2024
Snapshot News
Help us to make Johnstown a better place in which to live, work, and visit.
Click on the snapshot images to view details.
December
AGM 2024
Everyone is welcome to join us for our AGM, 8:30pm Tues Dec 3rd upstairs in O'Briens Pub and Restaurant
November
Election Poster Free
Thank you to the General Election candidates for cooperating to achieve a plastic election poster-free Johnstown.
Pride of Place County Awards.
It was a great night at the Meath Pride of Place Awards tonight and nominated for the 2 awards of Green Km and Extra Large Town. We didn't win, but we would like to congratulate all the winners, particularly our neighbours in Old Johnstown, who deservedly won another award.
Clear Paths
One aim of the leaf mould project is to clear slippery paths and reduce next year's roadside weeds.
4 Filled
The first 4 leaf mould cages at the JPP are filled and sealed.
The Millbrook site leaves have been spread out awaiting a soaking from the next rain before being packed.
Leaf Pods
The first 4 of our 12 leaf mould cages begin to be filled with the help of trees from both the JPP and the road leading to Millbrook, SprireView and the Boyne estates.
Garden Bird Survey
The Irish Garden Bird Survey, conducted by BirdWatch Ireland, is a popular citizen science survey that monitors garden birds.
Starting Monday 25th November through to February, we'd like you to join in and count the highest number of each bird species visiting your garden weekly. Also you can provide information about your garden and bird feeding practices.
The survey helps understand garden bird populations and the overall environment, and anyone can participate without registration.
BirdWatch Ireland publishes the survey results annually in their membership magazine, Wings.
Autumn Bridge Flowers
Thank you to volunteers who were very busy bringing vibrant colour back to St Martha's Bridge.
A huge 'Thank You' to Beechmount Garden Centre for creating our fabulous Autumn display and we're sure these will brighten the days ahead.
Avoiding Plastic Waste
We ask candidates not to erect street posters along Johnstown's Green Km for the General Election, Nov 29th.
Autumn Weeding
Our volunteers manually weeded from the school campus down to St Martha's Bridge keeping poisonous pesticides from being sprayed in Johnstown.
October
October 29th
Pride of Place Awards
Meath County Council Navan Municipal District Awards winning entries in Extra Large Town and Green Km recognized our efforts to maintain and improve our neighborhood.
October 29th
Navan Outreach
A volunteer delivers hot chicken stew to a homeless man and woman sleeping rough on Navan's streets.
October 29th
Street Leaves
Over 30 bin bags worth of leaves were collected from 10 Hazel trees on one street. Collected dry they need to be wetted before they go into the leaf mould bin.
October 24th
Spare Perennials
The Bridge baskets were taken down today ready for the winter display. We placed the perennial plants in pots and offered them to the community for free. Meath County Council collected the annuals for composting.
October 22nd
Leaf Collection
Storm Ashley brought down many leaves and volunteers quickly blew them off Metges Road pavements before they stuck.
October 22nd
Outreach
Volunteers help 2 Navan rough sleepers.
October 23rd
Zoom Workshop
Hosted by MCC, Craig H. Benton presented an online introduction to the Leaf Mould project with insights explaining how it works and what will be involved.
October 11th
Leaf Collection
In preparation for our Leaf Mould project, we've started collecting some fallen leaves from residential streets where they cause issues. They are much easier to gather when dry but need to be made wet for the composting process.
October 8th
Seeking a Venue
A Johnstown car boot sale, farmers market, and even Christmas Craft market have all been suggested but without a site, we've been unable to progress these ideas.
St Stephens NS School hosted a Christmas Fare in 2019 but we've had nothing since and there's unlikely to be another while the school campus undergoes construction works.
In September 2024 a local venue offered a site for a monthly car boot sale but we can't get insurance unless it's completely closed only to host the event.
Despite the knock back we'll keep looking
October 7th
Leaf Blowing
The fallen autumn leaves can look amazing on grass lawns but they're not so great when they make pavements slippery and block roadside drains.
As part of a forthcoming project we've invested in a leaf blower and after today's trial, and for the next few hours at least, Bothar Sion has clear pathways.
