NEWS

Zak Moore and Jack Strange, Sauna Masters at Galgorm, who were crowned Team Performance Champions at the 2026 UK Aufguss Championships, hosted at Galgorm’s Thermal Spa Village A standout double success for a Ballymena-based spa team has put Northern Ireland firmly on the international wellness map, after two Galgorm Sauna Masters claimed top honours at the 2026 UK Aufguss Championships on home soil. Zak Moore and Jack Strange were crowned Team Performance Champions following

Ballymena Sinn Féin councillor Bréanainn Lyness with local resident Donna McElroy A long-awaited return of a community amenity has been realised in Ballymena, with a new bench installed at Devenagh Way in the Rectory Estate - replacing a previous seat removed years ago due to vandalism. The installation, completed in time for the summer months, marks a small but significant improvement for residents in the area, restoring a place to rest and gather that had been missing for s

Action for Children staff Rosie Moore, Lorna Ballard and Franci Simpson with Jon Burrows MLA A North Antrim MLA has praised the “real difference” being made by a local early years service after seeing its impact first-hand during a visit to Ballymena. Jon Burrows visited Ballymena and Little Steps Antrim Sure Start on Doury Road on Friday, 1 May, where he met staff, parents and young children benefiting from the programme. The service, which operates across three sites in the

The Gallaher Trust’s Board of Trustees are pictured with Ballymena 400 – Building on Partnership and Progress keynote speaker, Declan Lawn, co-writer of BBC drama, Blue Lights, alongside his BAFTA award. A major funding opportunity and a clear call for collaboration have been set out in Ballymena, as a high-profile event hosted by the Gallaher Trust brought together business leaders, community organisations and delivery partners to tackle some of the area’s most pressing eco

Only six fixed penalty notices for dog fouling were issued across Mid and East Antrim during 2025, new figures have revealed, despite continued concerns from councillors and residents about the scale of the problem. The figures, released by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council in response to a Freedom of Information request under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, show that five fines were issued in Ballymena and one in Carrickfergus over the 12-month period. No p

The large, mature tree deliberately set on fire in Cullybackey. A deliberate fire at Cullybackey River Walk has drawn sharp criticism from a local councillor after emergency crews were called out to tackle what has been described as a reckless act of vandalism. Firefighters were dispatched to the scene in Cullybackey village, Ballymena, on Wednesday evening, April 29, after reports of a tree on fire in the area. The incident, which required a response from Ballymena Fire Stat

Dunsilly Ulster Unionist councillor Stewart Wilson Dunsilly Ulster Unionist councillor Stewart Wilson has welcomed a decision by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council to approve the installation of CCTV at Neillsbrook Community Centre in Randalstown. Cllr Wilson confirmed the decision on social media after the issue was discussed behind closed doors at a meeting at Mossley Mill on Monday evening. Commenting online, he said: “This is a positive step, but it’s important to re

New homes built at the St Patrick’s development in Ballymena A new chapter in Ballymena’s housing landscape is underway as Co-Ownership customers begin moving into homes at the St Patrick’s development — a large-scale mixed-tenure scheme designed to expand access to affordable home ownership while reshaping a key area of the town. The development, delivered by Radius Housing with MJ McBride Construction as lead contractor, comprises 135 homes built to full turnkey specificati

Inset: North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston Mounting pressure on NHS dentistry in North Antrim has been laid bare in the Assembly, with warnings that the system is no longer sustainable and is being steadily replaced by private provision. Speaking during a debate this week, North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston said the current situation goes far beyond access issues, describing it as a structural failure that is already reshaping how dental care is delivered across communities includin

Young Dunloy woman Lasairfhíona Nic Ruairí A 20-year-old musician from Dunloy is set to take to one of Belfast’s biggest stages this summer, as a new large-scale traditional music production aims to attract thousands of visitors to the city. Lasairfhíona Nic Ruairí will perform on both harp and fiddle in Celtic Heart, a brand new “destination” stage show commissioned by the Waterfront Hall. The production will run from April through to September, offering audiences a live sho

