The Johnstown Estate in Meath has confirmed that it will no longer be hosting a conference that was due to take place on Saturday, April 5, following concerns expressed by local anti-fascism activists. The event, titled Safeguarding Children’s Education, had been organised by the Natural Women’s Council and involved several notorious far-right campaigners.

Through targeting parents and educators, the group claimed to want “to protect young minds from radical ideologies, social justice activism and political influence.” The programme included several talks centring gender in areas like healthcare, sports, and schools, alongside conversations on “Marxist Brainwashing”, education curriculums and library books.

The keynote speaker was the founder of a group called Transgender Trend, whose tagline reads: “No child is born in the wrong body”. Others on the programme included senior figures in The Countess, a trans-exclusionary women’s organisation, as well as Eddie Hobbs, former president of right-wing party Renua.

Jana Lunden, founder of the Natural Women’s Council, was the lead organiser of the conference. She has been prominent in several far-right movements in Ireland, including attending anti-LGBTQ+ protests at Swords Library. She appears to have close connections with far-right campaigners, including Ross Lahive, who recently received a three-month sentence for assault at a drag storytime event.

Additionally, Lunden, who is American, regularly shares anti-migrant content on her social media. 

The Johnstown Estate’s decision to cancel the event comes after anti-fascist activists highlighted the situation online and in private correspondence with the hotel.

In a statement issued to GCN on Monday, March 31, the venue confirmed that the event “will not be taking place at The Johnstown Estate” and said, “No further comment will be made.”

This is the third time that Lunden has had one of her events cancelled by a host venue due to community concerns. In February 2023, she had a conference in the Shearwater Hotel in Ballinasloe cancelled, as well as another in a different hotel in Meath.