February 2020

Breaking News

New feature bringing you weekly news.


February News

Clickable headings will expand the text.


Valentine's Day

Don't forget the date and please shop locally.

UK Divorce

Finally a decision made to 'Exit with a Deal' but how will the Brexit Saga impact on us?

With another few months to sort it all out it's not exactly an overnight outcome.


Read Article

€15,000 Donation

Nominate a Registered Charity to benefit from a €5,000 donation.


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Navan Cllr Alan Lawes is offering his entire 2020 Council allocated Discretionary Fund to three Registered Charities operating in the Navan Municipal Area and YOU can nominate them.

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#PassOnPlastic

As a 'Thank You' and as an alternative to Plastic Street Posters in Johnstown we host a listing of the Meath West Election Candidates who formally agreed to the Johnstown Tidy Towns request.


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Our Tidy Towns group declared Johnstown as a 'Plastic Election Poster Free Zone', sent emails to all candidates, and we think it's working.

Only 5 of the 9 Election Candidates formally replied and agreed not to hang posters and all candidates appear to be cooperating for fear of a public backlash.

Navan and many other areas are plastered with these posters but unfortunately the marketing technique will harm the environment for 100's of years to come. Some may be recycled, some incinerated and raise Carbon Emission levels or go to landfill and to one day enter the food chain.

Despite consumers being told that 'Single Use Plastics' should be avoided wherever possible this has yet to be adopted by election campaign marketeers.

Perhaps we need to have these banned?


See our Guide

Climate Debate

Perhaps Greta Thunberg should have been asked to pose the questions during RTE and Virgin TV One Live General Election Debates.

Should every manifesto start and end with the Climate Emergency?


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The seriousness of the Climate Crisis did not get enough airtime on either the RTE Debate, (27th Jan), or the Virgin One Live (Jan 31st), to show us who could lead Ireland through the changes required during their term in office. RTE was asked to host a dedicated Climate Change Debate but our national TV channel rejected it.

The seven party leaders taking part in the debate on Virgin Media Television a few days later revealed slightly more but still not nearly enough.

Perhaps no politician wants to lose votes by voicing the severe changes that the electorate will be required to make to avert this Climate Crisis. Unfortunately this coming term in office will be overwhelmed with new Climate decision making policy.

Greta Thunberg says that she views the world in 'black and white' with no grey areas of indecision. Either the political will is there to avoid catastrophic events, or not.

The majority of politicians can't defend their current environmental credentials and policy plans when they set the example by littering the country. It's shocking to hear of the wasteful amount of single use plastic election posters being used. The vast majority of distributed leaflets are not even printed on recycled, or sustainably sourced paper.

This does not suggest they are tackling a Climate Emergency.

Either we do, or we don't, avert this Climate Crisis but either way it will significantly impact on our lives.

Links to the shows:

One Live Player

RTE Player

2050 Vision

Meath County Council held an insightful workshop in January with lots of scary facts & figures but some positive practical advice too.


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The aim for all World Countries is to achieve a zero Carbon Footprint by 2050 with set targets for each decade.

Meath County Council has embarked on a series of workshops and roadshows to bring us all up to speed on what this will entail.

We provide our own feedback from the presentation in January.

Read Article

Image Source: Meath County Council

Commuting for a Living

An enquiry from RTÉ Prime Time to commuters certainly got your attention and the show aired 23rd January.


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RTÉ's Prime Time contacted us in January looking to speak to people who commute daily from Navan to Dublin.

" We'd like to hear about your experience, whether it's by car, bus or train. How long does your commute take every day? How does it impact on your quality of life? Ideally we're looking for people who would be happy to let us film them on their daily commute to / from work, the drop off at creche beforehand if relevant etc" Lydia Murphy, Producer.

Prime Time on RTE Player.

Image Source: RTE.ie

Navan Rail

It's been talked about for decades but will it ever happen?

Due to the General Election we are delaying the publications of our review article for the March Edition.

