These lands are zoned in the Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027 as ‘Commercial Town or Village Centre’ with the exception of the pitch and putt course which is zoned as open space They predominantly include the area of Master Plan 6 and 9 as identified in the Development Plan Meath County Council has commenced the preparation of the overall Master Plan which has been designated to provide for the extension of Navan Town centre and potential location for the future Navan Central Rail Station as part of the new proposed Navan Rail Line these lands have the potential to accommodate a major new town centre expansion area based on sustainable transport and will regenerate the site through the development of the Navan Central Rail Station and complementary commercial The rail station and a civic plaza in this new urban quarter will be a focal point in any future development with commercial uses being complementary to the core retail area of the town Achieving greater connectivity to and from the subject lands to the existing town centre as well as integrating with the Navan Cultural Quarter educational and recreational land use are priorities for the plan and essential to the future vitality and viability of the town The Plan will also support and complement the ‘Vision’ for Navan as outlined in ‘Navan 2050’ and ‘Navan Town Centre Integrated Public Realm and Movement Plan 2030’ by promoting an economically vibrant and environmentally sustainable town with a distinctive and attractive public realm Urban design consultants ‘Building Design Partnership’ (BDP) have been appointed by Meath County Council to assist with the preparation of the Plan Meath County Council is engaging with all key stakeholders including Iarnród Éireann/Irish Rail and the National Transport Authority which will aid in both unlocking and stimulating development and introduce greater clarity and certainty into the planning process The preparation of the Masterplan presents an exceptional opportunity to develop a high-quality accessible town centre expansion area which provides a wide range of uses It will further enhance Navan as an attractive location for retail increase access to local employment opportunities reverse private car commuting trends and support quality town centre living ultimately drawing more investment and visitors to the town there will be an opportunity for relevant stakeholders and the public to get involved in the plan making process through pre-draft consultation Permission was granted in June 2021 for the demolition of 13 No industrial/commercial building structures on these lands Permission was previously granted for developments on these lands under planning application These applications included for the demolition of all existing structures on site construction of phase1 of the designated town centre expansion comprising of a retail development providing for 35,524m2 gross floor area which included three anchor retail units internal vehicular roads and associated infrastructure These permissions were not implemented and have since expired Meath Chronicle is part of Celtic Media Group which includes: The Anglo Celt Westmeath Examiner and Westmeath Independent| © 2021 Meath Chronicle and Celtic Media Group 1) 0ms,border-color 250ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;transition:background-color 250ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;color:#1976d2;padding:0px;min-width:0;}.css-1sgza6o:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;background-color:rgba(25 0.04);}@media (hover: none){.css-1sgza6o:hover{background-color:transparent;}}.css-1sgza6o.Mui-disabled{color:rgba(0 1) 0ms;color:#1976d2;padding:0px;min-width:0;}.css-w5p45x::-moz-focus-inner{border-style:none;}.css-w5p45x.Mui-disabled{pointer-events:none;cursor:default;}@media print{.css-w5p45x{-webkit-print-color-adjust:exact;color-adjust:exact;}}.css-w5p45x:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;background-color:rgba(25 0.04);}@media (hover: none){.css-w5p45x:hover{background-color:transparent;}}.css-w5p45x.Mui-disabled{color:rgba(0 0.26);}PrintShareSaveThe death has occurred of Peacefully at Our Lady’s Hospital Predeceased by her beloved daughter Jackie sisters Angela and Doalie and brother Joey Rosaline will be very sadly missed by her loving husband Frank Reposing at St Joseph's Chapel of Rest, Old Johnstown (C15 C425) on Monday evening from 3pm with removal at 5:45pm walking from her residence to St Mary's Church, Navan for 6:30pm. Funeral Mass on Tuesday morning at 10am (livestream). Burial afterwards in Donaghmore Cemetery. Rosaline’s Family wish to express their gratitude to all of the wonderful staff in the cirrus ward, Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan. Funeral Service.css-h76uj{display:inherit;margin-right:-4px;margin-left:8px;}Date Published: CondolencesDonate to CharityWould you like to mark a birthday memorial mass or anniversary for a Loved One?You can now create a family notice on RIP.ie to remember your loved one The mum of a twin born with a rare genetic condition is taking part in the Women's Mini Marathon during the summer to give back to a charity that has been “a godsend” to her family Lyndsey McMahon will take to the streets of Dublin in June in aid of Williams Syndrome Ireland an organisation that provides guidance and support to families of children with the condition was diagnosed with Williams Syndrome when she was just two months old and says the charity has been a vital support over the last number of years as she and her husband navigated life with their daughter The fitness coach previously donated €2,900 from a 5km charity walk to Prosper Meath a service provided to adults with an intellectual disabilities “We struggled with getting a life changing diagnosis so we reached out to Williams Syndrome Ireland and they have given us so much so now I would like to give back,” said Lyndsey “They have an annual weekend away every year where they have their AGM and a range of activity on for the older kids and the adults what they offer for families is just priceless,” she added Lyndsey and her husband Niall were thrilled when they welcomed twins Liam and Lauren into the world in February 2022 via IVF after a tough fertility journey Although some development issues were flagged by medics during Lyndsey's pregnancy the couple was determined to embrace the arrival of their precious twins and deal with any complications as they arose as the Navan mum explains “My little girl was born with a really rare disorder called Williams Syndrome She's the eldest twin and she is missing some of her seventh chromosome there is generally between 24 to 27 genes missing from the seventh chromosome and they contain Elastin which is needed for organs to grow “Quite often children with the condition have a hole in their heart which Lauren has and narrow lungs which she also has They are small in stature and can have physical and intellectual delays.” Williams Syndrome (WS) is a genetic condition present at birth that can affect anyone according to WSI It is caused by a small deletion of genetic material which occurs spontaneously at the time of conception WS is underdiagnosed so that the known occurrence rate is approximately 1 in 20,000 “There are only around 100 people in Ireland with William Syndrome,” said fitness coach Lyndsey “We don't really know yet the extent of it but she is flying thank god “She is delayed in some of her milestones but she goes to creche here in Navan and she has a twin brother and the best thing for her is to be around her peers she is very happy and very social and very stubborn and independent which I hope will stand to her in life She is a very happy and content little girl which is all that matters to us “We have really leaned on Williams Syndrome Ireland for support on how to deal with day to day life with a child with special needs.” The couple who underwent fertility treatment in Prague say they couldn't believe their luck when Lyndsey became pregnant with twins on the first round of IVF we tried for years and nothing happened,” the Navan mum previously explained “We went to Prague for IVF solely for cost purposes in case we needed a few rounds so it cost less than it would in Ireland even with flights and accommodation we did one round and got pregnant the first time Lauren was measuring small which is a soft marker for Down Syndrome so they checked a few other things and said there was no other markers but that we won't know until she is born “At 12 weeks we chose not to have a harmony test to establish if there was a chromosomal disorder because we knew it wouldn't make a difference to us anyway.” Tests after Lauren was born did not throw up any concerns but it was a meeting with a doctor in the weeks after that confirmed the shock diagnosis “We went for a routine check up at the end of April last year and the doctor told us she was missing some of her 7th chromosome like we already knew so that came as a bit of a shock “Things should have been handled differently and we lodged a complaint with the hospital and met with them to discuss the matter.” It was at this point that the couple sought the help of Williams Syndrome Ireland “They sent us out a hamper and a card welcoming us to the family and they put me in a Whatsapp group with other parents of children with Williams Syndrome so we could chat between each other and ask questions Lyndsey says although the road has been challenging “Children with Williams Syndrome are born with excess oxytocin which is the happiness hormone so they are known as very social happy people I think we could all do with a bit more of that!” To donate click here - www.idonate.ie Gardaí in Meath are continuing to investigate three separate burglaries over the last week near the Navan area gardaí received report of a burglary at Obsertown which occurred between 11pm and 5.30am on Wednesday No property was reported stolen at this premises Another burglary occurred at a house in Castletown between 9.30am and 2.15pm on April Gardaí also received a report of a burglary at Clonmellon which took place between 9.30am and 5.30pm on April No property was reported stolen during this incident and anyone with information in relation to any of the break-ins is asked to contact their local Garda station almost 1,800 offences were recorded by suspected offenders while on bail across counties Meath and Westmeath last year according to the Gardaí’s internal Pulse database Gardaí in Meath recently held an information night in Navan on rural crime prevention for the agricultural community Gardaí have also appealed to homeowners this week to take extra crime prevention measures when it comes to pet theft A number of dog thefts have been reported to gardaí in recent months Gardaí have asked dog owners to ensure their pets are microchipped and to immediately report any potential thefts Ladies FootballNadine Doherty: Scaling back is the way forward for LGFA in face of falling attendancesWhen Kerry defeated Galway in last year’s TG4 Ladies’ senior All-Ireland decider to win their first title in 31 years they did so in front of the lowest finals attendance in a decade Home / Obituaries / Rory Rushe has taken place at Letterkenny University Hospital father-in-law Peter Haughey and nieces Eileen and baby Catherine sisters; Catherine (Joe) & Fionnuala (Denis) brothers; Jim (Mary) & Edward (Bridie) and extended family & friends His remains will repose at his home (F92 Y9Y5) on Saturday (May 3rd) from 2pm until 8pm and on Sunday (May 4th) from 12pm until 8pm House private after rosary and on the morning of the funeral Funeral Mass will take place on Monday (May 5th) in St Colmcille’s Church Cnoc Fola (F92 D586) at 1pm interment afterwards in Magheragallon cemetery (opposite F92 DY70) donations in lieu to Ionad Lae Ghaoth Dobhair c/o any family member The Funeral Mass can be viewed live on Kieran Roarty Funeral Director’s Facebook page https://shorturl.at/EGtY5 enquiries@highlandradio.comTelephone: (+353) 