Over the coming weeks, we're going to be collecting leaves that don't fall on grass from 3 local streets. With the help of Meath County Council and local residents we are going to create something that is fantastic for gardens.
BEFORE.
AFTER.
October 6th
Road Reopens
Since late June, the R153 Navan to Kentstown Road has been hosting pipework and has reopened to traffic.
October 1st
Bulky Waste Free Drop Off
Meath County Council has announced free Halloween drop-off events for householder's bulky waste at recycling centres in Navan, Trim, Kells and Dunboyne to help prevent bonfire activity.
To prevent bonfires in your area, the public is advised to keep items such as pallets, furniture, tyres, skip contents, and even wheelie bins out of sight.
Queries to environment@meathcoco.ie
For more information read here: https://www.meath.ie/.../news/halloween-bonfire-prevention
October 1st
Meath Careers Expo
Meath Careers Expo returns to the Ardboyne Hotel Navan on Wednesday 9th October.
The Meath Careers Expo will feature 35 of the leading employers in the Mid & North East Regions. Those attending can meet employers face to face and avail of career advice and support with your CV from professional career coaches.
September
September 18th
Soccer in the JPP
It's great to see Johnstown FC use the People's Park for the minor teams training sessions.
September 18th
Tùs Community Work
Johnstown Tidy Towns are now part of the Tùs employment activation initiative, an employment support program for those on the live register.
Tùs provides short-term quality work for people who are unemployed for 12 months and over, are on the live register, and are available for work.
To get involved in the programme and work in the community with Johnstown Tidy Towns call 085 1757216 or contact Tùs directly on 0469280790.
September 1st
Thirsty Plants?
This year's answer is 'less thirsty than we expected'. The summer of 2023 was incredibly wet and 2024 wasn't much of an improvement. This meant the sun didn't dry the baskets as much and require constant watering.
August
August 31st
Navan Marathon
Volunteers became stewards to help support the inaugural Navan Marathon held at the in support Core Ireland and the Joshua Drop In Centre.
August 30th
Google Maps Updated
Updates to the aerial map images for the Dunville Estate, Athlumney Centre new apartments, Colaiste Na Mi school development, and north of Kentstown Road development. New photos for the Cois Glaisin and Kilcarn Woods estates have yet to appear.
August 21st
Heritage Week at the Ramparts
From Wild About Navan
Join us this Sunday 25th August 2024 at 10:30 am as we celebrate Water Heritage Day during Heritage Week by coming together for a live podcast recording with Wild About Navan and local geologist Dr Robbie Meehan.
We will be helping clean up The Ramparts along the River Boyne and explore its history and heritage and our connections with it.
If you have questions you would like to ask the geologist Dr Robbie Meehan, please email them to WildAboutNavan@gmail.com.
Sign up for this free event using the form below, and we look forward to seeing you there!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdLi3UuIev6O3HdI6niq2g9AIPUklMRj06PvVqOaSodNTkhPQ/viewform
August 4th
Food Hampers
Our volunteers deliver food hampers, donated and assembled by @Athboy's People Who Share Care Group, to families living in poverty in Co Meath.
Can you help us?
August 1st
Park Games
Thanks to Pawel and his son for helping me mark out two badminton courts in Johnstown Peoples Park tonight. We provided the equipment and if you want us to mark out another let us know.
August 1st
Clover Lawn Flowers
After 12 weeks a dozen clover flower heads have appeared in the trial lawn.
Chickweed is rife but also benefits pollinators and doesn't hinder the clover.
August 1st
Litter Picking
Volunteers were out and about today litter picking, keeping the community looking good.
July
July 28th
Navan Outreach
On outreach yesterday and brought homemade chocolate muffins rolls and hot drinks to two rough sleepers in Navan.
One of these men contacted @meathcoco as far back as 31st May, looking for emergency accommodation. I made a representation for him back on the 1st of July, and yet after nearly two months, he is still sleeping rough on the streets waiting on a bed.