Pack your Bags

This month they need your support in fundraising to help our local schools with environmental projects.


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Children are key to improving our environment and they will have to deal with the issues we've played a role in creating.

The JTT are hoping that by engaging with school children that they will then influence their families to make positive changes and break some of our bad habits too. Waste avoidance, Recycling, Rainwater Harvesting, Pollinator Friendly Gardens and even Growing Crops for the dinner table too.

February 21st and 22nd will see the volunteers helping at the Smith's SuperValu checkout to support school projects.

Help them by offering to spare an hour or 2 and let's all help the local schools do more.

Use the form to say you'll be there

Facebook Event

November 2019, Smith's SuperValu, Johnstown

Expanded

Johnstown Tidy Towns are selecting different estates each weekend to collect litter that would otherwise be spread around the main roads.


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The litter which falls to the ground travels to your street where it blows into your garden to lie at your front door.

Do your bit and pick it up before it gets there and your efforts will make a small but noticeable difference.

Thank you to the volunteers from #johnstowntidytowns for doing more than their fair share.

Estates so far visited include Johnstown Wood and Athlumney Wood.

Athlumney Abbey estate is Feb 8th from 10am to 12.

Please come out to support the Clean Up days.

Volunteers in Birch Estate

Anti-Litter Prize

Meath County Council have set everyone a challenge:


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"You are invited to take part in Meath County Council’s Anti-Litter Initiative 2020. This is a great opportunity for your group to get involved in your local community.

It's not a competition, each participating group is trying to achieve a high standard of cleanliness in their local area, and there is a grant for those that achieve high standards over the whole month of the initiative.

There will be 2 rounds of judging over a 4 week period in March.

Judging will take place from the 2nd to 27th March 2020. There will be no judging on 16th, 17th or 18th to allow for St. Patrick Day events.

Points will be deducted for the presence of litter and there will be a score for general appearance.

Each participant will be advised of their marks after the final week of judging has been completed. Grants and medals will be issued in April and May 2020.

Further information and application form are available at http://bit.ly/37Mfz5H"

River Safety

Great to see the newly finished boat ramp at Old Kilcarn Bridge be used for training purposes by Meath River Rescue.

Image Source: Meath River Rescue

Keep Walking

We're now over the halfway mark with the annual Operation Transformation well underway across Ireland. The Taylor's Johnstown Group have been out every planned night and they're enjoying it.


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In connection with Meath Local Sports Partnership the Taylors Walking Group "The Chubby Chappies and Pink Ladies" have daily evening walks.

Meeting each evening, Monday to Thursday, inside Taylor's of Johnstown at 6:30pm for weigh-ins and 7pm outside for hour long walks through the neighbourhood.

Warming Recipes

This month we've added 4 few Winter Warming Soups from Alison, Slimming World.

Sign Fixed

It might appear trivial but we've been waiting years for these.


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One sign has recently been replaced on St Martha's Bridge and the one on the bridge's north side with missing letters will also be replaced.

We also understand that there will be a new sign to finally tell everyone where the Johnstown School Campus is.

Given the traffic congestion I think local people already know.

We'll get a better photo soon.

Car Security

Worrying to read online reports that car insurance firms are looking to raise premiums for keyless cars.


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Within the UK, and highly likely elsewhere, it is reported that the car insurance premiums on keyless entry cars could increase and that they can feature in the New Vehicle Security Assessments (NVSA) risk rating.


Advice posted on Navan South Communities Unite in December 2019

Dear Members,

We have had a lot of car thefts across the County of Meath in numerous locations in the last number of weeks, not just in the Navan area.

Whilst some of these have been crimes of opportunity, other thefts may have been due to high technology being used to gain access to vehicles.

