Famed Gardener and Writer Lilly Champ from Portarlington guides us through her garden full of buzzing bees, vegetables and blossoming flowers while sharing her thoughts on country living, finding peace and why cows don't cause climate change.

The Open Door - Lily Champ

That's Life - Episode 4 - Elma Walsh, Cliona Hagan & Simon Sheerin

Dublin boys stow away to New York : Do you remember the story of 2 young Dublin friends in the summer of 1985 who ended up in New York without any money or their parents? On this episode of the Open Door  Offaly filmmaker Garret Daly talks to Ann Marie about his short documentary 'Nothing to Declare' which screens at the Galway Film Fleadh this Sunday at 2pm.

The Open Door - Dublin Boys Stow Away To New York

All-Ireland U20 Final Commentary

John Mahon recalls career and personal milestones, from leaving school at fourteen to building the Pig 'N' Whistle chain of pubs in New York. 

John Mahon is the founder of the hugely successful Pig N’ Whistle chain of pubs in New York. He first opened in 1969 metres from Rockefeller Center, Times Square and Radio City Music Hall. Pig ‘N’ Whistle has been at the heart of midtown Manhattan ever since . His business interests also include property, quarrying and horse breeding. A resident of Florida, John is a frequent visitor to the Midlands of Ireland for business and leisure. His story begins in Newtown Forbes Co. Longford in 1958.

Taking Care Of Business - John Mahon, Owner of Successful New York Pub Chain

Colm McNamee believes that our education system is failing us. Growing up with autism and ADHD he was put in 'the slow corner' of the class. As an exceptional learner, with an IQ of 134, Colm works for multinational company Salesforce, which donates millions of euro towards education development. 

On Monday's Open Door, he tells Ann Marie how he broke through the system and shares his ideas to radically change the Leaving Cert model, with more focus on critical thinking and equality of opportunity.

The Open Door - Our Education System Can Be Better

Ann Marie looks back as she looks forward, reliving some of the most memorable moments since The Open Door first aired.

The Open Door - Looking Back

'Less HSA inspections in 2021 than previous years - but this is likely to increase' - Breda Colgan of Salutem Advisory and Training

Apply now to Digital Construction Traineeship by LOETB.Padraig Boland Training Manager LOETB tells you how and why to get involved!

Laois IT firms All-Star run continues - Dave Devery of NetSupport.ie

Taking Care Of Business - Tuesday, 14th June

Laois IT firms All-Star run continues - Dave Devery of NetSupport.ie

Taking Care Of Business - Laois IT Firms Aren't Stopping

Midlands Today With Will Faulkner - Monday, 20th June

Liam talks to angry listeners about the Cost of Living Coalition National Day of Protests.

Callers give their reaction to ever increasing prices!

The story of the Roscommon lake that's threatening to swallow family homes!

And....One female caller talks about her vagina 'live' on air!

Saturday View - 18th June

Over 500 jobs up for grabs at Offaly Job Fair on 2nd July - with Anthony Hanniffy President of Tullamore Chamber. Let Sarah know about this too please as she's doing the social media for it.

Shortage of soap in pandemic propels two sisters to start making their own! Meet Sam and Sinead from S&S Soap Sisters.

South East Technological University as they are awarded €9.9million in Springboard+ with Lifelong Learning Manager Eoin O'Brien and  90% of the money from Lottery sales is reinvested in the community including €254m to Good Causes in 2021 by Shane Dempsey HEad of Communications.

Taking Care Of Business - Tuesday, 21st June

Heartlands- Sunday, June 26th

Encore Thursday, June 23rd

Country Life - Wednesday, June 22nd

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner - Friday, 24th June

Midlands Today With Will Faulkner - Monday, 27th June

Midlands Today With Will Faulkner - Tuesday, 28th June

Midlands Today With Will Faulkner - Wednesday, 29th June

Let's Go Green - Episode 9 - 27th June

Residents in Westmeath are looking for answers following the unannounced arrival of ayslum seekers.

A total of 150 men are being transferred to Harry's Hotel in Kinnegad last Thursday without any prior consultation, according to local Labour councillor Denis Leonard.

It's believed there are more asylum seekers yet to arrive.

A man in his 50s was also assaulted at the hotel at 9.45 on Monday morning and a man in his 40s was subsequently arrested.

Councillor Leonard has been telling Midlands 103's Ellen Butler that, while they're not opposed to asylum seekers, neither the hotel nor the town have the capacity to support such a volume of people...

[Photo credit: Google Maps]

Westmeath Residents Seek Answers After Unannounced Arrival Of 150 Asylum Seekers

Today 29th July Full

An Offaly man has been sharing his story about his struggle with mental illness with Will Faulkner on the Midlands Today Show. His name is James O’ Connor and he has survived suicide and mental illness.