It's hard to find the words to describe the homeless situation in this country at the moment, with a new record of 14,303 people living in emergency accommodation in June and with 4,404 of them children under 18 years of age.
I can only describe Meath's homeless service as being in complete meltdown when they now regularly leave homeless people sleeping rough for weeks or even months as in this man's case waiting for an emergency bed.
ReUse
3 of our butts used for harvesting rainwater became spare after sourcing larger containers for our bridge baskets. We offered these to local residents for home use.
Pollinator Feast
Whilst watering the bridge flowers with harvested rainwater we notice the bees and hoverflies feasting.
Dumped
Big heavy bags of rubbish illegally dumped in Johnstown Shopping Centre were removed by our volunteers.
Pictures and details of the vehicle involved have been passed to the authorities.
Weeds removed without chemicals
volunteers were out and about again yesterday manually weeding and assisted by Meath County Council as part of the Green Km initiative helping keep poisonous pesticides out of Johnstown.
Rehome the Bridge Flowers
Some of the flowers and pots for collection by residents.
Food Hampers
Volunteers delivered food hampers yesterday to families living in food poverty in Co Meath.
The hampers were sourced and assembled by Athboys People Who Share Care Group.
Working together for the benefit of the community.
Outreach
On outreach last night, delivering hot food drinks, and treats to 3 homeless men sleeping rough on the streets in Navan.
One of our clients was taken to hospital yesterday from the ill effects of sleeping rough on the streets, awaiting @meathcoco to provide him with emergency accommodation.
Litter Picking
Johnstown Tidy Towns volunteers were out again yesterday manually weeding and keeping Johnstown free of poisonous pesticides in partnership with Meath County Council
Our volunteers were also litter picking helping keep our community looking at it's best.
Summer Bridge Flowers
With the help of our volunteers, Kirsty Nevin Jane, and the creative skill of the staff in Navan Garden Centre, St Martha's Bridge is looking bright and beautiful again.
Rehome the Bridge Flowers
The 30 St Martha's Bridge planters were emptied and offered to our volunteers and the public to take and rehome in their gardens.
Sports Pitch
With help from members of the community and the Lighthouse Church the Johnstown People's Park now has a soccer pitch and running track.
June
June 30th
Road Closed
The R153 Navan to Kentstown Road will be closed to nonessential traffic until October. New pipework is being installed.
Mid Summer Festival
We supported Chunks Of Art via a stall at Féile Na Bpáistí's Festival in Navan.
Bridge Sparkles Again
Thank you again to John at Rochfort Property Services for the great job cleaning St Martha's Bridge and thanks to Navan RFC for supplying the water.
We've Already Entered
The entry deadline has been extended for residents or groups wishing to enter this year's prestigious awards.
One Week's Litter
Our efforts to keep Johnstown litter-free still manage to amass several bags a week.
Winter Display Ends
Our very first over-winter flower planters were taken down today from St Martha's Bridge. This will allow for the forthcoming bridge cleaning and refilling for the Summer Display.
June Blitz
Saturday morning's team effort from members of The Lighthouse Church had volunteers collecting litter within residential estates, planting a dozen holy trees, and weeding the Green Km.
May
Safe Walking
Take a moment to read and sign this local petition https://chng.it/knByCXw45m
It's an opportunity that could bring positive changes to our health and local environment.
Biodiversity Funding
From Meath County Council
During National Biodiversity Week, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, announced funding of €2.8 million to local authorities to carry out biodiversity projects through the Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF).
Meath County Council have been awarded over €100k to deliver local biodiversity projects in 2024.
Find out more about these projects at https://bit.ly/3QUg0nG
Raising Awareness
We are in Smiths SuperValu again today during the store's fundraising promotion for Johnstown Tidy Towns.
You can support your local Tidy Towns today by donating €1 with each purchase.
Thanks to all SuperValu's customers for supporting the work of your local Tidy Towns.
National Biodiversity Week
From Meath County Council
Join Meath County Council on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th May for our remaining #BiodiversityWeek2024 events.
Learn about our ongoing work to support #nature on the Commons of Lloyd in Kells and how we are aiming to tackle the issues affecting woodland #biodiversity in Balrath with two fantastic walk and talk events!
