NEWS

Linda McMillan, Chief People Officer for Fibrus Group with Ronan Conlon, Founder of FitMinds Coach, and FitMinds programme participants. Children of all abilities across Northern Ireland are set to take part in a major programme of inclusive summer activity camps after FitMinds Coach announced plans to welcome more than 1,000 young children to sessions across 20 locations this summer. The one-day camps, designed for children aged three to six, will run throughout July and Au

Ballymena United emerged among the standout winners as more than 500 young footballers and over 2,000 spectators packed into Cookstown for a dramatic NIYFA Subway Cup Finals Day celebrating the very best of youth football across Northern Ireland. The Ballymena club secured silverware in both the Boys’ and Girls’ competitions, with the Boys’ Under-12 side lifting the Cup title after an extra-time victory over Glenavon, while Ballymena United’s girls edged a tense penalty shoot

Launching the Mid and East Antrim Construction and Scaffolding Academy are: (l-r) Amanda Crossen, Project Manager at CITBNI); Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford; Charlene Earley from Workforce Training) and Steven Douglas of 7 Towers Scaffolding. A new Construction and Scaffolding Academy aimed at helping local people into employment has opened for applications across Mid and East Antrim, offering participants industry-recognised qualifications, practic

Georgia Gamble is a Senior Community Nurse with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, based between the Country Medical Centre in Armoy and Bushmills Health Centre as part of the Moyle Rural District Nursing Team. A Northern Trust community nurse has spoken about the importance of compassionate care, meaningful relationships and patient advocacy ahead of International Nurses Day next week. Georgia Gamble, a Senior Community Nurse with the Northern Health and Social Care

Pictured L-R are: Anna Duff, Dementia NI member; Conor Lawell, Empowerment Facilitator at Dementia NI; Dr Jane Luega from Queen's University Belfast; Dr Clara Neary from Atlantic Technological University and Queen’s University Belfast; Paul McCooey, Dementia NI member; and Ciarda Martin-Joyce, Empowerment Facilitator at Dementia NI. A new initiative launched by Queen’s University Belfast and Dementia NI is aiming to help people living with dementia rediscover the joy of read

Aerial visual of proposed IFA national football centre outside Ballymena A planning application has been lodged with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for the development of a proposed national football centre outside Ballymena. The proposal includes six football pitches — five outdoor and one indoor — with three hybrid surfaces and three artificial surfaces. One pitch is earmarked as a community pitch, while three pitches would be floodlit. The plans also include three spe

Retired Baptist pastor Clive Johnston A retired Baptist pastor has been convicted under Northern Ireland’s abortion buffer zone laws after preaching on John 3:16 near Causeway Hospital in Coleraine — prompting fierce criticism from the Traditional Unionist Voice, which described the judgement as a “chilling” attack on freedom of speech and religion. Pastor Clive Johnston, 78, was found guilty of two charges under the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act after holding an

Ballymena Show is set to return later this month with organisers promising a major refresh aimed at broadening the appeal of one of the area’s best-known agricultural events. The annual show will take place on Saturday 30 May 2026 at Ballymena Livestock Market, bringing together farming traditions, local food, family entertainment, and new attractions under a renewed “Farming, Food and Family” vision. Gates will open at 9:00am, with showing beginning from 10:00am, as visitors

Volunteer Coordinator Sharon with volunteers, Helen and Clodagh and Macmillan Cancer Support’s Chief Executive Gemma Peters at the awards ceremony Four volunteers who help families through the heartbreak of losing a loved one to cancer at Antrim Hospital have been recognised for the compassion and comfort they provide during some of life’s most difficult moments. The Macmillan Unit Bereavement Call Service team at Antrim Hospital were named runners up in the Thanks To You Awa

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick promotes her Party in the Parterre at Antrim Castle Gardens in aid of her chosen charities. Families across the borough are being invited to Antrim Castle Gardens later this month as the Mayor’s Party in the Parterre returns with an afternoon packed full of entertainment, activities and fundraising for local charities. The community event will take place on Saturday 30 May from 1pm to 4pm in the scenic surrounding

