September 2020 News
Daily Local News in brief as it happens.
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Extra Opening Times
Navan Library have added Saturday opening hours and late night hours.
Monday 10am – 5pm
Tuesday 10– 8pm
Wednesday 10am – 5pm
Thursday 10am – 8pm
Friday 10am – 5pm
Saturday 10am – 1pm, 2pm – 5pm
Please note on bank holidays the library is closed on the Saturday and the bank holiday Monday.
Orienteering
At the Porchfields in Trim Meath Local Sports Partnership today held a family orienteering event.
Perhaps we could do something similar in our Urban setting?
Family Cycle
The full capacity of 100 people registered for Navan's first Family Cycle Event. Hosted by Navan Cycling Initiative and starting off at the Fair Green Car Park Meath Daily TV captured the event.
Keep an eye on more events via navancycling.ie
Donations
As the colder months return your help is needed by donating food and clothing.
Cllr Alan Lawes makes an appeal for Our Community to come donate on a regular basis.
'We are asking for non perishable foods and supermarket vouchers to help make up food hampers for families in need in Meath you can donate to the following drop off points
Tobins Newsagents beside SuperValu, Trim
The Malt House off licence, Trim
Bagnals Shop and Post Office
Circle K Hayestown, Navan
Alan Lawes 15, Boyne View, Johnstown, Navan
Or you can drop to address C15PP83 in Athboy
Or call 0833622687 or 085 1757216 and we can arrange to collect same.'
Congestion Returns
The first heavy rain, since schools fully reopened, briefly drenched Johnstown this morning. As expected very few students walked or cycled to the Johnstown School Campus resulting in major car traffic.
The tailback stretched down Bothar Sion, over St Martha's Bridge and onto the Dublin Road shortly before 9am. This 2km tailback sets a new record for local school congestion.
Metges Road appeared bumper to bumper up to the Kentstown Road Junction and passing the Priory Estate Entrance from the South.
Perhaps it's time to invest in umbrellas since leaving home earlier by car to allow more time doesn't appear to be a viable solution.
Fundraising Stroll
10 Mile walk from the Ramparts, Navan to BroadBoyne Bridge, Stackallen and back in memory of Cllr Joe Reilly and raising funds for Meath Springboard Family Support Services.
October 8th
12pm - 3pm
Ramparts, Navan
The money raised will be used by Meath Springboard Family Support Services to make an all weather play area, so that children visiting their parents can play outside with them in almost all weathers.
European Week of Sport
23rd-30th September
Every age, ability, background and fitness level welcome.
'The aim is to inspire everyone to #BeActive on a regular basis and create opportunities in people's everyday lives to exercise more.'
Pre-registration is required and offered on a first come, first served basis. All activities are FREE.
Bective turns French.
A little piece of medieval France is being recreated next to Bective Abbey. Work is underway creating the film set for the 'Last Duel' featuring Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Adam Driver and Jodie Comer.
Amazing Result
Walterstown Gfc announce that they far exceeded their €30k target to raise a staggering €50,437 for Crumlin Children's Hospital.
Well done to all involved and those who contributed over the past few months.
Wet Pubs Reopen
Good luck to our local venues who reopen today having been closed since March.
Bike Week 2020 Begins
Meath Local Sports Partnership in association with the Department of Transport is supporting a number of cycling activities September 19th-27th
Running Group
'Meath Running Group will start with a 6 week programme with our tutor Cailin McDonagh. The focus will be speed work and middle distance running.'
September 23rd
7pm to 8pm
6 Weeks
Booking is essential
Family Cycle
Navan Cycling Initiative host Navan Family Cycle
September 27th
2.30pm
Fair Green, Navan
More details www.navancycling.ie
Zoom Biodiversity Workshop
'The purpose of this workshop is to give attendees the tools to put the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan into practice.
Places are limited, so booking is necessary.'
October 10th
10am -12pm
Camping on the Council's Doorstep.
Cllr Alan Lawes is furious that Council Support Services have left 2 homeless men on the streets of Navan, without emergency accommodation, for 5 days since his Friday phone call seeking help.
At the time of meeting them there had been no development but we're guessing the Council will notice them now, and hopefully find them shelter.
Water Disruption
Residents continue to report water pressure disruption as Irish Water continue their work to flush the mains pipes.
Estimated time for completion in currently 3.30pm Sept 18th ref MEA00022066
New Trees
Residents of Bailis Downs planted 17 horse chestnut trees which were previously donated by a Johnstown family since Conker Trees are on the decline.