Find out more about these events at: https://bit.ly/MCCNationalBiodiversityWeek
Ramparts Biodiversity Cycle
From Wild About Navan
If you're looking for something to do this weekend, why not join us tomorrow, Sunday 19th May, for a Biodiversity Cycle along the Ramparts? We will meet at the Ramparts Car Park at 11:30 am.
This is a free event, organised by Wild About Navan together with Navan Cycling Initiative, and you can register via the link at the end.
This cycle is suitable for all cycling abilities, and we will stop at several keys points along the river path to identify and learn about the habitats of native plants, trees and animals that thrive along the Boyne. Refreshments will be served!
Kindly supported by BikeWeek and Meath Sports Enterprise.
REGISTER HERE:
https://docs.google.com/.../1lB15UKmS9IJrj223XCT8.../edit...#
Students Re-Use
From Athlumney Abbey Residents Association
Well done to the three young residents who litter picked The Boyne’s Green this evening
May 8th
Clover Lawn Trial
The first signs of germination within 2 weeks of being sown sets our trial off to a good start.
Students Re-Use
From Coláiste Na Mí
Huge shoutout to our amazing school community for rallying behind our recent thrift shop event! Thanks to your generous support, we were able to make it a huge success. All proceeds are going to SVP, making a real difference in the lives of those in need.
A special round of applause to the incredible students of LCA 2 for their dedication and hard work! From organising to sorting, bagging, folding, and even building rails, your efforts were truly outstanding. We not only made great memories but also had a blast doing it together. Let's keep spreading kindness and making a positive impact in our community!
Tidy Towns Competition 2023/24
Our latest entry is being prepared. Thankyou to all the volunteers and contributors for giving up their free time and helping to keep Johnstown clean and tidy.
Delay The First Spring Cut
Do your bit for the environment by DOING LESS this bank holiday weekend.
Enjoy your gardens this weekend without the interruption of thunderous lawnmowers and leave them in the shed instead. Even Sir David Attenborough wants you to delay mowing until mid July and we don't doubt that he's right.
On Your Bike 2024
Not long to go until Bike Week 2024, taking place May 11-19! Check out all the great events happening throughout Co Meath.
May Blitz
Saturday morning's team effort from members of The Lighthouse Church achieved 80 manhours of work from 20+ volunteers attending to litter pick, weeding, and painting over graffiti. We hope this will become a monthly feature that gathers the community to show their pride in our area.
Plastic Waste Avoided?
Local Councillor Elections are expected June 7th. We ask potential candidates not to erect street posters along Johnstown's Green Km.
County Meath Biodiversity Action Plan
Wild About Navan together with Ben Malone, the Meath Biodiversity Officer, on the Biodiversity Action Plan on May 8th, Wednesday evening at 7.30pm at the Solstice.
Actions Against Food Poverty
Volunteers prepare to deliver food hampers to families living in food poverty in Co Meath.
Biodiversity Inspection
As part of our Johnstown Community Biodiversity Action Plan we engaged Ecologist Fintan Damer to create a baseline and the report and proposed action plan is in.
We're not short of potential study areas such as the River Boyne, wooded, grassed, and even wild pocket areas within estates. Our aim is to develop a series of positive biodiversity actions that members of our community can implement and develop in the coming years.
We've already started recording our projects, we need to record our native wildflowers, and continue mapping our trees, we need to record our visiting garden wild birds, and later this spring after dusk you might get a chance to see some of our local bats.
📷Adaptation of Meath Photography
Cuckoo Flowers
Cardamine pratensis, commonly known as the Cuckoo flower, Lady's Smock, or Meadow Foam, has appeared for the first time in one of Johnstown's green spaces.
It should be considerably more widespread but only if we delay cutting the grass.
April
Outreach
Looking after a homeless couple in downtown Navan this afternoon.
Steps Litter Cleanup
Out litterpicking this morning and came across a lot of litter scattered around the steps at the back of Spireview Way.
All cleaned up now and looking a lot better.
