Hold on to your broomsticks

Met Éireann issue a Status Yellow - Wind warning for all Ireland.

'Strong to gale force southerly winds will veer westerly. Some severe gusts are possible.'

Valid: 1am Saturday 31/10/2020 to 3pm Saturday 31/10/2020

Are you Prepared?

Apples feature in traditional Halloween games so make sure you have them ready.

See our Top 10 for a fun Halloween at Home.

Feature Tree Removed

The photo shows the tree at the Johnstown Roundabout in July which we reported as looking bare at a time when it should have been covered in leaves.

Today the dead tree was removed by the Council's Parks division.

Will it be replaced?

Electric Cars Stolen

Meath Crime Prevention report that Navan Gardai are investigating the theft of 3 electric cars last night between 5am and 6am.

• Grey Hyundai Kona E 201MH##52 from Bailis Manor

• White Hyundai 191D##70 from Clonmagadden Pk

• White Kona E 191MH ##06 from Castleview, Athlumney.

If anyone saw any suspicious activity or can help to identify the suspects please call 046-9021445.

Stay Local

Level 5 restrictions includes working from home and staying within 5km. We've noticed several Garda check points checking and encouraging Navan residents to do just that.

We highlight a dozen things to see and do within 5km of Johnstown.

Popular Venue

Navan residents are making great use of local walks with The Ramparts Walk proving to be especially popular.

Whilst it was far busier then usual on Sunday it was good to observe everyone maintain social distancing along the linear path.

The Ramparts car park was however quickly overwhelmed so if you're planning to visit why not walk or cycle there instead.

Cycle Locally

Navan Cycling Initiative and Wild About Navan have created a map of cycle routes to promote the natural beauty and areas of biodiverse interest in Navan.

See their Map

Local Clean Ups

We're all going to be seeing a lot of our local streets over the next few weeks so spend a bit of time looking after them.

Johnstown Tidy Towns appeal for families and individuals to take on some responsibility to keep Johnstown Litter Free during Level 5.

Residents can contact them for equipment and to drop off litter bags.

Outdoor Activities

Meath Local Sports Partnership has published their latest Ezine for Autumn / Winter 2020 and you'll be surprised at the variety of planned activities.

We especially like the idea of flying a kite that you can build yourself via a live online workshop.

Download Ezine HERE

Halloween Fancy Dress

Well done to the staff and students heading into school in fancy dress to mark the last day before mid term break.

You can check out photos on their social media pages in our Online School Guide.

40th Anniversary

Gaelscoil Éanna celebrates 40 years in Navan.

Having started out with only 12 children in a dressing room in Páirc Tailteann the school relocated in 2002 and now hosts over 200 students in Primary and PreSchool next door to Beaufort College.

Online contact details

Support our Local Shops

Long term living with Covid will likely mean Government imposed restriction Levels opening & closing shops for month's to come.

If we don't buy locally then the shops will go out of business.

See our Very Local Shops and see if you can buy online.

Members of County Meath Chamber feature in their Local Navan Directory

Things to do within 5km

Recent travel restrictions mean that you need to know your 5km boundary and we highlight a dozen things to see and do within 5km of Johnstown.

Read More

Updated What's On Guide

In light of Level 5 restrictions we've updated the permitted activities listing.

If your group is not listed get in touch with us.

What's On Guide

Halloween Events Cancelled

In Line with Level 5 restrictions all the following public attendance Halloween events have been cancelled and organisers are contacting those who've bought tickets.

Pumpkin & Fun Family Halloween at Navan Adventure Centre.

The Wicked Adventures at Tayto Park

Bee Tricked and Treated at Bee Wise

Spooky Halloween at the Museum at the Irish Military War Museum

Level 5

At midnight Wednesday Level 5's new restrictions come into effect.

View Details at Gov.ie

Halloween At Home

We're all expecting the annual event to be quite different.

Find out how you could host a night in and still keep the spirit of the night alive.

Find Out More

Spring Colour.

Johnstown Tidy Towns are planting bulbs every Sunday until December to make Johnstown Bloom in Spring.

They invite any Family (household unit) or individuals who would like to participate to message them.

Find Out More

Rugby Off

The IRFU has suspended the Energia Community Series after the government removed exemptions for club championship games from their Level 3 restrictions.

