Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

The Midlands Today Show with Will Faulkner & David Hollywood

Organised crime and drug intimidation laid bare — Following the Edenderry arson attack that killed four-year-old Tadhg Farrell and Mary Holt, Drive National Co-ordinator Siobhán Maher outlines how drug-related intimidation and violence is gripping communities across the Midlands, with families living in fear and organised gangs exerting ruthless control. 171225 Politics, protests and animal welfare debates — A Dáil vote looms on banning fox hunting as animal welfare groups push for change, while Midlands MEP Ciaran Mullooly breaks down growing opposition to the Mercosur trade deal amid fears it could undercut Irish farmers and flood Europe with cheap beef. 171225 Spending, services and local pride — Ibec predicts a bumper Christmas with household spending up €1,600 on average; concerns grow over the continued closure of Athlone’s Barna Waste facility; Geashill’s new astro pitch is locked over insurance issues; and Mullingar photographer Noel McIntyre earns global recognition at the World Sports Photography Awards.

Organised crime and drug intimidation laid bare — Following the Edenderry arson attack that killed four-year-old Tadhg Farrell and Mary Holt, Drive National Co-ordinator Siobhán Maher outlines how drug-related intimidation and violence is gripping communities across the Midlands, with families living in fear and organised gangs exerting ruthless control. 171225 Politics, protests and animal welfare debates — A Dáil vote looms on banning fox hunting as animal welfare groups push for change, while Midlands MEP Ciaran Mullooly breaks down growing opposition to the Mercosur trade deal amid fears it could undercut Irish farmers and flood Europe with cheap beef. 171225 Spending, services and local pride — Ibec predicts a bumper Christmas with household spending up €1,600 on average; concerns grow over the continued closure of Athlone’s Barna Waste facility; Geashill’s new astro pitch is locked over insurance issues; and Mullingar photographer Noel McIntyre earns global recognition at the World Sports Photography Awards.

Road safety alarm as drug-driving cases soar — new figures show a record surge in drug-driving prosecutions, with Mullingar seeing one of the sharpest increases nationwide. Driving instructor Joe Wynne and road safety advocates warn Christmas traffic could prove deadly without stronger enforcement and tougher deterrents. 161225 A major milestone for Midlands healthcare — Offaly County Council unanimously clears the way for the long-awaited Midlands Regional Hospice in Tullamore, hailed as a historic breakthrough after years of campaigning by families, volunteers and community groups. 161225 Crime, farming and community resilience — Gardaí investigate a suspected brothel operation in Athlone; IFA President Francie Gorman travels to Brussels by tractor with his son to protest future CAP funding cuts; Turn2Me announces free Christmas Day mental-health support; and local communities showcase the power of rural cooperation and pride.

Water, infrastructure and the Midlands’ future — Uisce Éireann prepares to lodge the biggest water project in Irish history, a €4.5–€6bn plan to secure drinking water for the Eastern and Midlands region, unlock housing supply and create a national water “spine” running through Tipperary, Offaly and Westmeath. 151225 Justice, grief and unresolved questions — a date is set for Jozef Puska’s appeal against his conviction for the murder of Ashling Murphy, as Edenderry lays to rest Mary Holt following the fatal arson attack that also claimed the life of four-year-old Tadhg Farrell, remembered for decades of care and kindness in her community. 151225 Politics, accountability and public health pressure — Fianna Fáil faces mounting internal anger over its presidential election review, Éist condemns the Vatican wedding of Conor McGregor as an insult to survivors of violence, and HSE leaders warn flu cases are rising fast with hospitals bracing for severe winter pressures.