NEWS

Matthew Arbuckle from Ballymena, believes his placement year and final year research project are helping him prepare for the future of farming. Saturday 07 November 2026 Ballymena agriculture student Matthew Arbuckle hopes to continue the pedigree cattle breeding work established by his late father while improving the sustainability and profitability of the family farm. Matthew, from Kells, is entering the final year of his BSc (Hons) Sustainable Agriculture degree at CAFRE’s

Phil Owen, Sales Director (left) and John McLeister, MD Sales, UK and Ireland for Wrightbus. Saturday 07 November 2026 Ballymena bus manufacturer Wrightbus has unveiled a new three-door electric double-decker, with Hong Kong operator Citybus having ordered 17 vehicles in a multi-million-pound deal. The Electroliner 6x2 tri-axle bus was presented at Singapore Urban Mobility Week as the company also exhibited in Birmingham, showcasing both new electric buses and a diesel bus co

Saturday 07 November 2026 Thirty-six new PSNI officers are preparing to serve in districts across Northern Ireland after completing their initial training during the police service’s 25th anniversary week. The officers took their oath at an attestation ceremony at the Police College in Garnerville, east Belfast, on Friday 6 November, watched by their families. Having entered the college in June and completed a 22-week course, they will now begin two years of probation, with m

Friday 6 November 2026 Noise pollution is affecting the survival, development and behaviour of wildlife across the world, with new research from Queen’s University Belfast revealing consequences for species found in Northern Ireland, including house sparrows, Atlantic salmon and Atlantic cod. The major international analysis found that noise pollution altered the physiology, development or behaviour of 80% of the species studied, with evidence of reduced survival, reproductiv

Belfast City Airport is now accepting applications for its High Flyers Apprenticeship Programme, offering aspiring firefighters the chance to join the Airport's Fire and Rescue Service and kick-start an exciting career in aviation. Pictured (L-R) are former apprentices, Aoibh Carroll, Jay Sempey, and Nicole Dallat. Friday 6 November 2026 People interested in becoming firefighters are being invited to apply for a specialist apprenticeship at Belfast City Airport, offering hand

Eamon and Nadelle McKillop of McKillop's SPAR, Fry's Road, receiving Involvement in the Community Award from Lee McFarland of Cranswick Country Foods. Tuesday 3 November 2026 A Ballymena convenience store which has spent almost four decades supporting local schools, sports clubs and charities has been recognised for its contribution to the community. McKillop’s SPAR received the Involvement in the Community Award at the 24th annual Ballymena Business Excellence Awards, held a

Friday 6 November 2026 South Antrim MP Robin Swann has called on parcel delivery company Evri to explain what improvements it has made ahead of the Christmas rush, following complaints from constituents about missing deliveries and difficulties getting help during last year's festive period. The MP has written directly to Evri Chief Executive Martijn de Lange seeking assurances that measures are in place to prevent a repeat of the problems reported to his constituency office

The Aston Martin Aramco team brought a touch of Formula One excitement to Antrim Area Hospital, with reserve driver Jak Crawford visiting the children's ward to spend time with young patients, as well as families who are cared for by the Northern Trust's community children's team. (Photos: Michael Cooper) Friday 6 November 2026 Young patients at Antrim Area Hospital were treated to a special Formula One experience when the Aston Martin Aramco team made a pitstop at the hospit

Murdered: 27-year-old Sarah Montgomery Friday 6 November 2026 A 29-year-old man who brutally murdered his pregnant partner in her Donaghadee home, killing her and her unborn child, has been told he must serve at least 20 years in prison. Zak Hughes appeared before Belfast Crown Court on Friday 6 November, where the minimum term of his life sentence was set for the murder of 27-year-old Sarah Montgomery. Sarah, a mother of two young children, was 32 weeks pregnant with her thi

Dr Alan Kennedy, PulseAI's founder and chief executive Friday 6 November 2026 A Belfast-based medical technology company has secured US regulatory clearance for artificial intelligence software designed to help detect potentially dangerous heart rhythm disorders, marking a significant milestone for healthcare innovation developed in collaboration with Ulster University. PulseAI has received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its AI-powered arrhythmia

MP for Upper Bann Carla Lockhart during her visit to the inaugural Slurry Live event, held this week at the Eikon Exhibition Centre near Lisburn. Friday 6 November 2026 A Northern Ireland MP has called for greater flexibility in slurry spreading regulations after Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir rejected a request to reconsider the winter ban, despite concerns that prolonged wet weather prevented farmers from emptying slurry tanks before the October deadline. Upper Bann MP Ca

Ballymoney man Alex Patterson who walked to Stormont Parliament Buildings in Belfast, with Alliance North Antrim MLA Sian Mulholland, and other representatives. Thursday 5 November 2026 A Ballymoney man who has faced being turned away from restaurants because of his guide dog has walked from Belfast City Hall to Stormont to highlight the everyday barriers faced by blind and partially sighted people. Alex Patterson completed the challenge on Tuesday (3 November), accompanied b

