‘Thank you for all that you do’ Dunshaughlin community grateful for local volunteer

DAVID LLOYD’S dedication to his town is immense and his hard work doesn’t go unnoticed as he treads the streets daily keeping everything in check.

David has been a hugely important member of Dunshaughlin Tidy Towns for 20 years now. If you have ever wondered who keeps the summer flowers blooming in Dunshaughlin… look no further.

The beautiful hanging baskets that are synonymous with Main Street, Dunshaughlin in summertime are watered with care by David from as early as 4am each morning. He likes to be up early, which means bed-time comes at 9pm on those bright summer evenings, for 20 weeks of the year.

Other endeavours see him litter-picking, weeding flowerbeds and sweeping leaves and debris throughout the remaining months of the years, often seven days a week. “If I find rubbish and I can’t get at it, I will get the council out,” he says as he also maintains the extensive area to the roundabout on the Navan Road.

David was a pupil at St Ultan’s, Navan before taking up employment in Tuite’s in Dunshaughlin in the early 80s, which is now Supervalu. He worked there for many years, before a diagnosis with epilepsy meant he had to change direction.

“People asked me would I get involved with different things,” David says fondly. “It was John Holland who introduced me to the Tidy Towns in 2002,”

Although John is no longer involved, David still has a supportive network of people around him in Dunshaughlin Tidy towns including the vice-chair and chairperson, Marie Felle and Luke Colleran who are both very strong in their praise of David. Luke says:

“Effectively, it is his awareness of what needs to be done, and his commitment to make sure that it is done by himself or others which sets him apart. He knows every inch of the village,” adds Marie.

“David would be able to tell you if something needs to be done, he knows everything, so that we are then aware of the bits and pieces, right down to the weeds on the footpath.”

“What would we do without him,” they ponder.

Another voluntary role David undertakes is with the Friday Club - a social club for the elderly, held in St Patrick’s Hall. He opens up at 8am there and prepares the room and helps out before the members arrive at 9.30am for the morning.

David has been also involved with the Harvest Club since its first year in 2011 where he helps out in advance, during the weekend event and is also there to pick up the pieces in the days afterwards. Back in 2006, he also travelled to Lourdes with the Meath Dioceses as a helper, which was a very enjoyable trip for him.

The proud Meath man also has a string of accomplishments under his belt including a list of QQI educational awards in subjects like Horticulture, Crafting, Pottery and General Learning.

He is also a former Volunteer of the Year winner in 2016 from Meath County Council and attended many prizegiving events with Dunshaughlin Tidy Towns through the years, including one very memorable one in Ennis, when the group won Best Large Town in the entire country.

David is originally from Randlestown almost two miles out the Ratoath Rd, where his late father – who hailed from Wales – came to live with his late mother who came from Skryne. They had met in London. David has one brother, artist Robert who still lives nearby and also sister Carol who lives in Dunshaughlin. Another two sisters live in New York where David makes an annual Christmas trip, which he really enjoys. “For a holiday, I wouldn’t like to live over there,” he says clearly. In very recent years, the family expanded when they learned about another sister that they didn’t know they had, living in Dublin, which has brought great joy to David, including learning about a new niece based in Australia.

David now lives at the north-end of the town, which is convenient to all amenities. To unwind, he likes to listen to all kinds of music and can be found drinking a pint of Guinness and watching his favourite sports - hurling and rugby - in An Sibín. Each morning he visits Queenie’s restaurant where he is looked after with a good breakfast – giving him vital energy for his work.

When David turned 50, he was presented with a mobile phone from Dunshaughlin Tidy Towns, which opened up a whole new world for him and now enables him to call and text people at will, which he really enjoys. It is clear that David loves people, and it is also abundantly clear, that people love him too. Despite lockdowns slowing everyone around him, David kept going and kept out and about doing what he does best – keeping Dunshaughlin tidy. He recalls fondly meeting many people during lockdowns and since, who spoke to him and were quick and eager to express their gratitude to him saying: “Thanks very much for doing all the work that you do” - some very welcome words of kindness and appreciation for this great and committed caretaker of the town.