07491 25000Text: (+353) 086 60 25000Fax: (+353) 07491 25344 Designed by Manna  | Developed by Purposemakers Co Meath have spoken about how people in the area had a lucky escape after a crane partially collapsed this morning The incident happened at a building site located in a busy residential part of the town between Brews Hill and Emmet Terrace shortly before midday A block of apartments is currently being developed at the construction site It is understood the crane was being used to remove a skip from the site at the time of its partial collapse The arms of the crane landed in the back garden of a house in Emmet Terrace the skip fell on the bonnet of a van that was parked between the building site and housing estate However there have been no reports of any injuries Four units of the Meath County Fire and Rescue Service two from Navan and two from the nearby town of Trim The area remains sealed off as plans are being put in place to remove the crane It is understood that this will be a difficult task and will require the use of another specialist crane to remove the one which partially collapsed whose mother lives in the house next door to the back garden where the crane came down "There is a small furniture factory in the back garden of the house next door and the two lads had just got out of their van and went into the factory "The skip fell on the van and if the two lads had still been in it Ms Dunne also said a painter had been working at the back of the houses "He had just taken his lunch and when he heard the noise "All the tins of paint where he had been working had been crushed Margaret added that the crane snapped telephone and broadband lines as it came down Meath County Council is currently working with a contractor to develop 12 social housing units at the building site in question which will be a mix of one-bed and two-bed apartments as well as duplex apartments a spokesperson for the local authority said: Meath County Council is aware of an incident involving a crane that occurred at a building site at Emmet Terrace/Brews Hill "Meath County Council Fire and Rescue Service is at the scene No injuries have been reported at this time "The council is engaging with the contractors in relation to this incident," the spokesperson added RTÉ.ie is the website of Raidió Teilifís Éireann RTÉ is not responsible for the content of external internet sites The crane came down in the back garden of a house in the Emmet Terrace area \u003Cp\u003EThe skip fell on the bonnet of a van that was parked between the building site and housing estate\u003C/p\u003E \u003Cp\u003EThe crane came down over the roof of a block of apartments that are currently under construction\u003C/p\u003E The Offaly Minor Footballers are in Quarter Final action against Meath in the Leinster Championsip tonight.  The Faithful County come into clash on the back of a 3-20 to 2-13 win over Wicklow after extra time in the Preliminary round Meanwhile the Royals secured their place in the quarter finals automatically as a result of a second place finish in their group peacefully surrounded by her loving family Beloved wife of the late Billy and much-loved mother of Ferdia The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff in St A special word of thanks to Emer's wonderful carers Rose More than twenty years after plans to expand Navan's town centre into the triangle of land between the Trim Road Carriage Road and the Dan Shaw Road first emerged it appears that development could finally progress on the valuable land parcel that is also set to accommodate the new central train station for the town Back in the early 2000's with the land earmarked for town centre expansion and as a site for a new railway station developers anxiously sought to snap up lands in the 'triangle' and a bidding war took place between two developers over Navan Pitch and Putt Club's lands that ultimately ended without a deal being made There were ambitious plans for a large shopping centre granted planning as part of the first phase of development on lands in the 'triangle' but the economic crash that ensued put any plans for development in that area on hold and the planning permissions expired Then four years ago ES Corella Creek Ltd (McAleer & Rushe) put in a new planning application to demolish the warehouses and industrial units in its almost 20 acre land holding within the land 'triangle' Planning permission was granted to demolish 13 warehouses and level the site and works that recently commenced are now under way to clear the site No further planning application has yet been made to indicate what the company plans to do next in terms of development but any future planning application will be informed by a master plan (MP6) that is currently being worked on Consultants have been engaged by Meath County Council to develop a masterplan for the lands with input from the landowners and stakeholders in that area This masterplan will provide a blueprint for what the local authority wants to achieve on the lands with the focal point of the plan being the central train station It is expected that the plan will also include commercial/retail and high density residential It is expected that the masterplan will be finalised later this year A spokesperson for Meath County Council said: “The lands in question are subject to a masterplan with consultants engaged by Meath County Council to develop same.” is already in place concerning other lands in the Trim Road area where the Swanbrook development is located which includes lands also owned by McAleer & Rushe investor and contractor with over 50 years’ experience in the acquisition development and construction of commercial and residential property The company has delivered projects throughout the UK and Ireland and some of these projects and investments have been currently in Meath including the now matured housing development 'Canterbrook' on the Trim Road McAleer & Rushe have continued to invest in the southern area of Navan over a period of time commencing in 2001 to their most recent acquisition in 2018 This brought to 160 acres its holding of zoned lands across three main parcels in Navan Just shy of 20 acres of its lands are located in the MP6 area which will be primarily be developed as commercial or retail space to include large food retailer The lands are mostly zoned B1 Commercial/Town or Village Centre but the area where Navan Pitch and Putt Club is located zoned as F1 Open Space According to the County Development Plan 'MP6' Masterplan area accommodates lands reserved for the railway line extension land reservation for the development of a public transport interchange providing a central rail station serving the Navan-Dublin rail line; civic plaza; pedestrian and cycle linkages from the site to the Town Centre and Brews Hill areas; statement buildings of innovative high quality architectural design; a community building; residential uses; and entertainment and cultural uses Planning applications are unlikely to be made for the lands until the masterplan process is complete and it will only be when subsequent planning applications are made that full details of exactly what type of development can be expected will become clear To date the only planning permission in place is for the demolition works Planning was granted to ES Corella Creek Ltd in 2021 for the demolition of seven industrial/light commercial structures of varying sizes from 701m2 to 3,541m2 and the levelling off and filling of the lands at Townspark Navan and permission was also granted to demolish six units of 60m2 and the levelling off and filling of the lands located at Trim Road Industrial Estate on the Trim Road It is a condition of planning that prior to any further planning applications being made for development the applicant will agree a masterplan for the MP6 area with the planning authority A preliminary masterplan study was submitted by the company as part of the planning process which suggests a railway station/civic plaza as a focal point with a mix of residential and commercial use with the applicant noting that it was a live document that would evolve and be further developed The preliminary plan suggested by ES Corella Creek Ltd includes a large supermarket However the masterplan process itself will be led by Meath County Council through its consultants in conjunction with stakeholders in the area The lands in the so-called 'triangle' have been long since earmarked for the expansion of the town centre the Land Use and Transportation Study (LUTS) commissioned by Meath County Council identified the area bound by the Trim as the site of a new commercial town centre with the new railway station at its centre which was hailed as a blueprint for the development of Navan for the next 30 years also proposed the pedestrianisation of Trimgate Street a series of distributor roads circulating the town and a new shopping street along the existing N3 The study proposed three railway stations - one in an earmarked industrial zone close to the slip road to the M3 and another to the north of the town where the proposed regional hospital site was located with the main central station in the triangle parcel of land behind the Trim Road/Carriage Road While most of those plans went into abeyance during the subsequent recession there are still proposals to locate the new railway station in that triangle of land when the DART style service finally comes to Navan which is expected to be between 2030 and 2035 under the NTA’s Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy Iarnród Éireann appointed consultants for the project last November and said they were hopeful that a preferred route for the project would be identified by the end of 2026 The project involves a new rail line of approximately 40 kilometres from the existing terminus station at M3 Parkway north of Dunboyne to Navan delivering direct Navan to Dublin city centre rail services the project is included in the approved National Transport Authority (NTA) Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042 Scope and design development and route option selection is currently underway and will include public consultation before a Railway Order (equivalent of planning permission) application to An Bord Pleanála is made in 2027 a number of developers were buying up the “new town centre” lands and in 2004/2005 interest in the area sparked a bidding war among developers for the Navan Pitch and Putt Club's five-acre site at Beechmount members were being offered windfalls up to €10,000 each While the deals being offered fell through the bids led to a rush of new members to the club Cllr Eddie Fennessy said the site was of huge strategic importance to the long-term development of Navan in terms of transport “When the train comes to Navan it will be located there There are also plans to construct a new town centre retail hub and a significant number of residential units on the site “We are a long way off that unfortunately and I don't expect a planning application to be lodged by the developers for a few more years herald phase one of that long-term plan and it is to be welcomed.” Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons said that the land presents a huge opportunity for the town when development on it moves forward “It will have the train station at its centre and is zoned retail and residential It will be fantastic to see that part of town much of which was derelict for a long time The future is looking bright and I am looking forward to seeing it developed,” he said WHAT MEATH COUNTY COUNCIL SAYS: Navan's future... ‘Rail station and civic plaza will be focal point of new urban quarter’ Gardaí are seeking the public's assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 18-year-old Anthony McDonagh who was reported missing from his home in Navan Anthony is described as being approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall with a slim build Anthony was wearing a grey tracksuit and grey/white runners Gardaí and Anthony's family are concerned for his well-being Anyone with information on Anthony's whereabouts is asked to contact Navan Garda Station on 046 903 6100 the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111 Smith explores painful aspects of his life in new album “The blues is life itself,” said legendary guitarist BB King once Chapters from his own life have long inspired Navan bluesman and widely renowned harmonica player Paddy Smith Those life experiences have provided the raw material for many of the songs he has recorded to date including a new album he has recently completed and will bring out later this summer The first single – Could Have Found Grace - from the album of the same name will be released this Friday 14th May and will be available on all online platforms The name – Could Have Found Grace – is taken from a line from one of those songs “I wrote this song Angle Took Flight and in the lyrics there’s this line: ‘I could have found grace’ so I took the name of the album from that,” he explains it’s a little late: ‘You could have found grace if you weren’t so blind,’ goes the song It’s really about the passing of my daughter Paddy’s daughter Ciara sadly passed away in 2010 from cystic fibrosis A reformed alcoholic Paddy lived on the streets of Chicago for a time as he struggled to come to terms with his drinking and such experiences provided him with the raw material for songs contained in previous albums such as ‘Let Those Blues In’ and ‘The Devil’s Backyard’ The manner in which Smith draws from his life experience backs up another observation from great blues woman Amy Winehouse who siad: “Every bad situation is a blues song waiting to happen.” Could Have Found Grace is the Navan man’s sixth recording with is range of work also including two live albums The new album also features four songs written by another composer from the Meath town Some years ago an accidental meeting between Smith and McDonnell on a street in the town led to a discussion on music that eventually evolved into the two of them working together “Robbie just likes to concentrate on writing We met one day and he gave me a few songs he had written I took them home with me and I realised they were fantastic This is our second collaboration,” added Smith The Could Have Found Grace album also features a string of accomplished musicians including bass player Aongus Ralston from The Waterboys Jason Duffy on drums who has played with The Corrs and Picture House Also included in the line-up is the legendary keyboards player James Delaney who worked with Van Morrison among many others and Danny Tobin who played guitar with Honor Heffernan and well-known blues kings The origins of Smith’s last project goes back three years when he started to write down some of the words of the songs He would then bring the outlines of the songs to Danny Tobin and the two worked on the arrangements Once the songs were honed and tightened they were then recorded in the Hell’s Fire Studios in the Dublin mountains to get the finished product completed which started out as words on a piece of paper.” Words taken from the life of true bluesman who has turned the "bad situation," that Winehouse referred to With huge demand for GP services in the Navan area and most surgeries no longer taking on new patients there is welcome news for those struggling to access doctors locally as a new surgery is due to open in the town in the coming weeks Dr Rajneet Singh is due to open Flower Hill Medical next month and says already people have been knocking on the door looking to register with the surgery which is located in the unit formerly occupied by photographer James Carney Dr Singh has lived in Ireland since graduating from medicine in 2008 and brings 15 years of experience with a background in hospital and community settings including accident & emergency and rheumatology and hold a Master’s degree in Clinical Research from NUI Galway where I completed the GP training,” said Dr Singh “I have a special interest in joint injections offering patients advanced care in the management of musculoskeletal conditions—an increasingly important area in general practice.” Dr Singh worked as a GP in Ashbourne for the past 18 months before deciding to open his own practice in Navan having seen the huge demand for GP services in the town He explained that he knew there were several practices in Ashbourne that were still accepting new patients and he wanted to stay in Meath so he looked at Navan when he made the decision to open on his own practice “I wanted to stay in Meath as I am living in Meath and I like Meath so Navan was the next most appropriate location People there are desperately looking for GP services.” I was lucky to be in the position to be able to open a service for Navan.” Final preparations are now being made in advance of the surgery opening and Dr Singh is in the process of applying a HSE contract He will be taking registrations from private patients after the second week in May and once his HSE contract is finalised will be able to accept medical card patients “Already there are people knocking on the door There is a huge interest and people are keen to see another surgery open up to cater for the town.” ''I am delighted to open this new practice and look forward to offering high-quality medical services to the local population patient-centred clinic that meets the health needs of the community with compassion and professionalism.” plans are at an advanced stage for two other GP surgeries to open in the new medical centre building at the Cluain Adain development at the Clonmagadden Road to the north of the town Two separate surgeries are due to open but it has not yet been disclosed which GPs will be based in the centre A pharmacy unit on the ground floor will be occupied by McCartan Pharmacy and a lease has not yet been finalised on another unit in the building which is likely be a coffee shop A MASSIVE mixed-use development to provide 322 new homes neighbourhood centre and community centre on lands at Farganstown has given the green light by council planners Albert Developments has been granted a seven-year planning permission for phase 1B of the Boyne Village large-scale residential development on lands at Farganstown which is accessed from the new Thomas Hodgett Road The lands for phase 1B extends to 13.26 hectares and is located to the north the Old Road east of Tubberclaire Meadows and west of the newly constructed road The mixed-use development consists of 322 homes The 322 residential units are made up of houses The plans provide for 212 houses made up of 177 three-bedroom houses and 35 four-bedroom houses Also included are 26 duplex units made up of 13 two-bedroom units and 13 three-bedroom units in two three-storey blocks (with eight duplex units abutting apartment block two in a three-storey configuration) The 84 apartments will be spread across three apartment buildings Block two is five storeys with 24 apartments made up of 12 one-bedroom apartments and 12 two-bedroom apartments Block three is six-storeys high - five storeys above a neighbourhood centre It provides for 36 apartments made up of 14 one-bedroom apartments and 22 two-bedroom apartments Block four is four-storeys above the community centre making it five-storeys in total This consists of 24 apartments including nine one-bedroom apartments and 15 two-bedroom apartments There is a series of landscaped/public open space areas of 3.72 hectares including playground areas and a public park of approximately 1.65 ha of open space as well as additional communal open space for the apartments and duplex apartments A 512 sqm creche will be located on ground floor of Block two as well as a 1,778 sqm community centre and sports hall The sports hall will be 837sqm and double height with ancillary changing rooms four community rooms and ancillary administration/office rooms There will be a convenience anchor retail unit with a net floor space of 1,000 sqm A total of 693 car parking spaces are provided to serve the development along with 289 bicycle parking spaces As part of the conditions attached to the planning permission grant Meath County Council has instructed the developer to follow a revised phasing scheme with the childcare facility be included in phase one and that the district park be completed by the end of phase two The park is for public use and is to be maintained by the development until it is taken in charge by Meath County Council or a management company The community centre and sports centre is to be complete by the end of phase three and is for public use The overall masterplan for the Farganstown lands also includes an enterprise campus of approximately 37 acres that would accommodate over 500,000 square feet of high-end commercial units The decision was welcomed by Cllr Alan Lawes which I hope will be in addition to the community facilities planned for Johnstown as it is proposed to have 1,600 new homes in the Farganstown area when it is complete.” a spokesperson for Meath County Council said: “The lands at Dunville are under the control of Meath County Council It is intended to develop community facilities at this location and the council will bring these plans forward through the Part VIII planning process “The development at the Boyne Village is on privately owned lands As the development has just been granted permission the council is not in a position to comment as to the future provision of community facilities in that location at this time.” Cllr Eddie Fennessy said; “Everyone benefits from what’s approved on this plan Of particular interest is the development of a substantial community facility “There’s also a good mix of social and affordable housing which will benefit local families particularly those looking to get on the property ladder Navan which led to a number of patients being recalled to the hospital Among them was a woman whose scan showed a blood clot in her lung but who was sent home and told there was nothing wrong with her A higher than average error rate in radiology reports was noted at the hospital leading to a review which is currently underway According to a spokesperson for the RCSI Hospital Group all patients affected by the review to date have been contacted “As part of our quality assurance framework there is a robust audit process for completed radiology diagnostics An above average error rate was noted on reports completed by one radiologist This prompted a wider review which is currently ongoing.” One of those whose case is being reviewed is a woman who attended the hospital with a pain high up on her back in May of last year “They did blood tests and suspected a clot and I was admitted and kept overnight “I still had terrible pain and went privately for an MRI scan which showed I had a broken vertebrae I was given pain killers until it healed.” she was contacted by a new doctor in Navan “I was told the scan I had last May was misread and that I'd had a clot on my lung “I was fast-tracked in for scans and I have an appointment to see the doctor on 10th April “I presume I would have been rushed in if the clot was still there so it must have dissolved itself,” she said “It is horrifying to think I was sent home with a clot on my lung we might never have known that it had already been there.” Deputy Peadar Tóibín said this was an issue of serious concern “Many patients have contacted me with worry about their own scans We need this investigation to get to the bottom of what happened as soon as possible We need the patients concerned to get the best possible treatment immediately Our Lady's Hospital is a great hospital with great staff What we need now is the proper investment into services and staff in the hospital to ensure that the people of Meath have the treatment that the are entitled to.” He said that shockingly the Minister for Health still plans to close Navan A&E In response to a Parliamentary Question the HSE said: “Currently there are no agreed timelines to progress the next phase in the reconfiguration of the Emergency