NEWS

Dog owners visiting Northern Ireland’s most scenic outdoor locations are being urged to keep their pets firmly on leads, as NI Water warns that failing to do so could put livestock, wildlife, and livelihoods at serious risk - and may result in fines of up to £1,000. With warmer weather drawing increasing numbers of visitors to beauty spots across the region, the public body has issued a clear message: keep your dog on the lead, whatever their breed. Spring brings heightened r

Pictured is the Bluebell Arts Project, one of last year's grant recipients Arts organisations and creative groups across Northern Ireland have been given a fresh opportunity to secure significant funding, with grants of up to £75,000 now available to support projects aimed at growing and diversifying participation in the arts. The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has officially opened applications for its National Lottery Project Funding programme, offering awards ranging fro

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

Young people across the UK are facing mounting pressure ahead of GCSE and A-Level exams, with new figures revealing the scale of stress being carried into exam season. Childline delivered 1,679 counselling sessions linked to exam and revision stress between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026, highlighting a sustained demand for support as students struggle to cope with expectations, workload and anxiety. The figures show a sharp peak in May, coinciding with the start of exams, wh

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

Hannah Graham, Zarah Hutchinson, Lee Kane, Clare Doherty and Katherine Murphy led the BEAM Dawn Walk 2025, which saw over 250 participants walk through Ballymoney as the sun was rising, promoting positive mental health messages. A Ballymoney group focused on promoting positive mental health is continuing its 2026 programme with the return of its Dawn Walk and a series of community engagement efforts designed to strengthen connection, wellbeing and civic pride. BEAM – Building

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

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford and Maureen Pimley, Chairperson of the Islandmagee Community Development Association with representatives from the Islandmagee Community Gardening Group and the Islandmagee Community Fridge. A memorial stone marking the last witch trial on the island of Ireland has been given a new home in a community garden on the Islandmagee Peninsula, placing a centuries-old story at the heart of a modern space focused on wellbeing,

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

Minister Mike Nesbitt with the Public Health Agency Partnership and Engagement team at the ‘This is our health’ roadshow on Wednesday morning. A major new public engagement programme aimed at reshaping how health and social care operates in Northern Ireland has been launched, with people being asked to directly influence what services should provide — and what role individuals themselves can play in protecting them. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt formally launched the large-sca

A new charitable Trust Fund has been established in memory of Lynda Bentham, aiming to support families navigating the realities of Multiple Sclerosis by helping them access practical support and create meaningful shared experiences. Lynda, who passed away in 2024 due to complications from Multiple Sclerosis, is remembered for her deep love of life, people, music, sport and travel. Sunshine holidays held a special place in her life, but as her condition progressed, finding su

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

A sweeping new law designed to phase out smoking among future generations has been enacted, marking what health leaders and charities describe as a decisive shift towards prevention and long-term public health protection in Northern Ireland. The Tobacco and Vapes Act, which received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026, will make it illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009—creating what has been described as the UK’s first “smoke-free generation”. T

Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones and Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins at a press conference in Police Headquarters A devastating weekend on Northern Ireland’s roads has left five people dead in the space of just 24 hours, pushing this year’s total fatalities to 29—more than double the figure recorded at the same stage in 2025. The stark rise has prompted an urgent joint appeal from the Police Service of Northern Ireland and Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins, who w

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

Cancer patients in Northern Ireland are significantly less likely to survive if their illness is first detected during an emergency hospital admission rather than through planned referral routes, according to newly released data covering diagnoses between 2018 and 2022. Figures published today (Wednesday 29 April 2026) by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry at Queen’s University Belfast show stark differences in survival outcomes depending on how patients enter the healthcar