NEWS

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons pictured at the launch of the Northern Ireland Football Fund Grassroots Facilities Programme Pilot Scheme with players and the Chairman of Wellington Rec Football (l-r) Royce Balmer, Rachael-anne Seymour, Kenny Thompson (chairman) and Ben Tilney. A £9million funding injection aimed at transforming grassroots football facilities across Northern Ireland has been unveiled by Communities Minister Gordon Lyons  — with grants of up to £1.5million n

Inset: Northern Ireland Health Minister Mike Nesbitt Northern Ireland’s hospital waiting lists for outpatients, inpatients, and diagnostics have recorded small but meaningful reductions, a rare positive shift amid years of mounting demand. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt welcomed the latest figures and credited healthcare staff for their “tremendous effort” in improving patient access to care. Minister praises incremental improvements Speaking alongside the publication of the qu

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford, pictured with Councillor Anna Henry to announce the Community Toilet Scheme which has launched in Portglenone. Portglenone village is making life a little easier for residents and visitors, thanks to a new Community Toilet Scheme launched by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council in partnership with local businesses. The initiative allows anyone to use participating businesses’ toilet facilities free of charge during norm

Ulster Unionist Councillor Alan Barr and party representative Sam Patton in Clough Ulster Unionist Councillor Alan Barr and party representative Sam Patton have issued a stark warning over dangerous speeding in Clough and Rathkenny, saying it is only a matter of time before a serious injury or fatality occurs unless urgent action is taken. The issue emerged while the pair were leafleting in the area, where residents expressed frustration and fear over vehicles travelling at

Ulster Unionist Party Leader Jon Burrows MLA, writing in The Orange Standard calls for “Unionism for the Future” Unionism stands at a crossroads — and its next chapter, according to Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows , will be shaped by whether it thinks long-term, works together and delivers for everyday people. Writing in the March 2026 edition of The Orange Standard, the official publication of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland , the Jon Burrows  sets out a candid an

(L-R) Eva Lilly Beckett and Taleen Eldris, pictured with Ballymena Academy Principal Mr Stephen Black, and school netball coach, Julie-Anne Cairns Two Ballymena Academy pupils are set to step onto the European stage this week — and they are doing it in an Ireland dress. Taleen Eldris and Eva Lilly Beckett have been selected to represent Ireland at the upcoming Netball Europe event in Aberdeen, taking place from Friday 6 March to Sunday 8 March 2026. The international tournam

Ulster Unionist Party Leader, North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows People living with Parkinson’s in Ballymena are being invited to speak directly to their local MLA about the pressures they are facing — particularly around delayed healthcare appointments, treatments and medications. On Friday 20 March, Jon Burrows, MLA for North Antrim and leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, will meet members of the Parkinson’s community at Ballymena North Business Centre from 3.30pm to 4.30pm. The

Brandon McCaughan (Pics: DPPI Images / Ligier European Series) Ballymena racing talent Brandon McCaughan is stepping onto the biggest stage of his prototype career yet after confirming a full 2026 campaign in the Ligier European Series with reigning champions Team Virage. After dazzling in limited appearances over the past two seasons — including a flawless double victory at Silverstone last year — the 22-year-old has now secured a full-time seat in one of Europe’s most compe

Community pharmacy teams serving Portglenone and Broughshane are in the spotlight after securing major nominations in the Pharmacy In Focus Awards 2026 — a recognition that places their work at the heart of modern healthcare delivery. Bannside Pharmacy  has been shortlisted in the Commitment to Health & Wellbeing category, while Medicare Pharmacy Broughshane  is in contention for Community Pharmacy of the Year . Adding to the celebrations, Shania O’Boyle of Bannside Pharmacy

More than 3,500 children and young people are currently living in foster care across Northern Ireland — and the number is rising year on year. Behind that statistic are real lives, real stories and children like eight-year-old Kaiden, who is waiting for a place to call home. There are currently 3,514 children and young people in foster care in Northern Ireland. As demand continues to grow, HSC NI Foster Care says the need for more foster carers who can provide a safe and nurt