Department at Our Lady’s Hospital Navan to a 24/7 Acute Medical Assessment Unit (AMAU) facility” “The government blatantly state that closure of the A&E is the next phase The government TDs and Senators need to stop this plan in its tracks This cannot be allowed to happen,” Deputy Tóibin said “The Save Navan Hospital Campaign will hold a bucket collection in the town centre Navan on the 17th/18th May to raise funds to employ consultants to write a report as to what investment is needed to make our hospital one of the best in the country and to secure our A&E Investment and extra staffing should be the solution Pierce Brosnan was left emotional when shown old and previously long lost photos of his hometown during a TV interview this week Brosnan was visibly moved when FM104 and Navan native himself Thomas 'Crossy' Crosse produced the poignant images during an interview to promote Brosnan's new Paramount+ TV crime drama He also gave the Remingtion Steel star a special pin from the Navan Historical Society who plays an Irish mob boss in the new show alongside Tom Hardy and Helen Mirren more photos of his homeplace of St Finian's Terrace in Navan as it was then and now A €2.5 million investment in upgrades to the electrical power supplies in Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan is part of a €1.33 billion allocation nationally for the development and enhancement of healthcare infrastructure announced by Minister Jennnifer Carroll McNeill The Health Service Executive’s Capital Plan for 2025 will see a transformative investment of €6 million in Navan and Drogheda hospitals “Investment in our health service is essential and today’s announcement includes an investment of €2.5 million in upgrades to the electrical power supplies in Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan and an investment of €3.55 million in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda "Works in Our Lady of Lourdes will include a new ward block with inpatient beds the replacement of existing buildings with an extended multi-story building will also increase capacity “This funding is a strong demonstration of this Government’s commitment to delivering high-quality accessible healthcare in our area," Minister MCEntee said “This investment in Navan and Drogheda is welcome news that will help better meet the needs of patients and families across Meath many of whom would utilise Our Lady of Lourdes in Drogheda.” Commenting on the publication of the HSE Capital Plan Minister Carroll MacNeill said: “I’m pleased to approve the publication of the HSE Capital Plan for 2025 This plan continues the delivery of vital healthcare projects across the country and supports the expansion of capacity and reform in how we deliver care "The scale of investment reflected in this plan underlines the Government’s focus on strengthening healthcare infrastructure and progressing toward universal "The plan demonstrates the Government’s commitment to continued investment that supports the delivery of strategic reform improved productivity and a move towards better care in the community." The plans includes a new 96 single inpatient bed ward block in Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown a new ambulance station in Dundalk a new three-storey extension block at Cavan General Hospital to provide an Oncology Unit new acute inpatient beds in the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and phase 2 works for the replacement linacs programme on Beaumont Hospital Campus investment in 2025 will enable the progression of multiple Government priority projects including the completion of the New Children's Hospital construction of the National Maternity Hospital continued delivery of additional bed capacity under the Acute Hospital Inpatient Bed Capacity Expansion Plan 2024-2031 and construction of new Surgical Hubs and Elective Care Centres It also facilitates the development of infrastructure to support mental health service delivery and the delivery of more Primary Care Centres and community-based infrastructure to help ensure people can access appropriate care closer to home The keys of 84 brand new social houses at Gort na Glaise in Farganstown Navan were handed over to the tenants last week and excitement is high in the development as the new community settles in Among the new tenants is Damian Boylan (left) who was on the housing list for more than eleven years and has been allocated a one bedroom apartment I can just picture what it will be like when I have it fully fitted out." Damian says it gives him a real sense of security "I have moved home about four times in a the last few years," he said everyone has been so helpful and I am really looking forward to settling in Another new tenant is Alisha Lacey who is moving in with her little boy who has autism it was on a high floor which wasn't suitable for my little boy and we had no garden or balcony "There was also the fact that I could be moved at any time It is great to know now that I have my own home for as long as I want it Cllr Eddie Fennessy said it was great news for the 84 households who will make a home on the estate "The properties are finished to a very high standard and the estate is well designed and laid out There is plenty of green space and some recreational seating for the new community to enjoy He said he was delighted to see a good number of one bedroom properties in the new housing scheme "These are badly needed as 56 per cent of the housing list is made up of applicants looking for one bedroom units "This new housing scheme will mean many of these will now finally have a place to call their own," he said "Gort na Gaise is located on lands at Farganstown which is near Johnstown Several projects will be developed there over the coming years on lands that are zoned residential "Sinn Féin have called for the development of those lands for a number of years We are delighted to see much needed social housing delivered at last We'd also like to see industry develop and create employment at Farganstown for local families." Dear sir - I work mostly from home in Navan I see the traffic outside my house from 7.45am until 9am every morning kids being dropped to school and people trying to make their way to work I was thrilled when I heard they were building a new road to link up with the Kells Road as I also have to commute to Dublin one day a week There are six sets of lights to get me from my house to the Ardboyne as long as I leave early - as in 5am - I’m fine I was coming home the north Navan side and now there are delays that side with more traffic lights And now to make it worse there will be traffic lights to get onto the new road then traffic lights at the roundabout and then traffic lights at Beaufort nursing home Seriously the town is a joke to get around At least with a roundabout the traffic is more free flowing Home » All Set For Showdown In Navan News Offaly and Meath will contest an eagerly-awaited Leinster Senior Football Championship quarter-final in Pairc Tailteann Fresh from their victory in the Allianz League Division 3 final Offaly will approach the game with confidence Meath achieved four wins in Division 2 this season and also convincingly beat Carlow in Round 1 of the Leinster Championship last weekend Offaly beat Meath in the Championship in Tullamore but there have been considerable changes to both panels Tickets are available to purchase via this link: OFFALY V MEATH SENIOR FOOTBALL TICKETS Help Centre | Privacy Policy | Cookies | Terms of Use Kevin Toland to take over board of Kerrygold exporter Navan native Kevin Toland has been appointed as chair-designate of Ornua Ireland’s largest exporter of dairy products and owner of the Kerrygold brand Having served three years as chair of the board of directors Aidan O’Driscoll had last year informed the board he would not seek to be reappointed to the position when his current term ends in May 2025 Kevin Toland has been appointed as independent non-executive director and chair-designate of the board of directors His appointment will take effect on 22nd May Mr Toland has held a range of senior executive director and non-executive director roles across beverage He was previously Group CEO and board executive director of Cuisine de France owner Aryzta AG and of the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) and an executive director of Glanbia plc from 2003 to 2013 He is currently chair of Gas Networks Ireland and medical equipment manufacturer and is a non-executive director of Dole plc and is a graduate of the College of Commerce He then held a number of senior management positions with Coca-Cola bottlers in Russia and with Grand Metropolitan in Ireland and Central Europe previously and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Management Accountants he attended school in St Patrick's Classical School in Navan completing his Leaving Certificate in 1982 Congratulating Mr Toland on his appointment Aidan O’Driscoll said: “Kevin has a breadth of experience demonstrated through his highly successful career across a range of sectors nationally and internationally and is exceptionally well placed to lead the Ornua Board into the future.” Ornua is an Irish dairy co-operative that markets and sells dairy products on behalf of its member co-operatives Ireland’s dairy processors and dairy farmers Ornua has a strong global team of 2,800 employees operating from 10 business units worldwide The group is structured across two divisions: Ornua Foods and Ornua Ingredients Ornua Foods is responsible for international marketing and sales of Ornua’s consumer brands Ornua Ingredients is responsible for the procurement of Irish and non-Irish dairy products for the sale of dairy ingredients to food manufacturing and foodservice customers across the world and for managing volatility through de-risking and trading strategies Publishing Ornua's full-year results for 2024 last week said: “I am pleased to report a solid business performance for 2024 in which group turnover was €3.4 billion and operative profit was up 11.8 per cent on the previous year Our teams around the globe responded well to difficult market conditions to deliver for our member co-operatives I am proud to see Ornua continue to achieve its mission of providing Irish dairy farmers with a trusted route to value resulting in over €2 billion in premium Irish dairy product purchases in the year." Kerrygold has strengthened its standing as Ireland’s most successful food brand with over 12 million retail packs of butter and cheese sold globally each week in 2024 The brand’s continued growth has been greatly supported by the robust retail sales performance in the United States we are now entering a period of much uncertainty driven by ongoing global trade tensions," Mr Galvin stated "The exact impact of these challenges remains to be seen we are confident in the strength of Irish dairy which is a unique and sought-after proposition on the world stage We have premium brands and food ingredients that are enjoyed globally thanks to the qualities of the Irish grass-based dairy farming system the hard work of Irish producers and processors and the unique strengths of our co-operative business model.” Kerrygold continued to experience volume sales growth further strengthening its position as the number two branded butter in the world’s largest consumer market Kerrygold reached a record number of US households in the year supported by the introduction of a new 1lb butter block representing a category first in the market the global home of Kerrygold butter production had a record year in terms of output following its first full operational year after the completion of a major expansion project in 2023 Kerrygold ended 2024 as the number two block butter brand and the fastest-growing brand in the category The global dairy market experienced a year of mixed fortunes overall The first half saw a slight dip in milk supply but a recovery in the latter half left annual supply flat overall European retail sales remained healthy despite inflation with cheese outperforming butter and own-label products gaining traction The foodservice sector struggled to regain momentum coupled with buyers' reluctance to hold high-priced stocks This year marks 10 years since Ornua’s rebrand from the Irish Dairy Board the global retail sales value of Kerrygold has more than doubled While the outlook for the months ahead is uncertain driven by ongoing geopolitical and trade tensions the first quarter of 2025 has been relatively positive for Irish dairy and the Ornua business. which looks well-positioned to continue navigating the complexities for its member co-operatives The 17 newly completed homes mark the third and final phase of the Mine View development which now provides a total of 63 high-quality the estate is now home to more than 200 people “This development is about more than houses; it’s about giving people a place where they can build a future Thanks to the support of Meath County Council the Housing Finance Agency and The Housing Agency we’ve created a community where families can put down roots and thrive.” The final phase includes 11 four-bedroom duplex-style homes and six fully wheelchair-accessible two-bedroom dormer-style bungalows complete with wet rooms—specifically designed to meet the needs of people with disabilities.  “We know the first days in a new home are just the beginning Our Tenant Experience team is there to help tenants settle in we’ll continue to work with tenants to shape the services we offer around their needs.” Mine View is located close to Navan town centre Residents also benefit from walking-distance access to Blackwater Park and Johnstown People’s Park the NX bus service offers a direct link to the city centre The homes were delivered through a combination of Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) funding from the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage and a loan from the Housing Finance Agency.  which has been delivering housing and services across Ireland for more than 40 years now provides homes to over 18,000 people in more than 8,100 homes It currently has a further 3,476 social and cost rental homes under construction nationwide It looks like JavaScript is not enabled in your browser As well as Navan's colourful St Patrick's Day parade music in the streets and children's entertainment in the town on 17th March There are ambitious plans for St Patrick's Day in the town this year following a recent appeal for more volunteers which saw several new faces join the committee to help organise the festivities who had warned the future of the parade was in doubt because of the small number of volunteers was delighted at the number of new faces who attended a recent meeting We have a lot of local businesses supporting us and we have done up posters for businesses supporting us.” There will be market stalls and music at Kennedy Plaza throughout the day and children's entertainment including face painting magicians and balloon modelling in the Community Centre on Trimgate Street from 12.30 to 4pm the parade had a section of the route designated specially for all people with autism and their families Canon Row will be a noise-free zone for the parade to ensure that those on the autism spectrum will enjoy the event without stress or discomfort the children's entertainment in the Community Centre will also have an autism friendly period from 11.30 to 12.15pm Any families wishing to avail of the autism friendly entertainment and parade route should contact the committee Navan Shamrock Festival Facebook page or Instagram Navan Pride is set to take over the town once again with a vibrant and diverse lineup running from June 16 to 21 With a packed schedule of events leading up to the highly anticipated Navan Pride Parade on Saturday this year’s festival promises to be bigger and bolder than ever Navan Pride has been actively engaging with the community through a series of fundraising events in the lead-up to the festival One of the key fundraisers is the Loud & Proud Music Night on Saturday Featuring performances from The Picnics Band the event will support both the festival and its charity partners A post shared by Navan Pride🌈 (@navanpridefestival) The recently announced Navan Pride programme for 2025 is as follows: A post shared by Navan Pride🌈 (@navanpridefestival) A post shared by Navan Pride🌈 (@navanpridefestival) A post shared by Navan Pride🌈 (@navanpridefestival) the event promises high-energy performances A post shared by Navan Pride🌈 (@navanpridefestival) the Navan Pride After Party will be held at Henry Loughran’s from 3pm will keep the celebrations going well into the evening A post shared by Navan Pride🌈 (@navanpridefestival) With an exciting lineup of events spanning live music, cinema, discussion panels, and community engagement, Navan Pride 2025 is set to be a truly inclusive and joyous celebration. Navan Pride organiser Patrick Lawlor said: “We are delighted to return for our third year and brighten up our town with an array of colourful entertaining and informative events.” vital resource for Ireland’s LGBTQ+ community since 1988 GCN is a trading name of National LGBT Federation CLG, a registered charity - Charity Number: 20034580 If you are enjoying GCN, how about sign up for free to access all articles? You can also log in from here if you already have an account Navan Pride launches exciting 2025 festival lineup Emerging Stronger – Digital for Good Award / Not for Profit Digital Product of the Year – Consumer Media © GCN (Gay Community News) Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of GCN This project is supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development and Pobal through the Community Services Programme GCN Magazine is proudly printed with the support of Dublin Front Runners Site design and development: Dovetail Consultancy. Hosted in Ireland by Maxer. Route would follow the old railway line from Navan to Kells and on to Oldcastle incorporating a woodland walk at Liscarton A CAMPAIGN to develop a greenway from Navan to Kells and eventually to Oldcastle has been launched by public representatives The greenway would follow the route of the old railway line from Navan to Kells and Oldcastle and would incorporate a woodland walk in the new woodland being planted at Liscarton “This is something we need to progress over the next few years,” said the Mayor of Navan “Such a greenway would take in the beauty and the history of Ireland by creating a walking/cycle trail between neolithic Newgrange Knowth and Dowth in the Boyne Valley to the megalithic Cairns of Loughcrew.” Cllr Fennessy raised the issue at the March meeting of Navan Municipal Council and is being joined in his campaign by Cllr Peter Caffrey of Oldcastle and Deputies Johnny Guirke and Darren O'Rourke The Navan Cycling Initiative are also rowing in behind the campaign Cllr Fennessy called on Meath County Council at the recent meeting to carry out a feasibility study of the disused rail line behind the proposed woodlands site at Liscarton “with a view to developing it as a walking trail that can be integrated into the woodlands site as it grows over the coming years.” He was told both the NTA’s Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan 2023 and the Department of Transport’s National Cycle Network Plan Report 2023 indicate proposals for cycle routes between Navan and Kells The NTA Cycle Network Plan shows a line of a greenway following the old GNRI Navan – Oldcastle rail line as it heads north-west from Navan Council officials pointed out that while there is no fixed date to deliver this greenway it could serve as an access to the new Woodlands at Liscarton if the site is designated a public amenity at some point in the future Cllr Fennessy said his motion sought to integrate the stretch of the disused Navan to Oldcastle rail line with the council's Woodlands site at Liscarton to create a local walking trail the development of a greenway between Navan and Kells is a much bigger project and definitely something we need to progress over the coming years economic development and sustainable transport to communities along its path Such a route between Navan and Kells would be hugely beneficial to both towns I believe we should be more ambitious and extend the greenway further afield to Oldcastle “It would put Meath on the greenway tourism map and open the county up to unprecedented levels of global tourism.” chairman of the Navan Cycling Initiative said it was a fantastic proposal to link the greenway with the new woodland “The greenway has been in the Greater Dublin Area cycle plan since 2013 and it would be a great asset to Navan if it was progressed “It would revitalise Kells and connect it to the larger greenway network of the Boyne Valley and Lakelands “It would be a win win for everyone if it were to happen,” he said Deputy Johnny Guirke said it would be great to see a greenway to the north of the county “It could link in with the old walkway to Loughcrew It would be a massive boost for tourism in the area and we have a lot of attractions including Lough Crew and Fore Cllr Peter Caffrey said it would be a huge boost to Navan Kells and Oldcastle and now was the time to start looking for grants to make it happen Earlier this year Meath County Council commenced planting on its new 'Woodland Creation on Public Lands' project at Liscarton which is adjacent to the old railway line It includes the establishment of a new native woodland on a 19.5 acres site and alder trees have been planted in the area which will recreate lost native woodland habitats rich in biodiversity and cultural significance The woodland will provide a home to specialised woodland animals the protection and enhancement of water quality which itself promotes contact with the natural world was extended to Kells in 1853 and would finally reach Oldcastle on 17th March 1863 the Oldcastle railway lost its passenger service and in April 1963 the line from Navan to Oldcastle was closed Some of the track to Kells was re-laid in 1977 for zinc and lead traffic from Tara Mines Residents of St Benildus Villas in Navan were horrified to find used syringes along the much used laneway beside the Railway track this week The residents say the laneway is the site of anti social behaviour and drug taking most nights and is regularly covered with litter Local resident Donna Reilly says she was taking her children for afternoon stroll recently "We came across what can only be described as absolutely horrendous broken glass and an awful lot of other rubbish strewn on the path It was lucky she hadn't just picked one up "There were quite a number of used syringes just lying on the ground in numerous different areas "We are letting the three closest schools know as a lot of people walk through here during school times and small children may fall or hurt themselves on the glass or worst case maybe pick up a syringe not knowing the danger it has Parents should be made aware of this," she said one of thoe needles could pierce an adults shoe." "We have lived here 12 years and there have always been problems It gets cleaned up but it is as bad again within short time There are people shouting and taking drugs at night We have a lot of elderly people living here and this is very stressful for them "A lot of us have locks on our front gates and ring cameras because of the problems." She said numerous complaints have been made over the past number of years by the residents of Benildus Villas but this is the most serious one to date "This is a very serious matter and needs to be addressed as soon as possible It's not only a matter of safety for children but for the elderly people who walk this way people who walk with pets and the general public Donna says that they have contacted local councillors She is hoping that a clean up will be carried out and solution proposed to put an end to the problems "One solution is closing the opening off all together with a brick wall It was closed years and years