Other areas cleaned today included Metges Road Bothair Sion and from the Roundabout up to the school campus.
Remember its Pride of Place and Tidy Towns competition time, so help us keep Johnstown Tidy.
Illegal Dumping
Unfortunately while cleaning up the area today we found rubbish bags illegally dumped in Johnstown Peoples' Park Not only that lots of dog walkers felt it was ok to dump their bags of dog waste on top of the rubbish bags making an absolute mess at the entrance to the park near Millbrook.
The last time we experienced people illegally dumping in the park we found out who they were and reported them to Meath County Council who then dealt with the culprits.
I would ask everyone living around and using the park that if they see someone illegally dumping or throwing their dog waste in the park to please report them to me on 085 1757216 or by sending a PM to the page.
The rubbish bags dumped were very heavy and had to be transported by car to the park. The community's help in stamping this out would be welcome.
We also collected over 30 large nitrious oxide containers in the area in a place where local youths are hanging out. Just recently another woman in the UK died after inhaling gas from one of these containers. Parents need to talk to their kids advise them of the dangers.
Bee Food
North Metges Road is providing a bounty of fast food for emerging pollinators with a sea of yellow dandelions.
Less than one week
Whilst out litterpicking this morning in Johnstown we picked up a bike and a scooter just abandoned. Have a look at the amount of litter picked up by our volunteers over the last few days alone.
Imagine what our community would look like if our volunteers in partnership with @meathcoco didn't clean the area each week.
We have the Pride of Place and Tidy Towns competitions coming up soon, so I would ask everyone in the Johnstown Community to make an extra effort over the next few months.
Outreach
Got a call last night from a young couple sleeping rough in town. Was able to bring them a tent sleeping mat sleeping bags and some food and drinks.
Visited another man sleeping rough in the north of the town and brought him a delicious hot dinner from @smiths_supervalu_navan .
We now have 8 people sleeping rough in Navan this weekend, and as most of you know, @meathcoco don't provide an out of hours or weekend homeless service. Even when we have a yellow weather warning covering the whole country.
We have called for an out of hours homeless service many times, but Meath County Council says it's not needed.
The numbers sleeping rough on the streets in Navan this weekend would suggest different.
March
Outreach
Delivered a delicious hot dinner from @smiths_supervalu_navan to a rough sleeper in Navan this evening.
If your read our posts regularly, you will already know that @meathcoco don't provide an out of hours homeless service after 5 pm. Monday to Friday or over the weekend.
So, for this homeless man and two other rough sleepers in Navan, this weekend, there will be no help until Tuesday morning from Meath County Council.
Community Suppport Service
Our @johnstowntidytowns1 volunteers delivered food hampers with plenty of Easter eggs lovingly prepared and donated by Athboy's People Who Share Care Group and @aoifebradleywellbeing to families living in food poverty all over Co Meath today.
Happy Easter to all our clients, friends, and supporter's.
We're not quite full.
Bordering on the boundary with The Johnstown School Campus the apartment block is the final accommodation building for the Dunvile Estate.
Image Meath_photography
We're interested in supporting theTús initiative.
The TÚS initiative is a community work placement scheme providing short-term quality work experience opportunities for unemployed people. The work opportunities are to the benefit of the community and are provided by community and voluntary organisations in both urban and rural areas.
Take a look at our video for more information or visit our website www.meathpartnership.ie
Outreach
The TÚS initiative is a community work placement scheOn outreach tonight, delivering a delicious roast dinner from @smiths_supervalu_navan and a hot water bottle, etc, to a homeless man sleeping rough in Navan. me providing short-term quality work experience opportunities for unemployed people. The work opportunities are to the benefit of the community and are provided by community and voluntary organisations in both urban and rural areas.
Take a look at our video for more information or visit our website www.meathpartnership.ie
Found In Johnstown Too!
Attention Parents in Meath!
Community Workers in Meath are finding upward of 360 empty Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas) cannisters per week across Meath. The image shows just some that were found in Navan, Kells, Stamullen, Donore, and Duleek in the last week alone.
