July's Highlights

The amazing sunshine and hot weather in May didn't really extend into July and even with Covid interrupting many activities we still headlined over 50 items of local interest in our bite sized news.

Here's a quick taster with a few notable highlights.

• Having been severely hit by the Covid closures it's great to see our Johnstown retailers rebound. Most recently Costa Coffee reopened and Taylor's of Johnstown resumed their food service after a lengthy closure. They now join O'Briens, Fifty50 and the Ardboyne Hotel offering in house dining food services but we're not yet sure about the Willows (Old Bridge Inn).
• Meath County Council has proposed a new Bus Service to replace the 3 current services for Navan. The route includes a new stop opposite Clois Glasin Estate on Metges Road together with a dozen or more around Navan.
• Autism Friendly Shopping began at Smith's SuperValu Tuesday evenings so expect a calm quiet experience. We've been in touch and we're especially impressed with the design of the ALF Trolley which will be included in a feature article later this month.
• 'Solo for Siun' fundraiser for Crumlin Street Children's Hospital brought members of Watertown GFC together. They exceeded their target goal by a considerable amount but you can still donate to their worthy cause. How they managed to attract so many famous celebrities to support the fundraiser is a remarkable achievement in itself.
• Navan and Johnstown are set to get Public CCTV monitoring to dampen the Anti social behaviour, It's recently been suggested that we host 100s of dummy cameras to confuse and deter would be criminals.
• Claremont Stadium are well underway with the replacement of their running track. Donating the old track to anyone who can make use of it will offer it a 2nd Home.
• The Green and Blue Riverside Extension has now officially received €750k in funding to connect Navan to Drogheda along the River Boyne.
• The New Link Road to connect North and West Navan alongside Blackwater Park has reached detailed design stage.

• Meath River Rescue reacted to an urgent call out to save an individual from the River Boyne. Only a few days earlier they had been contacted to reclaim the life rings at Kilcarn Bridge which had been tampered with.
• Tree Surgery at this time of year is not legal, with few exceptions so please don't be tempted to tackle any without staying on the right side of the law.
• October's Púca Festival in Athboy, Drogheda and Trim has been cancelled but will be online instead.
• Johnstown Tidy Towns cleared up the broken glass at the Spire View Steps after a lady was injured walking on the path. Ideas for a solution are still being sought to combat the anti social behaviour.
• The Dog Poop Bag dispensers at the Johnstown People's Park are not being used properly causing a disgusting mess where some think it's a waste bin.
• It appears that the Johnstown Roundabout Tree has died since it shows no sign of any leaves.