NEWS

Asda Community Champions paid a visit to Ram's Island A team of Asda Community Champions from across Northern Ireland has swapped the shop floor for the shoreline to help safeguard one of Lough Neagh’s most unique and historic locations. Seven Community Champions travelled to Ram’s Island, a community-managed conservation and heritage site on Lough Neagh, where they joined volunteers in a hands-on effort to tackle invasive plant species and support the island’s ongoing preser

Passengers across Northern Ireland are being urged to check before they travel as summer bus timetables come into effect from Tuesday, July 1, bringing changes to services during the school holiday period. The timetable changes will affect a wide range of services operated by Translink, including Ulsterbus, Goldliner, Metro, Glider and Foyle Metro routes, as well as Park and Ride services. The annual summer timetable adjustments coincide with schools breaking for the summer h

Children enjoy one of the many events at Ballymoney Museum Ballymoney Museum has been shortlisted for one of the UK’s most respected heritage awards after being recognised by families as one of the country’s most welcoming places to visit. The museum, located in Ballymoney Town Hall, has secured a place on the shortlist for the 2026 Kids in Museums Family Friendly Museum Award and is the only museum in Northern Ireland to make the final selection. The annual award, which has

Thousands of people packed the streets, parks and riverside of Coleraine on Saturday as Armed Forces Day 2026 transformed the town into a celebration of military service, community pride and national remembrance. From solemn acts of reflection at the War Memorial to dramatic parachute displays above the town and a packed programme of entertainment throughout the day, residents and visitors turned out in huge numbers to honour serving personnel, veterans, reservists, cadets an

Thousands of people lined the streets of Coleraine on Saturday morning as more than 500 military personnel took part in a major Armed Forces Day parade under clear blue skies. The town centre was awash with spectators as service personnel, veterans, civic leaders and military representatives gathered to honour the contribution of the UK’s Armed Forces in what is one of the largest events of its kind ever hosted in the borough. The celebration, which continues throughout the d

Waterfoot beach and the illustrative designs of outdoor mobile saunas for locations across the Causeway Coast. Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Planning Department has received planning applications for outdoor saunas at four popular coastal locations across the borough. The proposals represent the next stage in plans to introduce dedicated wellness facilities at key seaside destinations, reflecting the growing popularity of sea swimming, cold-water immersion and ou

Motorists and shoppers in Ballymena are being advised to plan ahead today as Mid and East Antrim Pride takes place in the town, bringing temporary road closures, traffic disruption and an increased police presence. The Pride parade is expected to draw participants and supporters into the town centre on Saturday afternoon, June 20, while separate protest activity is also anticipated in parts of Ballymena. Police have said they will have additional officers on duty to help ensu

Thousands of people are expected to descend on Coleraine this Saturday as Armed Forces Day 2026 transforms the town into one of Northern Ireland’s largest civic celebrations, featuring military displays, flypasts, live performances and a packed programme of family entertainment. Around 25,000 visitors are anticipated to attend the event on Saturday 20 June, with organisers describing it as a major opportunity to recognise the service and sacrifice of serving personnel, vetera

Northern Regional College, Ballymena campus Northern Regional College is celebrating a major achievement after being shortlisted in four categories at the 2026 OCN NI Learning Endeavour Awards, recognising both the success of individual learners and the College’s wider contribution to education and skills development across Northern Ireland. The College has been named as a finalist for the coveted Provider of the Year award, while three learners have also secured places on th

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Róis-Máire Donnelly joins Kohen McLaughlin and Eadie McErlean to launch the return of the Summer Rose Fair at Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park. Thousands of roses will burst into bloom as one of Belfast’s most colourful summer events returns next month, bringing three days of live entertainment, family activities, food, music and floral displays to one of the city’s best-loved parks. The annual Summer Rose Fair will take place at Sir Thomas and

As schools prepare to close for the summer holidays, the NSPCC is warning parents and carers to think carefully before leaving children home alone after a significant rise in reports from worried adults across the UK. The children’s charity says its Helpline handled 7,452 contacts between April 2025 and March 2026 from people concerned about children being left alone or unsupervised – an 11% increase on the 6,719 contacts recorded the previous year. The figures have prompted

Motorists and town centre visitors are being advised to expect traffic disruption in Ballymena this Saturday as Mid and East Antrim Pride returns to the town, with road closures, a parade through the town centre and a heightened police presence planned throughout the afternoon. The event is due to take place on Saturday, June 20, with participants assembling in the Waveney Road area from approximately 1pm before the parade begins at 2pm. Police have confirmed that a number of

Muckamore Abbey Hospital A landmark public inquiry into abuse at Muckamore Abbey Hospital has concluded that vulnerable patients were abused, families were repeatedly let down, and a series of systemic failures across Northern Ireland’s health and social care system allowed poor practice to continue unchecked for years. The final report of the Muckamore Abbey Hospital Inquiry, published on Thursday, delivers a stark verdict on the treatment of people with learning disabilitie

Past CAFRE student William Burnett, alongside Nicola, Abigail, Matthew and Callum Turner viewed the dairy calves at Greenmount Campus. Thousands of people stepped behind the gates of CAFRE campuses at Enniskillen and Greenmount over the weekend as this year’s Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend combined hands-on learning, family fun and a closer look at Northern Ireland’s farming and food industries. From primary school pupils meeting farm animals for the first time to families

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon launched the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Performance Improvement Plan 2026/27 Recycling performance has fallen, town centres are perceived to be in decline and almost half of households across Mid and East Antrim are affected by long-term health conditions or disabilities. Those are among the challenges identified by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council as it unveiled a year-ahead improvement plan that includes a maj

Translink’s Ballymena Rail and Bus Centre Northern Ireland’s bus and rail network is preparing for a summer-long showcase of community pride, environmental action and workplace excellence, with several facilities across the Ballymena and East Antrim area among 37 locations entering the 2026 SPIRIT of Translink Facility Awards. Among the local facilities taking part are Ballymena Bus and Rail Centre, Whitehead Station, Larne Buscentre, Larne Town railway station, Greenisland S

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has raised concerns over the potential cost of proposed animal welfare changes that could require pet cats to be microchipped. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is carrying out a public consultation on a series of proposed reforms to animal welfare policy in Northern Ireland. The department is seeking views on measures including increased dog licence fees, the regulation of rescue and rehoming organisation

Pictured at the announcement of Air Ambulance NI’s purchase of its first helicopter and launching the charity's Lift off Together Campaign are: Dr Nigel Ruddell (Medical Director, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service), the first AANI patient, Conor McMullan and Dr David McManus (Chair AANI) with the new helicopter that’s due to take flight as the Air Ambulance NI’s primary helicopter by late Summer 2026. Air Ambulance Northern Ireland is preparing for a major new chapter in its

For many men, ADHD can go unrecognised for years, leaving them struggling with work, relationships, confidence and mental health without fully understanding why. A major event in Belfast this week, organised by ADDNI Children’s Charity, aims to change that by opening up a conversation that organisers say has been overlooked for far too long. Men & ADHD: Let’s Start the Conversation will bring together clinicians, mental health professionals and men with lived experience for a

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon is pictured with Breige Mulholland, Head of Finance and Operations at Air Ambulance NI and Samantha Booysen, Director of Operations at Rural Support from the two charities he has chosen to support during his term in office. Mid and East Antrim’s new Mayor has pledged to use his year in office to support two charities that provide critical help to people facing some of the most challenging moments of their lives. Alderman To