of the 2024 Local Elections in Laois are ongoing and we now finally have a few results. 
Before the first count was announced, Alan Hartnett joined Steven Miller. 
The pair reflected on the first two days of the Local Elections and what has, or hasn't, happened thus far. 
And Steven also caught up with a number of the candidates who are contesting seats. 
Independent James Kelly was up first as he looks set to be re-elected in the Borris-In-Ossory-Mountmellick area. 
We are also joined by fellow Independent candidate Ollie Clooney who is likely to do the same in the same area. 
Fianna Fail's John Joe Fennelly is in a similar position in the Portlaoise area and gives his thoughts. 
Aaron Kelly (Sinn Fein) and Joey Kennedy (Fianna Fail) are unlikely in Graiguecullen-Portarlington and they speak about their experience. 
Former Fianna Fail TD John Moloney also joins in on the episode.