NEWS

McCarroll McConnell & Co. Ltd In Pennybridge, Ballymena One of Ballymena’s longest-established insurance brokers has been acquired by a major UK insurance broking group, with customers told their cover, contacts and local branches will remain unchanged. McCarroll McConnell & Co. Ltd confirmed this week that the business has been recently acquired by Adler Fairways Insurance Group, marking a significant new chapter for the long-running local firm which has served the area for

Ecos Nature Park, Ballymena Early risers across Ballymena are being invited to start their day with purpose later this month as Turning Point NI hosts a community 5km Sunrise Walk in support of its vital mental health services. The walk will take place on Saturday 25th April , with participants gathering for a 5am start at ECOS Nature Park. Organisers are encouraging people from across the community to come along and take part in what promises to be a meaningful and uplifting

Ulster Unionist Party Leader and North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows with Deputy Party Leader and Economy Spokesperson Diana Armstrong outside Mr Burrows’ constituency office in Ballymena The strength and growth ambitions of businesses across North Antrim were brought into sharp focus following a day of constituency engagements led by Ulster Unionist Party Leader and North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows  alongside Deputy Party Leader and Economy Spokesperson Diana Armstrong . The visits, w

The Met Office has updated its yellow weather warning for Northern Ireland as Storm Dave is now expected to bring a more intense spell of damaging winds from Saturday afternoon into Easter Sunday morning, with forecasters warning that some areas could briefly see gusts of up to 80mph. The updated warning is now in force from 14:00 on Saturday 4 April 2026 until 03:00 on Sunday 5 April 2026, extending the period of concern into the early hours of Easter Sunday. The latest fore

McKeever Hotel Group has strengthened its senior leadership team with two strategic appointments as the hospitality business moves to support what it describes as an accelerated growth trajectory and an expanding operational scale. The appointments mark a significant step for the hotel group as it continues to build capacity across its seven-strong portfolio, with both newly created roles focused on driving commercial performance, brand strength and long-term growth. New role

Popular well-known Ballymena man Jonathan Gilmore who died suddenly on Thursday morning. Warm and heartfelt tributes have been pouring in across Ballymena following the sudden death of Jonathan Gilmore, affectionately known to many as “Spud”, whose passing has left the local community in shock. A popular and well-known local man, Jonathan was a familiar face within the town’s marching band scene and was widely regarded with great affection by those who knew him. As news of hi

Inset: TUV Braid councillor Anne Henry A major resurfacing scheme is set to begin on Shellinghill Road, Cullybackey, with works scheduled to take place from 20 April to 24 April, in a move welcomed as a much-needed upgrade to one of the area’s long-standing road concerns. The improvement scheme will cover the section of road from the National Speed Limit sign to the railway crossing, addressing what local representatives say has become a road surface far beyond the stage of r

Ballymena Police Station Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the sudden death of a man at a residential property in Ballymena in the early hours of Thursday morning, 2 April. It is understood the property is in the Harryville area of the town. The incident, which unfolded overnight, has prompted an active police investigation as officers work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the man’s death. At this stage, however, police have said the death

Ballymena Magistrates’ Court A 30-year-old man has been charged to court after police investigated a report of threatening online messages allegedly sent to a local elected representative. The charges follow an incident reported to police on Friday, 27 March, raising concerns over the targeting of an elected public figure through digital communications. The man is due to appear before Ballymena Magistrates’ Court today, Thursday, 2 April. Charges brought following police inve

Championing the cause… Marian Maguire, Chairperson of Glenravel & District Community & Residents Association and winner of   the Community Champion award in the Housing Executive’s Rural Community Awards.   A woman whose dedication has helped shape and strengthen communities across rural County Antrim for more than two decades has been recognised with one of Northern Ireland’s top grassroots volunteering honours. Marian Maguire, Chairperson of the Glenravel & District Communi