Working with our local Garda and Meath Crime Prevention, there are a number of helpful suggestions motorists can do to help prevent theft as follows:

  • Do not leave keys in ignition whilst car is in your driveway or outside your dwelling, especially on cold/frosty mornings. (Can compromise insurance).
  • Do not leave keys in your hall / kitchen counter, or any other visible locations where thieves may have easy access.
  • Consider using a steering lock.
  • Consider using a tracking system.
  • Consider fitting an immobiliser or alarm.
  • Do not leave devices, laptops, expensive sunglasses, or shopping bags visible in your car overnight.

More suggestions can be found on the attached leaflets given to us by Meath Crime Prevention. Please read at your own leisure.

We ask all members to be mindful towards each other regardless of the circumstances of theft, this can be a traumatic time for the victims of crime, and they need neighbourly support and compassion during this time.

As always, If anyone notices suspicious activity in your neighbourhood, please contact your local Garda Station on 046-9021445.

We thank all community members for their vigilance and community spirit being helpful and kind towards each other, and always looking out for your neighbours.

Your Friendly NSCU Admin Team.



Source: Navan South Communities Unite

Coding Clubs

Computer games are always popular and CoderDojo has local branches in both Navan and Kells. They can take computers play to actual learning with fun practical projects.


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"CoderDojo Kells are delighted to announce our Spring season is confirmed for 8 weeks. Our Spring season will commence on Saturday 22nd February and continue until Saturday 11th April. Our session times are from 3:30pm to 5pm.

Registrations are open now. Please visit https://coderdojokells.com/events/registration.html to sign-up online. Places are limited so don't delay."


Source: Kells Facebook

See our GUIDE for more details.

Digital Magazines

We didn't know now about this Library Service.

Local Courses

Meath Night Classes started off a new Spring Term offering courses at Beaufort College.


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Perhaps there's still time to join in if you're quick or to plan for the Summer Courses.


  • Hobby and Leisure
  • Health and Beauty
  • Personal Development
  • Computers and Technology
  • Languages
  • Arts and Home Crafts
  • QQI Level 5 Healthcare Support Minor Award Modules
  • QQI Level 5 and also Level 6 Early Childhood Care and Education Minor Award Modules


Discover More

Meath Night Classes

Image Source: lmetb

School Funding

Money Raised from the November 2019 fundraiser backpack at Smith's SuperValu is being distributed to St Stephen's National School, Colaiste Na Mi Secondary School and St Mary's Special Needs Schools.


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Each school will receive €479 towards environmental projects involving Johnstown Tidy Towns.

St Mary's Special Needs School are currently fundraising for outdoor play equipment and their garden could do with some greenfingered volunteers to rejuvenate it.

St Stephen's National School have plans to energise their garden where they've had some success growing crops.

Colaiste Na Mi Secondary School have a number of plans to revitalise their entrance flower beds and encourage waste recycling.

We'd all like to see changes made to the roundabout outside the campus and perhaps a community design competition could be arranged.

Perhaps they'll all now enter the Pride of Place competitions.

Ruth, Robin (JTT Treasurer) and Sharon of St Mary's Special School Parents Association at The Willows, Bridge Inn during their 31 Jan Quiz fundraiser for outdoor play equipment.

GAA Restarts

Our Gaelic for Mother and Others team return to training Sundays at 10.30am.

New members are always welcome and you can read our previous articles HERE

Martial Arts Club

Yoro Idojo Judo Club are opening in Feel Fit Gym, Johnstown.

They have a Junior and Senior open day Feb 15th.

More online links HERE or see our Martial Arts Sports Guide. to reveal more clubs.

Local Sports

Meath Local Sports Partnership have a host of ongoing activities around Navan.

Discover more in their Meath LSP’s Winter/Spring Ezine 2020

Image Source: MLSP

More Sports Added

3 more groups were recently added and tell us about any more we've missed.


Sports Club Guide

More Social Clubs

Not everyone is into sports and our mental health benefits from being involved and socialising.


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What's On

We'll be adding a visual glimpse of what's on in February.

See our Special Events calendar which is updated as and when you tell us about events that you're interested in.

Missed an Edition ?

You can catch up on previous News, Reviews and Events

Here's a glimpse of our previous Edition.

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