In several years time these trees should form a barrier with the congestion and traffic along their estate border with Metges Road.
Good Deeds
Another great turn out by Johnstown Tidy Towns Volunteers to deliver food hampers to Families in Need in Navan.
Helping the Homeless
Last November we caught a glimpse of the homeless crisis in Dublin but it was very disturbing to hear that Navan has homeless people living on our streets.
Watch the Meath Daily TV interview with Cllr Alan Lawes.
Suicide Prevention Day
A day of raising awareness of the signs of depression together with the services available.
Alley Transformation
During Lockdown Navan neighbours transformed the Old Balreask Woods Estate alley way into a vegetable patch.
Driving Licence and NCT
Covid has impacted services and NCT expiry dates have been extended by 4 months. If your car is due one then check the new date via ncts.ie. We noted that bookings are already full in Kells up to late December 2020.
Similarly anyone applying to take the driving licence theory test may well need to plan ahead.
Pubs to reopen
Reports today suggest that our local Johnstown area pubs could be allowed to reopen (with restrictions) on Sept 21st.
Inclusive Rugby
Navan RFC Inclusive Rugby Team return to the main pitch 10am - 11am every Sunday 13th September at Navan RFC.
Contact Gerry Sweeney, Head coach 086 786 5007
Leaving Cert Results Day
Hopefully todays calculated grade results will allow the students to progress to their next chapters.
New Edition
This month it's back to school with a new routine. Our Breaking News is updated regularly and you can catch up on August's Highlights.
We asked Joe McCormack for some tips on mathematics whilst Navan Cycling Initiative produced a Navan Map to help get us out of our cars.
Despite Covid interrupting this year's Tidy Towns competition we're putting forward lots of ideas with suggested locations to add colour to Johnstown.
Tidy Masks
Handmade locally Johnstown Tidy Town's volunteers now have their own branded facemasks.
Friday Traffic
The week started off with the Kentstown Road Works being largely the source of congestion, Wednesday's down pour still didn't make much impact but by Friday Johnstown's Traffic was back to the familiar grid lock.
See the Local Roadworks
New Lights
The Community Enhancement Programme via Meath County Council has enabled Claremont Stadium to replace the hall lights.
Fireworks
Pet owners absolutely dread the run up to Halloween and despite being illegal we're already hearing fireworks randomly going off and it's only September!!!!
Last year we caught up with Julie Homes, Animal Behaviour Therapist, to see if there's anything owners can do to calm their dogs.
Bike Week & Funding
Meath Local Sports Partnership in association with the Department of Transport is supporting a number of activities for Bike Week 19th-27th Sept 2020.
The aim of the Bike Week fund is to provide support to cycling clubs, schools, voluntary groups or communities who wish to deliver events during Bike Week . See http://www.meathsports.ie/communities/bike-week to download criteria and application form.
Closing date is 4pm Friday 11th September.
Mini's Rugby Returns
Navan RFC Mini's are starting back at their Balreask Old Ground from Saturday 5th September in line with the IRFU Return To Rugby protocols,
9.30am for U6, U7, U8 & U9's.
11am for U10, U11, U12 and U12 Girls.
If you or your child have been thinking about starting rugby and would like more information about joining Navan RFC, contact Niall Hennessy, Mini's Rugby Coordinator 086 807 4835
Musical Help
Meath County Council's School Musical Instrument Purchase Scheme closes 1pm, 24th September.
The award is intended to support the development of Musical Instrument resources in both Primary and Secondary schools in County Meath.
Further enquiries to artsoffice@meathcoco.ie
Tara Sunset
The cooler Autumn weather is coming and although August wasn't exceptionally hot or sunny it had special moments.
Sent in by a reader this months News Cover image is of a recent sunset at the Hill of Tara.
Recent Articles
Maths Help
Mathematics is everywhere so we asked Joe McCormac for some Maths advice for parents.
Cycle Route Guide
Great work by Navan Cycling Initiative to create a Cycle Lane and Route Map for the Navan Area. It's come just in time for Students to avoid the school peak time traffic.
What Colour is Johnstown?
Spring is not the only season to be busy planting and we have suggestions to colour Johnstown.
Wildflower Calendar
We were attempting to record the local seasonal wildflowers in the Johnstown area but it's clear that others know far more about the subject.
See our guide page where we'll add more resource links.
If you have News, Reviews or suggestions for Articles and Local Guides then we'd love to hear from you.
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