[7]
July 11. In the long-awaited Cabinet reshuffle, local TD Charlie Flanagan is announced as the
new Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. Job creation in Laois is one of his top priorities.
On a related topic, figures from the Higher Education Authority show that Laois, along with Donegal, has the lowest level
(41%) of school leavers entering college.[33].
September 2. Minister Flanagan launched 'Healthy Town 2014', an initiative sponsored by The Irish Times,
Pfizer, and the town's civic and business community. From September 8, we'll have
an eight-week programme of free health promotion events; information meetings, health checks, physical activities, talks on everything from
parenting to mental health. We won't know ourselves come November 2.
I am not making this up: A man, full of alcohol, was found sleeping in a bed in the maternity unit of the local hospital.
Not alone that, but in his pocket he was found to have - go on, guess - (a) a bottle of whiskey (b) a can of beer (c) a dead rabbit. Believe it or not, it was (c), a
dead rabbit covered in blood. He - the man, not the rabbit - was in the land of Nod for up to six hours and would've been there longer if a nurse hadn't
heard him snoring. The company providing security to the hospital was unavailable for comment.[34].
September 23 - 25: The National Ploughing Championshps in Ratheniska - Europe's largest Outdoor Exhibition and Agricultural Trade Show - were
even more successful than last year. Helped no doubt by the continuing fine weather - Can anyone remember a nicer September? - the record attendance exceeded 279,000.
November 1. On a wet, miserable afternoon, more than a thousand people marched through the town in protest against the government's proposed Water Tax.
Because of the availability of local and national newspapers online, I have decided to discontinue these pages.
Thanks to everyone who ever
read them.
[33]
The Irish Times August 20, 2014.
[34]
The Irish Times September 12, 2014.
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