This brings an end to games between Navan, Ashbourne, North Meath, Athboy and Ratoath.

The local provincial games were introduced to limit travel as an alternative to the All-Ireland League during Covid.

Clubs can now only conduct non-contact training in pods.

Pedestrian Lights ON

The pedestrian crossing lights on Metges Road opposite the Cois Glaisin Estate have finally been activated.

You will still need to drive very slowly over the crossing for fear of losing your exhaust or breaking the car's suspension.

Update: They appear to be testing them and the covers have gone back on.

Clothing Appeal

Update 25/10 - please hold on to your clothes until Level 5 is over.

As the winter weather approaches we're appealing for you to donate clothing to support the homeless.

Old clothes, blankets & sleeping bags, in any state, are wanted together with NEW 'Socks and Jocks' too!

If you want to know what happens with your donations we tagged along last year to see for ourselves. Read More

Donations can be made to Alan Lawes 0851757216 or drop off at 15 Boyne View, Johnstown.

Gaelic on Pause

ALL Club activity has been suspended at Walterstown GFC, including training, with immediate effect due to the worrying rise in Covid-19 cases in the county.

Updated Hours

Meath County Council announce that from today the Planning Department Public Counter opening hours will be from 9.00am to 1.00pm, Monday to Friday.

Community Space Public Meeting

Opportunity for any clubs from Johnstown to talk about a place for everyone to use as a community space.

• 👫 October 20th

• 12pm

• Meeting OUTSIDE Johnstown Boxing Club at the Athlumney Centre, Metges Rd.

Exchange your UK Driving Licence

An Garda Síochána reminds holders of UK driving licences that from midnight Dec 31st 2020 they will become invalid for residents.

Don't be caught out and possibly require a driving test when you can book an appointment online to exchange them at the local Trim Office.

See An Garda Síochána's facebook posting for more information.

Looking Trim

Now that the hedge cutting season is underway Athlumney Wood got a much needed trim.

New Timetable

Community Sports Hub Navan have issued their Oct/Nov schedule of activities where St Stephen's NS and Johnstown People's Park feature outdoor activities.

View Schedule Here

Back on the Path

Since their creation in the 90's it's a surprise that all the main greens never had paths installed from the outset.

The Chestnut and Elm section of Johnstown Woods Estate follows Maple and Bailis Downs with a new footpath linking residents to Metges Road.

Covid Level 3

From Midnight Tonight and for the next 3 weeks all the Rep of Ireland is at Level 3 to suppress the virus.

View the RTE Level Infographic for a quick summary or visit www.gov.ie for a comprehensive review of the restrictions.

Is Halloween Dead this Year?

It's coming up and it's going to be a night in which all Communities will have to change their behaviour if we are to suppress the spread of the Covid Virus.

Have you decided how you will be celebrating a Socially Distant and Safer Halloween.

Tell us what you'll be doing.

Email Messenger

• Will you be decorating outside your home?

• Will you actually be answering the door on the night to callers?

• Will you be putting out signs to turn away visitors?

• If you are accepting visitors how will you do so safely?

• Have you formed 'Trick or Treat' pods to visit pre agreed neighbours?

Whatever you decide be safe and don't leave it until the last minute to work out how you will be dealing with the annual event.

In Case it's Loud

With a month to go we typically expect Fireworks even though they're antisocial and illegal.

Last year we caught up with Julie Homes, Animal Behaviour Therapist, to see if there's anything owners can do to calm their dogs.

Read More

What to Do with Leaves?

They've been falling for a few days but soon the ground will be covered in golden brown and red leaves.

The leaves will eventually break down but there's more chance they'll turn into a soggy slippery mess and find their way to block up the street rainwater gullies?

Why not arrange with your neighbours now to help collect them in the coming weeks for the organic bins.

If you have space they're great to add to your compost bin provided you've got a supply of green waste to add too.

Time to Collect the Seeds.

If you grew sunflowers and have let them develop it's now time to collect the seeds and dry them.

You can toast and eat them, crush them up for the bird feeders or save the seeds to plant more next year.

Johnstown Tidy Towns are keen to see how many seeds they can save for another Sunflower Wall and hopefully produce a sunflower trail through Johnstown.