Slemish Market Garden, Ballymena A planning application for the retention of a farm shop, car park extension and change of use of an existing office and former retail unit to storage in Ballymena has been approved by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Planning Committee. Members granted permission at a meeting on Thursday (February 26) for works at Slemish Market Garden, located within the grounds of the Ecos Nature Park at Kernohan’s Lane. The approval also covers a new s

Irish Children’s Laureate/Laureate na nÓg Patricia Forde answering questions from children at St Colmcille's and  Carniny Primary School as part of the Whole Wild World North tour. Ahead of World Book Day on Thursday, 5 March 2026, children from Carniny Primary School and St Colmcille’s Primary School welcomed Irish Children’s Laureate/Laureate na nÓg, Patricia Forde , along with a team of authors and illustrators to Carniny Primary School as part of the Whole Wild World Nort

Minister Kimmins is pictured with Sarah Schaefer, ESG Director and John McLeister, Managing Director of Sales for the UK and Ireland The push to decarbonise Northern Ireland’s transport network took centre stage in Ballymena this week as Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins  visited Wrightbus  to see first-hand how the sector is shaping the journey to net zero. Touring the factory floor, the Minister met staff and viewed progress on zero-emission bus technology that is already

Hillwalkers and visitors to Slemish Mountain for St Patrick’s Day in 2025, with large crowds expected again in 2026. A centuries-old tradition will once again bring hundreds of people to the slopes of Slemish Mountain this St Patrick’s Day, as families from across County Antrim prepare to take part in the annual uphill climb. Held on Tuesday 17 March, the popular St Patrick’s Day ascent blends local legend, shared history and outdoor adventure in one of the borough’s most rec

farmdrive co-founders - Gareth Gordon, CTO, and Gareth McDonald, CEO A fast-growing agri-tech company founded by two men from the Ballymena area has secured a major six-figure investment to accelerate its next phase of growth — with new jobs and export expansion firmly in its sights. Antrim-based farmdrive has received £690,000 in equity funding through Techstart Ventures, part of Invest NI’s Access to Finance programme. The investment will support the development of its live

Waterstone’s Ballymena has revealed its latest Top 10 bestselling books, with literary classics, gripping crime fiction and contemporary Irish writing all featuring strongly this week. From Emily Brontë and John Steinbeck to Jo Nesbo and Jan Carson, the list reflects an eclectic mix of reader favourites and fresh releases. Top 10 for This Week 1. Pagans — James Alistair Henry A sharp, darkly comic novel exploring masculinity, belief and modern disillusionment with wit and bit

A €7.5 million cross-border initiative designed to tackle isolation, inactivity and poor wellbeing in rural communities has been officially launched — with Mid & East Antrim and Causeway Coast & Glens set to play a key role. Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust has welcomed the introduction of the new ‘Walking for All’ programme, supported by PEACEPLUS and managed by Special EU Programmes Body , and led by Outscape . The programme was launched on Friday, 27 February 2026 at

A stretch of the Kells Water River has been given a new lease of life after volunteers rolled up their sleeves and removed a startling haul of waste in just a matter of hours. On Saturday, February 28, members of Kells, Connor & Glenwherry Angling Club carried out their first river clean-up day — and the scale of what was uncovered highlights both the pressures facing local waterways and the power of community action. By the end of the session, the team had removed more than

The location of a proposed HMO property on Galgorm Road, Ballymena A proposed change of use from a dwelling to a house in multiple occupation (HMO) at 46 Galgorm Road, Ballymena, has been refused. The application was turned down by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Planning Committee at a meeting in The Braid, Ballymena, on Thursday, despite a recommendation to approve. A planning officer told the meeting the proposal involved the change of use of a five-bedroom, three-st

Broughshane woman Norma Craig who has raised a phenomenal donation from her latest efforts for Air Ambulance NI by hosting a series of raffles at her workplace, Ballygally Castle Hotel. A Broughshane woman’s determination to make a difference has raised more than £14,000 for Northern Ireland’s air ambulance service — and she’s not slowing down. Since 2020, Norma Craig has raised an impressive £14,530 for Air Ambulance NI , supporting its vital role in responding to traumatic