ago with a fence Meath County Council and Irish Rail have been approached for comment The family of well known Navan athlete Patsy Fitzsimons who died suddenly last year has organised a 5km charity run to honour his memory The 5km Patsy Fitzsimons Memorial Run will take place in Blackwater Park in Navan - where Patsy regularly took part in the weekly Park Run - on Saturday 12th April at 2pm Patsy died suddenly on 16th April in Berlin where he had just arrived with his wife Bridie for a city break It has been a traumatic and heartbreaking year for his family but they decided it was important to honour his memory and decided to host the 5km charity run in aid of the Irish Heart Foundation Patsy was a popular local athlete who took up running at the age of 32 and continued his involvement until his death last year at the age of 74 He was a member of the South O Hanlon AC and was a regular at the Park Run in Navan on a Saturday morning He won the over 60s title in the Club la Santa Lanzarote International running challenge in November 2012 13k ridge and 5k beach run and finished with a half marathon over four consecutive days Galway once and the Dublin City marathon eight times where at age 48 he completed his quickest time at in 1999 at 3hrs 6mins He completed countless races all over Ireland “He always embodied the saying age is only a number,” said his daughter Lorna “We decided around Christmas to hold a memorial run for him and we have been organising it since January We are running it with Justrace.ie and Eventmaster.”We all intend to take part It will be chipped and timed and we hope to have a fun family atmosphere “We have had huge support from local running clubs Navan Running Club got the permit on our behalf and Bohermeen AC were also a great help.” There will also be a virtual option for participants with people already signed up to run in New York He attended St Finian's College and played hurling for his local team Patsy married Collinstown native Bridie and the couple moved to Navan Patsy worked for Louth County Council up until his retirement in 2011.He spent his retirement gardening running and travelling with Bridie and devoted his time to his six grandchildren which takes place on 12th April in Blackwater Park in Navan (2pm) will go to the IHF To enter, go to justrace.ie A MAN has appeared in court with allegedly threatening a female driver in a carjacking incident in Navan on Valentine's evening The man is alleged to have crashed the car and then unsuccessfully hijack a second vehicle before escaping on foot a person claiming to be the victim urged all motorists to keep their doors locked when sitting stationary in their cars The post said: “I am the woman whose car got stolen outside the Ardboyne Hotel A man sat in the passenger seat when I was waiting for my husband who was coming from the airport “Please lock your door if you are inside your car Gardai confirmed that the incident occurred at appromimately 7pm on Friday They said: “The male suspect threatened the female driver of the car who exited the car and the suspect left the scene “The suspect crashed the vehicle at Garlow Cross where he attempted to hijack a second vehicle but was unsuccessful Gardai conducted a planned search operation and one male aged in his 30s was arrested on Saturday 15th February 2025 and was detained at a garda station in Meath Navan appeared via video link at Trim District Court today (Tuesday 18th February) and was remanded in custody to 18th March with directions awaited from the DPP He had appeared in Monaghan District Court on Monday He was charged with two counts of unauthorised taking or carriage in a vehicle at Garlow Cross and Kilcairn Navan Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses who may have seen a small dark coloured van travel in the wrong direction down Bridge Street/Ludlow Street shortly after midnight last Thursday (13th February) night into Friday morning (14th February) Gardaí would in particular like to speak to the taxi driver who met this van head on Any witnesses are asked to please contact Navan Incident room on 046 9036166 Navan Garda Station on 046 9036100 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 Navan has implemented visiting restrictions due to circulating infections and for infection prevention and control purposes.  The measures apply to the entire hospital including the Emergency Department and are in the interest of the health & safety of patients visiting may be allowed by making an appointment in advance with the ward manager The Senior Management Team at Our Lady’s Hospital Navan say that they wish to emphasise that this measure is temporary and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis Long lines of traffic slowly snaking into the centre of Navan from all directions has become the norm Boyne and Slane roads are all seeing increased volumes of traffic funneled into the town with a real lack of town bypass opportunities Here ANN CASEY outlines what is currently happening and what the aspirations might be for the future Plans for a distributor road linking the Trim and Dublin roads in Navan could prove a gamechanger for traffic in the town A planning application currently with Meath County Council proposes a link between the existing road at Springfield Glen and the Trim Road The new road would help ease the huge congestion on the Trim Road into Navan which has increased considerably with new residential developments in the area The new road will link the Dublin Road at Limekiln and the Trim Road at Swanbrook The planning application was made last year by Cairn Home Properties for a 695m section of a distributor road connecting the Trim Road to the existing distributor road at Springfield Glen as well as a 64m section of road to connect to the under-construction North-South Link Street through the Swanbrook Estate Cllr Eddie Fennessy said problems with congestion on the Trim Road are well known "Speaking as someone who lives in the area I'm delighted to see the orbital road move another next step closer to delivery "When completed the road will link the Trim and Dubin Roads It will provide better connectivity options to motorists and it will also help to alleviate congestion problems on both of those roads "The link road is a very important piece of local infrastructure It's delivery will provide multiple benefits for the people of Navan Enhanced connectivity options and reduced journey times Potential new bus routes on the town service and safe pedestrian and cycle access in the area There are also plans a spur road from the Trim Road which will link with the Borallion and onto the motorway There are also proposals in the County Development Plan for a link from around Balreask Manor on the Trim Road to the Commons Road close to the new housing currently under construction on the Commons Road while a further link is proposed from there to the old Athboy Road The Slane Road (N51) is a hugely busy road that funnels traffic to overwhelmed Round O junction Proposals for distributor roads both north and south of the Slane Road would mean a huge difference to traffic tailbacks at that junction A new road at Blackcastle Demesne and a bridge over the Boyne is included in the County Development Plan Traffic tailbacks at rush hour and speeding traffic at other times are among the problems on the Boyne Road in Navan New developments at Farganstown have seen the development of Thomas Hodgett Road from the Kenstown Road which comes to an end just short of the Boyne Road Cllr Fennessy says the eventual plan is to continue that road to a new crossing over the Boyne linking it with the Slane Road Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons was told the provision of a bridge crossing and distributor road connecting the Slane Road to the Boyne Road would be assessed at a high level as part of major transport study for Navan Meath Co Council has appointed Systra Consultants to carry out an Area Based Transport Assessment (ABTA) for the town and a bridge and link road will be examined as part of the study Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons said a new bridge and road would "draw traffic away from the town centre and provide safer passage for motorists crossing from one side of town to the other." He said that much of the congestion in Navan is due to traffic coming through the town rather than around it Now is the time to plan and design this much needed bridge connecting the Slane Road to the Boyne Road which in turn will connect with Athlumney and the Dublin Road bringing welcome relief to motorists and residents in these communities we are then on course to continue onto the next phase rather than waiting years for further development." we need to keep ahead of developments rather than reacting to them after the fact this will take time so we need to act now." He said the bridge is the most important cog of any new transport plan "It will further enhance more direct and safer routes around the town The Kentstown Road is probably one of the most congested roads in Navan with no signs of improvement any time soon Additional traffic from new developments on Thomas Hodgett Road will make it worse The proposed bridge across the Boyne would help alleviate the gridlock but the road is a victim of the high density development in the Johnstown area over the past two decades at school times and during the commuter rush A new road currently under construction around the schools and Dunville which will merge with the old Road to Johnstown village from the Kentstown Road will help alleviate some of the congestion which is expected to alleviate congestion at school rush hour with new and improved walking and cycling infrastructure as well as traffic calming measures Cllr Alan Lawes fears the traffic problems will only get worse with all the new developments at Farganstown and new commercial buildings "If you are driving into Johnstown at 5pm or 6pm in the evening the traffic is backed from the Supervalu roundabout to the entrance to the IDA Park such as widening the road or maybe providing a slip road to the back of Supervalu or the proposed Aldi," he said the Kells road in Navan is still an extremely busy route but the new LDR4 link road crossing the River Blackwater linking Ratholdren Road to the Kells road is expected to be hugely beneficial in easing congestion both on the Kells Road and the Ratholdren Road Works began on the new road and bridge during the summer of 2024 and are expected to be completed by Q4 of 2025.” Cllr Fennessy said: "It is key infrastructural project that will improve connection options between North and South Navan for decades to come "This phase of the project will cause disruption for local residents and businesses Movement around the area will be difficult and traffic management systems will be in place until mid-July “Traffic congestion is inevitable unfortunately I ask people to be patient and to take great care when driving in the area." Cllr Fitzsimons agrees: “This is a fantastic project which will take huge volumes of traffic away from the town centre and allow easier and quicker access to and from North Navan and onto the M3." NOW READ: Running to Standstill... 