Northern Ireland Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots MLA launching the Assembly’s engagement events at the 2026 Balmoral Show. The Northern Ireland Assembly is set to bring major public policy discussions directly to thousands of visitors at the Balmoral Show next week, with Assembly committees launching a series of engagement sessions on issues ranging from health and renewable energy to marriage law and the Windsor Framework. The initiative will see Assembly Members and scrutiny c

Brothers and keen farmers, Adam and Matthew, join Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS) operations director, Rhonda Geary as they count down to this year's show and encourage visitors to travel by bus or train, with convenient, reliable and hassle-free services available throughout the event. Northern Ireland’s biggest celebration of farming, food and rural life is set to return next week, with thousands expected to descend on the Eikon Exhibition Centre for the 2026 Balm

Residents across the Borough can pick up a free bag of peat-free compost this week as Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council launches a recycling reward initiative to mark International Compost Awareness Week 2026. From Monday 4 May until Saturday 9 May, households visiting any of the Council’s five Household Recycling Centres will be eligible to receive one complimentary bag of compost while stocks last. The offer is available to residents bringing recyclable items includin

A North Antrim MLA has highlighted the vital role of an early years service in Ballymena after seeing first-hand how it is supporting young children and families across the area. Visit shines light on frontline support for families Jon Burrows visited Ballymena and Little Steps Antrim SureStart on the Doury Road, where he met staff, parents and children and observed a range of programmes currently being delivered on the ground. The service, operated by Action for Children, wo

Mayor Jackson Minford is pictured with Ballymena businessmen (L-R) William Calderwood of Arbuckle and Calderwood; Richard McLaughlin of Wyse Byse; James McNeill of James McNeill Hardware; Eugene Diamond of Diamonds Newsagents; and Thomas McKillen of McKillens. Retailers whose combined service spans more than three centuries have been recognised at a special mayoral reception celebrating Ballymena’s rich trading history. Honouring decades of local service The event, held at Th

The Committee and Volunteers from Sensory Kids A volunteer-led organisation supporting children, adults and families in Co Antrim has received the highest honour of its kind in the UK, recognising years of life-changing work for people with disabilities. Sensory Kids has been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service, a prestigious national recognition celebrating the impact of its inclusive programmes and community support. Prestigious honour presented at special ceremo

Students from Sead the Season at Cullybackey College celebrating being named ‘Company of the Year’ at the annual Young Enterprise NI Awards held in Belfast City Hall. Students from Cullybackey College have secured one of Northern Ireland’s top young enterprise honours after their student-run business was crowned ‘Company of the Year’ at a major awards ceremony in Belfast. The team behind Seed the Season impressed judges with a sustainability-focused business supplying seasona

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons pictured with Michael McDonnell, Choice Group Chief Executive; Lyndsay Carr and two of her children Jessica and Luke; and Nicole Lappin, Chair, Northern Ireland Housing Executive. A major increase in social housing delivery across Northern Ireland has been confirmed, with 1,765 new homes started in the past year following record levels of investment. The £210 million building programme for 2025/26 marks a significant step up in supply, delive

Members of the Northern Trust’s Palliative Care and Learning Disability Working Group pictured at an event to mark the launch of the bereavement information for adults with a learning disability. Talking about death remains one of life’s most avoided conversations—but a major regional campaign this week is aiming to change that, with new support, resources, and community events rolled out across the Northern Trust area to help people face it with greater confidence and compas

Young Ballymena woman Ellen Macdonald running the London Marathon A young woman from Ballymena has turned personal heartbreak into powerful purpose, completing the London Marathon in memory of her father while raising thousands of pounds for charity. Ellen Macdonald, a former pupil of Ballymena Academy, crossed the finish line on 26 April in honour of her dad, Ewan Macdonald, and her ongoing efforts have now helped raise nearly £8,000 for Pancreatic Cancer UK. Running through