The village of Johnstown was once part of the barony of Galmoy and was laid out in the early 1700s by the Hely family of Foulkscourt Castle.

TFI Local link operated by JJ Kavanagh and Sons provides a daily journey each way from Portlaoise to Cashel 828 and Thurles 858.

Bus Éireann and Aircoach service between Dublin and Cork ceased to serve Johnstown on 30 June 2012.

A poem[4] praising its medicinal qualities was penned by Thomas Sheridan and a retort was produced by Swift.

In 1806,[5] a Viking Age brooch was found in Ballyspellan[6] and is now on display in the National Museum of Ireland.