Photos: Bob McEvoy With weeks still to go before runners take to the streets, one of Ballymena’s most anticipated sporting events has already reached full capacity, signalling a surge of local enthusiasm and community backing. The Fairhill Five Mile Race, organised by Ballymena Runners and sponsored by Fairhill Shopping Centre, is officially sold out ahead of its return on Thursday 4th June, setting the stage for a packed and high-energy evening in the town centre. The sell-o

CGI of new buildings for Dunclug College, Ballymena A major new school building for Dunclug College has taken a decisive step forward, with confirmation today, Wednesday 29 April, it will now progress to construction as part of a multi-million-pound investment programme—delivering long-awaited transformation for pupils, staff and the wider Ballymena community. Education Minister Paul Givan has announced that Dunclug College is among four major works projects across Northern I

Poultry keepers across Northern Ireland will be allowed to let their birds outside again from next week, after Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir confirmed the lifting of compulsory housing measures introduced to curb the spread of avian influenza. The restrictions, which have been in place since 6 November 2025, will be lifted from 00:01 on Tuesday 5 May 2026, marking a significant shift in disease control measures following months of heightened vigilance across the sector. Th

Residents across Mid and East Antrim are being invited to collect free compost from local Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) as part of a borough-wide initiative to promote sustainability and reduce landfill waste. The scheme, delivered by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council in partnership with Natural World Products (NWP), will run for a limited four-day period from Wednesday 6 May to Saturday 9 May 2026, marking International Compost Awareness Week. During the initiative, h

Cregagh Wood, the location for Dance Encounters An immersive dance experience set deep within one of the Glens of Antrim’s most scenic woodland areas will see audiences step directly into a live performance this weekend, as Maiden Voyage Dance brings a unique guided tour to life during the Cushendun Big Arts Weekend. Taking place on Saturday 2nd May, “A Walk in the Woods with Dance Encounters” invites participants to explore Cregagh Wood not just as a landscape, but as a livi

A powerful programme of remembrance in Ballymena will shine a local light on one of Northern Ireland’s darkest wartime chapters, as the 85th anniversary of the German air raids of 1941 is marked with a deeply personal focus on Mid Antrim lives lost. The commemorative event, titled German Air Raids: A Mid Antrim Perspective, will take place at Ballymena Services Club on Wednesday 6th May 2026 at 7:30pm, forming part of a wider series organised by Mid and East Antrim Borough Co

Drugs seized during the police operation at Larne Harbour, County Antrim Detectives have seized suspected drugs worth an estimated £4 million following a major cross-border operation targeting organised crime, after a lorry travelling from Scotland to Larne Harbour was stopped and searched on Monday, 27 April. The operation, led by the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Organised Crime Branch in collaboration with the An Garda Síochána National Drugs & Organised Crime Burea

Proud winners - the Travelmax Ballymena team. A family-run Ballymena business has made history after being named the UK & Ireland’s top travel agency — the first time a Northern Ireland company has ever secured the industry’s highest honour. Travelmax, a female-led agency marking its 25th year in business, claimed the overall title at the prestigious TTG Top 50 Travel Agencies Awards, alongside two additional major accolades, in a landmark night for the local firm. The awards

Waterstone’s Ballymena has revealed its latest Top 10 bestselling books, with high-octane thrillers, fantasy favourites and a strong showing from local author Jan Carson reflecting another busy week for readers in the town. From Lee Child’s latest action-driven release to rising demand for immersive fantasy and contemporary fiction, the chart highlights a wide mix of genres capturing the attention of Ballymena book lovers. Top 10 for this week A blend of page-turning suspense

Scenes from the Bluebell Festival today (Saturday 25 April) at Portglenone Forest. (All pics: Steven McAuley / McAuley Multimedia) Residents and visitors from across Northern Ireland gathered in large numbers at Portglenone Forest on Saturday 25 April, as the 2026 Bluebell Festival transformed the woodland into a vibrant celebration of nature, community, and outdoor activity. The annual event, organised by the MEA Outdoors team from Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, saw fa