Winnie with her three daughters pictured outside Winnie’s 1975, in Broughshane. A much-loved Broughshane café and gift shop is entering a new chapter this week as the family behind Winnie’s 1975 prepares to hand over the keys after ten years at the heart of village life. In an emotional statement issued today, Wednesday 1 April, Winnie, owner of Winnie’s 1975 on Main Street, confirmed that the family has made the difficult decision to step away from the business, with new ow

Samuel and Elaine Caldwell (right) with Thomas and Sam Wright (left) and Ballymaconnelly Iceman who was the top price at the Dorset Diamonds Sale making 4,600gns. The 11th annual Dorset Diamonds Spring Sale delivered another standout day for Northern Ireland’s sheep breeding community, with local flocks commanding impressive prices and Ballymena once again at the heart of the action. Held at Ballymena Livestock Mart on Saturday, 28 March 2026, the prestigious sale saw a strin

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford pictured with DEA Officer Karen Brownlow for the launch of World Autism Acceptance Month. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is marking World Autism Acceptance Month this April by reaffirming its commitment to building a more inclusive and accessible community for autistic people and their families. In partnership with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, the council says it will continue to expand support throug

Church Street in Ballymena Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has backed a motion calling for a town centre taskforce to be established across the borough. The motion was proposed by Coast Road DUP Councillor Andrew Clarke at a council meeting in The Braid, Ballymena, on Monday evening, and seconded by party colleague Larne Lough Cllr Gregg McKeen . Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Clarke said: “I feel passionate about our town centres and that we should be giving it everythi

Holiday plans across Northern Ireland face possible significant disruption this Easter weekend as the Met Office warns of a rapidly deepening low-pressure system bringing "very strong winds" to the region. The yellow weather warning, which covers all of Northern Ireland including Ballymena and surrounding areas, is set to take effect from 18:00 on Saturday, 4 April , lasting through until midday on Easter Sunday . Meteorologists are tracking an intense weather front moving no

Local councillor Anna Henry proposed a motion this week calling for urgent action to tackle lengthy delays in diagnosis and treatment across Northern Ireland Thousands of women living with chronic pain and prolonged uncertainty have moved back into sharp focus after Mid and East Antrim Borough Council formally recognised the growing crisis in gynaecology services during Endometriosis Awareness Month. In a follow-up development to growing concern around women’s health waiting

Inset: North Antrim MP Jim Allister North Antrim MP Jim Allister has formally intervened in the planning process surrounding Ballymena’s proposed new Lidl store, writing directly to a planning officer at Mid and East Antrim Borough Council to urge that the application be refused. In a strongly worded letter addressed to senior planning officer Kyle Patterson, Mr Allister said he was writing to “endorse the opposition of local residents” to the proposed St Patrick’s Link Road

Eight-year-old Daisy Doherty In a world that can often feel a little heavy, one young girl from Broughshane is bringing a powerful reminder of kindness, compassion and hope. Eight-year-old Daisy Doherty, a pupil at Broughshane Primary School , is preparing to take on a remarkable challenge this July as she donates her hair to help create a wig for a child who has lost theirs through illness. Inspired by the work of Little Princess Trust, the charity which provides real-hair w

Blue household recycling bins replaced in Antrim could soon find a new home in Mid and East Antrim. Members of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Environment and Economy Committee were told at a meeting in March that a director would contact neighbouring Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council to make enquiries about the potential reuse of the wheelie bins. A triple-stack wheelie box system was rolled out to 25,000 households across the Antrim, Randalstown, Crumlin, Temple

TUV North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston The political fallout over Northern Ireland’s special educational needs summer schemes deepened today after TUV MLA Timothy Gaston launched a blistering attack in the Assembly, accusing ministers and officials of failing some of the most vulnerable children in society. In a strongly worded address, the North Antrim MLA said the decision to cancel the schemes — before a subsequent reversal — was “not simply an administrative mis-step” but