IF YOU SUSPECT YOUR CHILD IS USING NITROUS OXIDE, PLEASE ADVISE THEM TO STOP IMMEDIATELY!
Nitrous Oxide, aka Laughing Gas, Whippets, Balloons, Hippie Crack is No Laughing Matter…..It can kill! Mixing it with alcohol and other drugs is extremely dangerous!
Effects include Dizziness, Hallucinations, Shortness of Breath, Frostbit Injuries, Nerve Damage, Loss of Consciousness, Suffocation, Heart Attack, and Death.
For more information see https://bit.ly/DrugWarning
February
'Re-turn' Starts
The money-back scheme came into effect today and we expect to see a dramatic reduction in the litter on our streets!
A refundable fee of 15 or 25 cents has been added to the normal price of plastic drink bottles and aluminum cans stamped with the 'Re-turn' logo.
We understand that these stores currently have reverse vending machines :
Supervalu (Johnstown)
Tesco
Lidl
Aldi
Lituanica
Dunnes Stores
Navan DUOs
From Wild About Navan
The Navan DUOs (Dispersed Urban Orchards) are spreading throughout our town, and enhancing biodiversity in our estate greens! Following our popular tree planting workshop in November, we are hosting a free workshop in the Solas Glan community garden on fruit tree maintenance and tree pruning later this month.
Join us in Solas Glanto learn how to look after your fruit trees to ensure a healthy orchard, and productive trees for all. This free event takes place on Saturday 24th February 2024, from 2 pm to 4 pm, and you can secure your place by registering via this link: https://forms.gle/8qoKwy4oqqAC63579
A big thank you to our funders:
The trees are funded by the Community Foundation Ireland
The workshop is funded by MCC Heritage Small grants scheme.
This project is also supported by Municipal District Allocation by Meath County Council
See our website www.WildAboutNavan.ie for more info on our other projects, and how to get involved.
Dail Eireann Visit
A big thank you to Deputy Johnny Guirke TD Meath West for inviting a group of Johnstown Tidy Towns volunteers to Dail Eireann today.
We were able to witness leaders questions then had lunch and finally we were treated to a tour of the Dail and Seanad.
January
Clean Sweep
Clearing debris from the footpaths and cycle lanes from the IDA up go Smiths SuperValu making them safe for pedestrians and cyclists.
In fairness to the council, crews are flat out clearing roads footpaths and cycle lanes across the county after our two recent storms.
So Johnstown Tidy Towns as a local group are glad to help the Council keep our Johnstown Community safe and clean when needed.
Green School Talk
From Coláiste Na Mí
'Today our Green Schools Committee welcomed Councillor Alan Lawes, Ben Malone (biodiversity officer with Meath County Council) and Robin (Johnstown Tidy Towns) to our school.
Our guests spoke to students on all things biodiversity. During this visit students learned about pesticides and the effects that they can have on our wildlife and water. Huge thanks to Alan, Ben and Robin for taking time out of their busy schedule to come in and chat with us. '
Clean Sweep
A very blustery and windy morning in Johnstown for litter picking. We want to draw your attention to the amount of litter picked up by our volunteers this week - 6 bags!
In addition that does not take account of the amount of litter Meath County Council pick up as well.
Imagine the state of Johnstown if our volunteers and the council didn't make the effort to litter pick, all the rubbish you see there in the bags would be blowing around the area.
Let's make that extra effort to bin our litter going forwards as I know we can do better.
St Brigid's Day, Navan
Johnstown Tidy Towns has sponsored 2 tables for chunks of art and artist Monika Hajcsar at the St. Brigid's Day Festival on 5th February.
School Thrift Shop
From Coláiste Na Mí
To encourage sustainability, we are going to run a Colaiste na Mi Thrift Shop. We are looking for students to donate any preloved clothing to us. All donations must be in good condition.
Bags can be dropped to class C142. There will be spot prizes for classes who donate the most clothes. Donations are being accepted now, so now is the time to clean out your wardrobe!
Icy Roads
Johnstown Tidy Towns volunteers are ready to respond if needed over the next few days at the critical points that brought the roads to a grinding halt in Johnstown today.