'On the election trail, all everybody on the Boyne road spoke about was traffic' NOW READ: Running to Standstill... Surveys carried out to model existing traffic flows Zephr Edge service was unable to process your request We are seeing an unusually high volume of traffic right now so our servers are too busy to handle your request We are automatically adding extra capacity and should be back online shortly This website is optimised for mobile devices and modern web browsers In order to view the content correctly please upgrade your current web browser to IE9 or higher or switch to an alternative browser such as Chrome Follow the Archives for more daily updates on features Schoolchildren in Navan got on board Ireland's longest walking bus as part of a smarter travel campaign Approximately fifteen hundred primary school students have taken to the streets of Navan to set a new Irish record for the largest walking bus sang and shouted their way into the record books The event is part of the County Meath town’s campaign to secure funding from the Smarter Travel Competition which was set up to encourage children and adults to walk or cycle and avoid using cars Meath county manager Tom Dowling says the level of support today bodes well for future Navan community engagement with active travel the record breakers can look forward to no homework once the school day is over An RTÉ News report broadcast on 26 April 2010 Relief for the singer and composer of the song representing Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest When the new bridge over the Blackwater opens later this year it will reduce traffic congestion the N51 Slane /Rathaldren Road junction by 25 per cent The long term solution to the chaotic peak time traffic delays at the junction of the Rathaldren Road and the N51 will be the opening of the LDR4 scheme which will link the Rathaldren Road with the Navan-Kells Road Cllr Francis Deane called on Meath County Council "to alter the sequencing of the traffic lights on the Rathaldren Road at peak hours to facilitate school traffic as well as users of Blackwater Park travelling to and from Saturday morning runs from 10am to 11am." He was told modelling by the council predicts that when opened “the AM peak traffic through the junction will reduce by 25 per cent as a whole and by 42 per cent on Rathaldren Road approach alone.” Cllr Deane was told the junction is one of the busiest in Co Meath "The junction is at capacity and changes to provide additional time to different approaches will result in reduction to others "The N51 traffic has very heavy traffic at peak times in both directions but in particular in Southbound traffic in the AM The N51 peak time coincides with the Rathaldren Rd peak times It is evident that any delays experienced on the N51 has an exasperating affect very quickly on the rest of the traffic in Navan due to blocking at the Round “O” roundabout or the Fire station junction," a report to the council stated "Rathaldren Road already gets a significant portion of time in each cycle (up to 25 per cent of available cycle time) considering there are four traffic phases and one pedestrian phase “The issue with exiting Rathaldren road is the efficiency of traffic progressing through the approach The efficiency is quite low and is affected by a number of factors including the two opposing exits to the shops the school exit and their associated yellow boxes the zebra crossing and general traffic progression to cross the in-ground vehicle detectors to extend the green time." Cllr Deane was told the Traffic Signal team will look to see if they can programme the controller to allow better side road flow when the N51 peak times have elapsed and other times such as weekends This will be done in very minor increments over time to avoid adverse knock on effects The councillors were told that the new road and bridge was expected to be completed in ten months time Noreen died peacefully on Saturday 12th April 2025 Predeceased by her beloved and adored husband Micéal brothers Liam and Richard and her parents Richard and Nora Proud and loving mother of her children Lorraine (Fox) Reposing at her residence in Clonmagadden this Monday evening from 5-8pm Removal on Tuesday morning to arrive in St If you wish to leave a message of sympathy for Noreen's family If you wish to view Noreen's Funeral Mass, please click on the link provided here https://www.facebook.com/share/1FuYjbhXJR/? mibextid=wwXlfr The man killed in Navan on Friday night after being struck by a car has been described as a "gentleman and a great character" Greg Lynch died after he was hit by a vehicle at Poolboy Bridge Flowerhill in the town at approximately 10.40pm and who lived locally was fatally injured in the collision His body was removed from the scene and taken to the Mortuary in Our Lady's Hospital Navan where a post mortem was to be carried out The male driver (aged in his 60s) of the car was uninjured Navan was closed overnight with diversions put in place A technical examination of the scene by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators was conducted Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward Gardaí are also appealing for any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) who were travelling in the area at the time of the collision to make this footage available to Gardaí Anyone with any information is asked to contact Navan Garda station on 046 907 9930 the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 Mayor of Navan Cllr Eddie Fennessy expressed his "deepest sympathy" to the family and friends of the victim "News of Friday night's tragic accident was met with sadness and shock Even more so when the identity of the victim was made known He was a great character who was well known and very well liked around Navan I offer deepest heartfelt condolences from the people of Navan You are in our thoughts and in our prayers "A number of pedestrians have lost their lives on our roads over the past few days I ask motorists to drive with extreme caution especially at night and particularly in built up urban areas." My Lynch was predeceased by his mother Brenda He will be very sadly missed by his loving and heartbroken family Funeral arrangements will be released later six people have been killed on Irish roads The man was the second pedestrian to be killed in a road incident on Friday after a woman in her 70s died after being struck by a car in Co Carlow Plans for a two-way cycleway linking Navan and Trim that was expected to go to construction this year have been shelved due to lack of funding The cycle and walking track was to be built along one side of the R161 Navan to Trim Road utilising the existing road verges under the Department of Transport's 'Pathfinder' programme walking and cycling projects that could be quickly delivered and the Trim to Navan cycle link was one of two local projects approved for the scheme in October 2022 and set to be delivered within three years It involved 9kms of two-way segregated cycle track and 2kms of shared active travel facility from the Balreask Cross Roads south of Navan to the Newtown junction in Trim Plans had gone through public consultation and the project was "shovel ready" but it was confirmed at the full meeting of Meath County Council that the scheme would not go ahead with Director of Services Martin Murray telling members that "the funding never materialised and it was as simple as that" He told how the council's allocation for 2025 is just €12m and that other Active Travel projects that had been in the pipeline such as the scheme for south of Ashbourne were also ready to go but there was no funding A €24m scheme for Ratoath was shelved last year and Mr Murray said this was now nearer €30m but the reality is that they only have an allocation of €12m He outlined they would keep progressing with pipeline projects to have them ready to go in the hope that the funding mechanisms would change Chief Executive Kieran Kehoe said they would continue to fight for the scheme saying it was an excellent scheme and the €5m cost wasn't huge in the grand scheme of things Trim and Navan councillors expressed their disappointment that the cycleway was not going ahead pointing out that as well as being designed to take cars off the road it would also be an important link for tourism Cllr Noel French brought up the issue at Monday's meeting saying there seemed to be a commitment that the money was coming but then all of a sudden it disappears adding that it would have made a huge contribution in terms of addressing climate change and developing tourism we are wasting our time trying to get people out of their cars." Cllr Ronan Moore said it was "both disappointing and worrying"that there were a number of active travel projects that might fall foul of the same issue and pointed out that council staff had put a lot of work into the scheme that it had gone through public consultaiton and was now " essentially suspended and left on the shelf" "It was a project that seemed to be strong and positive and I am asking government parties to reconsider where funding is spent in terms of active transport and ensure that these projects that are shovel ready and have the time and effort and energy put in to them Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons questioned what it meant for the Balreask/Borallion junction saying the pathfinder project was to be the "answer for that junction" and the meeting heard this was not affected Two Meath TDs have called for a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the employment at Navan hospital’s emergency department of a doctor who had been suspended by the Medical Council after being caught forging and misusing prescriptions Palestine - was employed in the emergency department of Our Lady’s Hospital Navan for 11 days last year The report said that the HSE hired the doctor despite the fact he was suspended by court order and despite HSE chief executive Bernard Gloster being warned personally that the high court had prohibited the doctor from practising medicine On 25th July last year the Medical Council was contacted by Melanie O’Rourke Navan who revealed that Dr Almassri had begun work as a registrar in emergency medicine in Navan on 8th July She said the doctor had attended an interview on 20th May but did not disclose that he was under investigation by the Medical Council when directly asked His suspension had begun on 17th June but Ms O’Rourke said he did not disclose this but on the same day he signed his contract of employment with Navan hospital Once Navan Hospital found out the doctor had failed to inform it of the investigation and suspension it terminated his employment on 24th July for breach of contract After his suspension and the discovery that he had begun working in Navan in breach of court orders Dr Almassri signed an affidavit on 10th October last he accepted the Medical Council brought the application to have him suspended because of his “self-prescribing and forging my colleague’s signature” He accepted he breached a court order but said he did not set out to do so He said he was in a panic due to the visa enabling him and his family to remain in Ireland being dependent on him being able to work He said that due to staff shortages Navan required him to start employment sooner than he had intended and prior to the Medical Council’s application being concluded Aontu TD Peadar Toibin sad the situation as described was very concerning “Forging prescriptions and impersonation of other doctors is shocking that the Medical Council would take a case to the High Court and that the HSE knew of the suspension and still Navan hospital employed him As chair of the Save Navan Hospital campaign I am calling for a full investigation of this case We need to know if any patients suffered any adverse treatment from this doctor This is an example of senior management of HSE not doing their job It also feeds into the view that many people have that the HSE is not taking Navan hospital seriously We need a serious investment in our A&E We need to regain teaching hospital status for our hospital Sinn Fein TD Darren O’Rourke said that we could not have a situation where fitness-to-practice checks were dependent on voluntary disclosure We know that hospitals are desperate to find staff but standards must stand for something There must be a full review of the circumstances of this case at Our Lady’s Hospital Navan” Motorists in Navan can expect delays over the coming months as work beings on a new signalised junction at the Kells Road Roundabout in Navan Major upgrade works are due to take place at the junction of the R147/N51 roads where the new Local Distributor Road 4 meets the Kells Road The works include the removal of the existing roundabout sculpture construction of off road cycleway and