My name is James O’ Connor and I have survived suicide and mental illness.

A Galway woman needs your help! Gwenda is hoping to find a missing camera that contains precious memories of her brother who passed away in April. The items were left behind in a lady's van when Lorcan got a lift from Tullamore to Portlaoise. The family is asking for anyone with any information about the missing camera to get in touch as the SD card contains irreplaceable pictures of their sibling: 

Appeal for missing camera that contains precious photos of a deceased brother

"I like to involve music and craic into my shows, that`s where the Jumbo Breakfast Roll came from" Pat Shortt talks getting into character and his new show "How`s Things?" with Carl James on The Afternoon Show

Pat Shortt The Afternoon Show Midlands 103

Nothing fully prepares you to be a parent.
 
Angela Mahon always imagined the Hollywood version would be true to life; clean clothes, pristine house, fresh face every morning. The reality of motherhood crashed down when her first child developed severe colic which lasted for over two years. Combined with finishing college and starting her own design business, she went from a healthy nine stone to weighing only seven and a half stone.
 
Having come through that experience, Ms Mahon is determined to help other women understand they are not alone in facing such challenges.
 
In this powerful interview with Will Faulkner on this morning’s Midlands Today Show, she discusses ‘The Mum Brigade’ and her ‘Truzees’ Snapchat group.
 
‘The Mum Brigade’ campaign aims to raise awareness around the struggles of motherhood and to raise much-needed funds for Our Lady’s Children’s hospital Crumlin to build a new hospital for newborn to two year-old children.
 
Its mission is to give mums all across Ireland a voice on topics such as Post-natal Depression, IVF, difficult labour, cancer throughout pregnancy, children with disabilities and much more. Topics such as fitness, health, wellbeing, fashion fixes for mums on-the-go will also be discussed with top bloggers and Irish celebs such as Pippa O’Connor, Rosie Connolly, Mom Fitness Diary and  Cherry Sue.
 
Previously, Ms Mahon published a booked called ‘The True To Life Parenthood: The Only Handbook You’ll Need’.
 
You also hear Leanne Noonan from Geashill describe how her youngest child was born weighing less than two pounds, barely the size of your hand. The stress and extended hospital stay resulted in deep depression which she was reluctant to acknowledge at first.
 
The final guest is Maureen O’Brien from Moate, courageously revealing her battle with secondary fertility, the cute but cutting questions from her son and her frustration with how older people react to her situation.
 
If you like what you hear, please share. If you have a similar story, please tell us: midlandstoday@midlands103.com

Meet The Midlands ‘Mum Brigade’

Versatis Patches Removed From The Drug Payment Scheme

Versatis Patches User For Four Years In Limbo After Re-Application

NPD Group celebrates 10 years in Athlone with employee numbers growing from 6 to 150 in that time.
General Manager Dermot Ainsworth joins Ronan in studio to discuss the decision making process that brought NPD Group to Athlone in 2010, the regional talent pool and in fitting with the time, the continuity plan the company have put in place due to Covid-19.

Taking Care of Business - NPD Group celebrates 10 years in Athlone

Celebrations of O'Molloy Street in Tullamore..with residents filling the street with flags and bunting! Memories and stories of the 'Hollywood' of Tullamore and the joys of living there.
Nostalgic memories of the old 'Montague Hotel' in Co. Laois and stories of legendary actor Richard Harris drinking Baileys Coffee during his time there..supper dances and bands who played there aswell as staff who saw it as 'home'.

Saturday View 11th April, 2020

Do you know your birds? No bother, from blackbirds sounding like they are on the phone to the brave black cap, a great listen for these times to figure out which winged creature is chirping in your back garden.

The Open Door - The Dawn Chorus With Ricky Whelan

Birr Military Cemetery & Barracks: 
Over 200 years ago Crinkle was a military hub. 
Akin to Templemore, the Barracks was destroyed by Anti-Treaty forces in 1922. 
Stephen Callaghan has spent the last 10 years uncovering up to 200 names of unknown people buried in Offaly's only military graveyard. On this episode of the Open Door, Stephen takes us through the area with stories of the children buried there, how an officer shot his Sergeant when he was pushed too far and how did the Clock Tower end up in Australia?

The Open Door - Birr Military Cemetery & Barracks

Country Life - Wednesday 3rd February

Midlands 103 is the independent local radio station serving counties Laois, Offaly and Westmeath. All audio on this page is pre-July 2022.

To hear the latest Midlands 103 Podcast content please visit https://www.midlands103.com/podcasts/ or find your favourite talk show on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

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