Thursday 5 November 2026 A security alert in Randalstown has ended after a suspected historic munition discovered in a shed outside a house was examined by ammunition experts and declared viable. Police were alerted to the discovery in the Portglenone Road area shortly before 4.30pm on Thursday, 5 November. Road closures were put in place as a precaution, while the homeowner was evacuated from the property. Munition removed for destruction Ammunition Technical Officers attend

20-year-old Ballymena man Calum Bell Thursday 5 November 2026 A 20-year-old Ballymena man has been sentenced to five years in prison for his involvement in the June 2025 riots, including attacks on residential properties during the serious disorder that gripped the town. Calum Bell was sentenced at Antrim Crown Court on Thursday (5 November) after being convicted of riot, intentionally encouraging or assisting riot, and burglary with intent to cause unlawful damage. He receiv

Kilrea Bridge Thursday 5 November 2026 The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has acknowledged that any future closure of Kilrea Bridge could result in significant traffic disruption, with no immediate alternative crossing available to maintain access across the River Bann. The warning came as councillors questioned officials about the resilience of the historic bridge, which dates back to 1783 and serves as a vital transport link for Kilrea and the surrounding area. The bri

(Left to Right): Antoin Moran, Project Manager ASPIRE Peaceplus; Seamus Bradly. EA Director; Paul Givan, DE Minister and Jayne Simms, EA Lead ASPIRE Peaceplus at today’s PEACEPLUS ASPIRE Conference. Thursday 5 November 2026 Schools across Northern Ireland have a vital role to play in challenging misogyny, tackling harmful attitudes and helping young people develop healthy relationships as part of wider efforts to prevent violence against women and girls. That message was at t

Thursday 5 November 2026 Almost one in four children living in poverty in Northern Ireland are not eligible for free school meals, according to major new UK-wide research highlighting significant inequalities in the financial support available to struggling families. The findings, published today (Thursday 5 November), reveal that 24% of children in poverty in Northern Ireland fall outside free school meal eligibility, compared with 17% in Scotland and 18% in Wales. Following

Lesley Thompson, Sinead Mellon and Megan Westall, staff from the MRI Unit at Causeway Hospital. Thursday 5 November 2026 More than 3,000 patients have benefited from a new MRI scanner at Causeway Hospital in Coleraine during its first year, reducing the need for patients to travel to Antrim Area Hospital for diagnostic tests. The scanner, which became operational in October 2025, has carried out more than 4,500 tests, exceeding the Northern Health and Social Care Trust’s orig

Thursday 5 November 2026 MLAs will receive a 2% pay rise following next year’s Northern Ireland Assembly election, after overwhelming opposition from consultation respondents prompted an independent board to scale back its original proposals. The basic annual salary will increase from £67,200 to £68,544 when the new Assembly first sits in 2027, representing an additional £1,344 a year. The Independent Remuneration Board had originally proposed a 3% increase, taking salaries t

Apprentices during their visit to the Wrightbus factory in Ballymena Thursday 5 November 2026 Thirty apprentices from one of the UK’s largest transport groups have visited Wrightbus in Ballymena to discover how buses are built, as a major partnership between the two companies delivers new opportunities for skills development and training. The week-long visit brought apprentices from the Go-Ahead Group to the Northern Ireland manufacturing facility, giving them first-hand expe

Thursday 5 November 2026 Ballymena town centre will be filled with Christmas lights, decorated tractors and festive cheer on Saturday 5 December as the Santa Run returns, raising funds for Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice. Organisers are anticipating a record number of participating vehicles, with tractors and other vehicles dressed in Christmas lights and decorations set to travel through the town in an evening cavalcade. The event, hosted by Ballymena Business Improvemen

Chief Constable Jon Boutcher and Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton Share personal stories with podcast host Lata Sharma Wednesday 4 November 2026 The Police Service of Northern Ireland is marking its 25th anniversary with a special podcast featuring its two most senior officers, reflecting on the organisation’s beginnings, the challenges of policing and the importance of attracting recruits from across the community. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher and Deputy Chief Constabl

Minister pictured with committee members of Randalstown Arches Association which was awarded £40,000 for improvements at Arches House, where activities include delivery of educational, recreational and community development activities for Randalstown and the surrounding rural area. Wednesday 4 November 2026 Three community organisations in Randalstown, Glenavy and Crumlin have secured a combined £74,400 to improve buildings used by local families, young people and community g

Wednesday 4 November 2026 Around half of all babies born in Northern Ireland in 2026 are being invited to take part in a landmark research study that will follow children into adulthood, helping shape the services and support available to future generations of families. Researchers at Ulster University have begun interviewing parents as part of Generation New Era, the first new UK birth cohort study in 25 years and the largest of its kind in a generation. Around 4,200 familie