New street projects help to revitalise centre of Navan

A new walking tour of Navan, entitled 'Points of Pride', has been launched, designed to showcase the best of Navan's heritage, history, architecture and culture. Fifteen points of Pride are featured on the walking tour of the town, for which a booklet and audio-walk recording have been produced. The Navan Points of Pride walk is 4km long and starts at the tourism office at the Solstice Arts Centre. At a leisurely pace, it can be completed in approximately two hours. The 15 points are the Solstice Arts Centre, John Boyle O'Reilly's house at Academy Street, Meath County Infirmary, St Mary's Church of Ireland and the Newgrange Hotel; the Tobberorum well at Ludlow Street, the Old Courthouse at Ludlow Street, Athlumney Church and Graveyard, Athlumney Castle, The Ramparts and Ruston's Bridge, Poolboy Bridge, Watergate Street; Market Square, Metges' Lane, Kennedy Place, Cannon Row, and St Mary's Catholic Church, St Anne's School and the Fair Green. The booklet traces the history of many of these points along the route and directs walkers to the next one. On Academy Street, in the fanlight of one of the early 19th century houses, the word 'Moondyne' can be made out. John Boyle O'Reilly, poet, patriot, rebel and newspaper editor lived here for a few years and was inspired to use it for the title of his novel, 'Moondyne Joe', which was published in New York in 1879. This is just one of the tidbits of information walkers will pick up along the way. Following a launch of the tour last Friday by the Mayor of Navan, Cllr Anton McCabe, RTE broadcaster and 'History Show' presenter Myles Dungan from Kells conducted a tour of part of the trail.