footpaths road surfacing works and installation of new signalised junction The work is due to start on the 17th February 2025 and will be completed in phases Traffic management will be in place until mid July The first phase will involve the removal of the roundabout and island and surfacing This will be carried out at night-time between 8pm to 6am The next phase will include road crossings which will also take place at night from 8pm to 6am Work will then take place on the Northwest footpath/cycle lane followed by the Northeast walking and cycling infrastructure and then the Southeast and Southwest footpath/cycle lanes While the first phases will be carried out at night between the 8pm-6am from the 17th to 28th February the remaining phases are expected to be completed during normal daytime working hours The new junction is part of the construction of the LDR4 link road that will cross the River Blackwater linking Ratholdren Road to the Navan-Kells road Works began on the new road and bridge during the summer of 2024 and are expected to take 18 months The council says the scheme is “currently expected to be completed by Q4 of 2025.” Cllr Eddie Fennessy said the removal of the roundabout is part of the development of a new bridge over the River Blackwater "It is key infrastructural project that will improve connection options between North and South Navan for decades to come "This phase of the project will cause disruption for local residents and businesses "Traffic congestion is inevitable unfortunately NOW READ: The man carrying the stone won’t be going too far The new route is expected to be a gamechanger for traffic in Navan, where at the moment, the only route into Navan from the north of the town is down to the inner relief road via the Round O/Abbeylands junctions. The new 1.15km stretch of roadway aims to slash travel times for traffic coming into Navan from the northside of the town and reduce the snarl-ups that currently blight the Abbeylands and Fire Station junctions. The new road shaves two hectares off the edge of the Blackwater Park lands and continues through the site of the now demolished OPW building and emerges at the existing roundabout on the Navan-Kells Road. The bridge section of the road was lowered into place in October. The scheme consists of two 3.25m wide lanes, 2m wide raised one-way cycle track on both sides and 2.5m wide footpaths on both sides while the new link will also give the public pedestrian access to Blackwater Park from the west side of the town. The works are being carried out by John Craddock, the same contractor responsible for the Navan 2030 works in the town centre. Meath Chronicle is part of Celtic Media Group which includes: The Anglo Celt, Connaught Telegraph, Offaly Independent, Westmeath Examiner and Westmeath Independent| © 2021 Meath Chronicle and Celtic Media Group. All rights reserved. Oh no! It looks like JavaScript is not enabled in your browser. Staying superstar Kyprios, with Ryan Moore up, kicks off his season at Navan this weekend. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile There is no doubting the star attraction at Navan today as the mighty Kyprios kicks off another season in the Listed Bar One Racing Vintage Crop Stakes (3.25). With 15 wins from his 19 starts – including nine successes at the highest level – Aidan O’Brien’s seven-year-old has been nothing short of sensational when fully fit and this is just the warm-up act for the son of Galileo. A NAVAN taxi driver has claimed traffic congestion and tailbacks in the town is making it extremely difficult to do business and has resulted in passengers paying bigger fares. Donal Mulcahy said the chaotic traffic situation in Navan has resulted in longer taxi journeys and more expensive fares as well as taxis arriving later than expected. "It is getting more difficult to do businesses and it is particularly impacting elderly shoppers who are paying increased fares. Many elderly shoppers rely on taxis, they need a door to door service." Mr Mulcahy warned that new traffic lights at the junction of the LDR4 and the Kells road will cause even more congestion in the town and the proliferation of traffic lights has led to a situation where Navan is "a hostile environment for both motorists and pedestrians." "Just when you think the traffic cannot get any worse they are now removing the roundabout on the Kells Road / New Road intersection. "Motorists currently exiting Dean Cogan and wishing to turn right had the option of going left, then around the roundabout and back into town. The removal of the roundabout, will leave "turning right when exiting" Dean Cogan a serious challenge. "The proliferation of traffic lights is contributing to gridlock, unsafe vehicle and passenger practices and driver frustration. "The Kells Road / rear of St Pat's intersection is example where there is daily traffic chaos since the introduction of the traffic lights at Bailey Hill. "Before the introduction of the traffic lights, the builders at Bailey Hill had a temporary exit contoured in a manner that permitted a left turn only, similar to the car park opposite at the park and ride, permitting traffic to flow quite freely. Surely a permanent exit from Bailey Hill (left), constructed as left turn only with the retention of the roundabout on the Kells Road would have negated the need for traffic lights and assisted traffic flow" Mr Mulcahy said the endless lines of traffic in that area has resulted in motorists doing u-turns and delayed and frustrated passengers and school pupils exiting cars by opening the doors of stationary vehicles stuck in traffic - a regular and dangerous practice. "We're looking at the possibility of having four sets of traffic lights from the Balmoral junction to the Andy Connolly roundabout. Traffic volumes have increased significantly on the Boreen Keel since the introduction of the lights at Bailey Hill with motorists already using it as an alternative route in an attempt to bypass the mayhem created by the Bailey Hill lights. He also said the reversal of traffic flow on Ludlow Street had resulted in traffic overload on Watergate Street. "The benefits of the reversal in easing access for public transport service providers is more than negated for all road users, including public transport service providers when attempting to exit the town." A spokesperson for Meath Co Council said the completion of the LDR4 later this year is expected to result in a reduction to traffic on the section of the N51 at Dean Cogan Place by approximately 7,000 vehicles per day. "This reduction in traffic should make it easier for drivers to exit Dean Cogan Place once the new road has been opened to traffic. "Meath County Council is currently carrying out an Area Based Transport Assessment (ABTA) for Navan.vConsultants have been appointed to conduct this study, which includes an assessment of transport demand and its associated impacts along with identification of requirements, primarily in relation to movement and accessibility. "The primary objective of an ABTA is to make sure that movement and accessibility of all forms, across all modes of transport, are considered as a key component in the development of areas at a local level. A €2.5 million investment in upgrades to the electrical power supplies in Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan is part of a €1.33 billion allocation nationally for the development and enhancement of healthcare infrastructure, announced by Minister Jennnifer Carroll McNeill. The Health Service Executive’s Capital Plan for 2025 will see a transformative investment of €6 million in Navan and Drogheda hospitals, according to Minister Helen McEntee. “Investment in our health service is essential, and today’s announcement includes an investment of €2.5 million in upgrades to the electrical power supplies in Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan, and an investment of €3.55 million in Drogheda Hospital. “Works in Our Lady of Lourdes will include a new ward block with inpatient beds, endoscopy day services, trauma services and a new surge ward. A psychiatry of later life unit, with a 10-bed extension, the replacement of existing buildings with an extended multi-story building will also increase capacity. “This funding is a strong demonstration of this Government’s commitment to delivering high-quality, accessible healthcare in our area,” Minister McEntee said. “This investment in Navan and Drogheda is welcome news that will help better meet the needs of patients and families across Meath, many of whom would utilise Our Lady of Lourdes in Drogheda.” Commenting on the publication of the HSE Capital Plan, Minister Carroll MacNeill said: “I’m pleased to approve the publication of the HSE Capital Plan for 2025. This plan continues the delivery of vital healthcare projects across the country and supports the expansion of capacity and reform in how we deliver care. “The scale of investment reflected in this plan underlines the focus on strengthening healthcare infrastructure and progressing toward universal, community-based care. Dublin got the defence of their TG4 Leinster crown under way with a comfortable seven-point victory against old foes Meath at Páirc Tailteann. Making her championship debut, Sophie McIntyre hit the net five minutes into the second half and this, along with a first-half Hannah Tyrrell penalty proved crucial. Dublin were boosted by the return of four-time All-Ireland winner Sinéad Goldrick, who recently rejoined the panel. Meath enjoyed a better second half, moving the ball quicker and running at the Dublin defence, but ultimately they came up short. In the damp conditions, Dublin were first to strike through a Tyrrell free in the opening minute. Meath were moving the ball well and a good team move sent Marion Farrelly through but her shot was well saved by Dublin goalkeeper Abby Shiels. Dublin were stronger in possession and Chloe Darby added a point from play on 11 minutes. They went further ahead when Sinéad Goldrick was brought down in the box and Tyrrell converted the resulting penalty on 16 minutes. Darby added a further free a minute later and this opened up a 1-3 to no score lead. Meath seemed to struggle to get the ball into their forward line with Martha Byrne and Aoife Kane marshalling the Dublin defence closely. Vikki Wall got Meath’s first score from a free on 21 minutes, but that was cancelled out two minutes later by Tyrrell’s second free. After a storming move down the field, Wall was fouled and the game’s second penalty awarded and duly dispatched by full forward Emma Duggan to leave the Royals just three points adrift at the break. On the resumption, Meath moved the ball quicker and this paid dividends, but they were left short when McIntyre’s effort found the net on 35 minutes. Duggan’s frees kept Meath in touching distance, however a wonderful long-range effort from Duggan on 39 minutes made it a three-point contest. Darby added a second free before Niamh Hetherton added a fine score from play and Dublin pulled away again once more. While Emma Duggan did add on a brace of frees, it was left to Dublin to finish with four unanswered scores, including a brilliant Tyrrell point to secure victory. Dublin travel to take on Kildare in round two next Sunday. DUBLIN; A Shiels; J Tobin, L Caffrey (capt), N Donlon; H McGinnis, M Byrne, A Kane; É O’Dowd, G Kós; C O’Connor (0-1), C Darby (0-3, 2f), S Goldrick; S McIntyre (1-0), N Hetherton (0-2), H Tyrrell (1-3, 1-0 pen, 2f). Subs: L Magee for McGinnis (29 mins); A Timothy (0-1) for Darby (46); A Curran for McIntyre (52); N Crowley for Donlon (56); J Egan for Hetherton (61). MEATH: R Murray; Á Sheridan, MK Lynch, K Newe; A Cleary (capt), S Wall, K Kealy; O Sheehy, M Farrelly; M Thynne, N Gallogly, C Smyth; E Duggan (1-5 (1-0 pen, 4f), V Wall (0-1, f), M Collins. Subs: N Troy for Sheridan, K Cole for Collins (both 40 mins); K Birmingham for Kealy, A Gaffney for Thynne (both 46); O Callan for Farrelly (50). Facebook pageTwitter feed© 2025 The Irish Times DAC