Fifteen acres of land earmarked for Johnstown pitches and recreation
A HUGE boost for sporting and recreational facilities for South East Navan is on the way following an announcement this week that Meath Co Council has signed up to purchase 15 acres of land for that purpose.
Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Tommy Reilly made the announcement as he prepared to complete his chairmanship of the council after a year in office. The Fianna Fail councillor said that the purchase of the land just off the Kentstown Road (R153) fulfilled a long held dream of providing vital community facilities for the growing population of Johnstown.
On completion the amenity will provide a new home for Johnstown FC, Johnstown Boxing Club, and playing facilities for local schools Colaiste na Mi, St Stephen's National School, and St Mary’s Special School in Johnstown.
The Cathaoirleach said the new facility will also provide a sensory garden and walk and an outdoor gym specific to the needs of the elderly and those with disabilities.
The veteran Fianna Fail councillor, who is standing for re-election in the Navan Municipal District in next month’s local elections, said he had worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring the Johnstown project on stream.
“I am thrilled that Meath Co council has made the finance available to purchase the 15 acres. The community there has been crying out for these facilities and I am glad to say that all the hard work is coming to fruition”, he said.
At this week’s meeting of the county council Fine Gael Cllr Yemi Adenuga said she was glad to see money being spent on Johnstown amenities.
The money being spent on community facilities in Johnstown was welcomed by Aontú Cllr Emer Tóibín who said that €100,000 had previously been earmarked for Kilmessan. That money had not been spent. It was to be spent on the old Church of Ireland building, a county council asset. She did not see it in the 2024 to 2027 capital programme.
Independent Cllr Alan Lawes said he was glad to see money being spent on community facilities. However, he said that there was an outstanding need for a hostel for homeless people n the county and he hoped that that project would come to fruition.
Fine Gael Cllr Gerry O’Connor said he welcomed the “good news story” provided by the capital programme.
He could remember that just a few years ago the capital plan was worth €500 million, now it was €1.4 billion. One thing he would like to have seen in the programme was a distributor roads for Dunshaughlin.
Sinn Fein Cllr Michael Gallagher said that while he welcome the work that was being done, a big issue for him was the state of the roads in North Meath. “The state of the roads in North Meath I deplorable. They are worse than they were 20 years ago.”