NEWS

DUP North Antrim MLA Paul Frew, and Councillor Reuben Glover at the junction of Dans Road and Galgorm Road DUP MLA Paul Frew has urged authorities to act swiftly to address what he describes as the “much higher than would be expected” number of road traffic accidents on a key stretch of the Galgorm Road in Ballymena. Mr Frew and Alderman Reuben Glover have been approached by numerous concerned residents regarding safety issues on the section between Cambridge Avenue and the D

Project Co-ordinator for Good Morning Ballymena, Debbie Chestnutt Good Morning Ballymena has been awarded the prestigious King’s Award for Voluntary Service — the highest honour given to volunteer groups across the United Kingdom — in recognition of its exceptional contribution to the wellbeing of older and vulnerable people in the local community. The organisation, which provides vital support, reassurance, and companionship to individuals across the Ballymena area, describe

farmdrive co-founders - Gareth Gordon, CTO, and Gareth McDonald, CEO Northern Ireland agri-tech company farmdrive has raised £1 million in pre-seed investment to drive international growth of its pioneering livestock data and supply chain platform. The funding round was led by TechStart Ventures and Ascension Ventures, with participation from Angel Invest, and will support product development, team expansion, and entry into new markets across the UK and Europe. Founded in 202

Glengormley Cenotaph Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has unanimously condemned the recent desecration of the Glengormley Cenotaph, describing the incident as an attack on remembrance and community respect. The motion, proposed by Councillor Robert Foster (UUP) and seconded by Alderman Mark Cosgrove (UUP) , was passed at the Full Council meeting on Monday 27 October 2025. It stated: “That this chamber condemns the desecration of the Glengormley Cenotaph and calls upon

PSNI Chief Inspector Siobhan Watt, PCSP Vice Chair Sharon Maxwell, PCSP Chair Councillor Lauren Gray, District Electoral Area Manager Ballymena and Lead for PCSP Jane Dunlop, and NIFRS Station Commander Johnston Birrell. (Image: Steven McAuley / McAuley Multimedia) Mid and East Antrim Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) is joining forces with the PSNI and Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) to encourage everyone to play their part in improving road

Church Street, Ballymena Mid and East Antrim’s town centres are set to shine even brighter this Christmas thanks to a £150,000 investment in festive lighting announced by Communities Minister Gordon Lyons. The Department for Communities is providing £135,000, with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council contributing an additional £15,000 towards the new Festive Lighting Scheme. The funding will support the installation of new and enhanced seasonal lighting across Ballymena, Larne

Pictured at the opening of the Infinity Room are Noah’s parents Corrina and Johnny McAleese, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Leona Laverty, Bereavement Co-Ordinator, Northern Trust. A new bereavement support space, created in memory of a Dunloy toddler who tragically lost his life in a farming accident, has officially opened at Causeway Hospital. The Infinity Room, named in honour of two-year-old Noah McAleese and his love of Toy Story, was opened this week by Noah’s parents

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council is set to explore the possibility of using silent fireworks or drone shows during future celebrations in the borough. At November’s Environmental Services Committee meeting, members agreed that potential changes to council-organised firework displays should be discussed at a future meeting of the Leisure and Development Committee. TUV Councillor Jonathan McAuley said he had received correspondence from several constituents in the week

The Department of Education has published new School Uniform Guidelines to help schools across Northern Ireland prepare for upcoming statutory requirements expected to take effect from the 2026/27 academic year. The move follows the passage of the School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill, which cleared its Final Stage in the Northern Ireland Assembly on 13 October and will become law once it receives Royal Assent. Education Minister Paul Givan confirmed that the guid

The British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland (BHF NI) is calling on the Ballymena community to don their elf hats and lend an “elfing” hand in their local charity shop this festive season. As Christmas approaches, the charity is seeking volunteers – or “elves” – to help bring festive cheer while supporting life-saving heart research. From decorating the shop and sorting donations to chatting with customers, volunteers can make a real difference in their local community this

Ballymena is set to host a special performance of Handel’s iconic masterpiece, Messiah, performed with authentic period instruments later this month. Taking place in St Patrick’s Church, Ballymena, on Friday 28 November at 7:00pm, the concert will feature the Ulster Consort – Northern Ireland’s newest professional vocal ensemble – in an intimate, historically informed performance that echoes the sound of Handel’s original debut in Dublin in 1742. The Ulster Consort will prese

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has secured funding from The Executive Office to support community relations initiatives following recent public disorder in Ballymena and Larne. According to the council’s funding application , “civil unrest and public disorder occurred in the Ballymena and Larne areas following a peaceful protest which was arranged after an alleged attack on a young girl by members of a minority community. The protest focused on the message of ‘Ending Vio

The Ballymena NI Hospice Support Group is inviting everyone to get into the festive spirit at their 37th Annual Christmas Fair, taking place at Tullyglass House Hotel on Wednesday 12 November 2025 from 11:00am to 7:00pm. Admission is £5 at the door, with all proceeds going to the Northern Ireland Hospice . Organisers have ensured ample parking at Tullyglass, with additional overflow spaces available at Wellington Presbyterian Church nearby. This much-loved event has become a

A County Antrim charity supporting children with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus has unveiled a groundbreaking all-terrain mobility wheelchair — the first of its kind in Northern Ireland. Love Hope & Faith has announced the arrival of the Quadrix Watts E3, a specialist mobility innovation designed to offer greater freedom and accessibility for children and families living with lifelong conditions. Thanks to £20,000 in funding from The National Lottery Community Fund Northern

The Joyce on display Loughshore Park, Antrim Antrim and Newtownabbey councillors have agreed to work with a group of veterans to help maintain a historic wartime boat that has been returned to the borough. The Joyce — a 40-foot torpedo retrieval vessel which operated on Lough Neagh during the Second World War — is now on display beside The Gateway Visitor Centre at Antrim’s Lough Shore. The restored craft was unveiled earlier this year as part of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borou

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford, officially launches the Borough's Christmas celebrations, marking the start of the festive season. A Season of Christmas Magic Coming to Mid and East Antrim Mid and East Antrim Borough is set to sparkle this festive season, with a packed programme of Christmas lights switch-ons, parades, markets, and family entertainment bringing festive cheer to towns and villages across the borough. The celebrations begin this Saturd

(L-R) Robin Winsby, Translink Project Manager, John Thompson, Translink Head of Safety and Corporate Responsibility,  Michael Allen, Community Resuscitation Team Manager, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and Fearghal McKinney, Head of British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland.   Translink has announced a major life-saving initiative that will see Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) installed across its entire NI Railways train fleet by the end of December 2025. The mov

An offensive racial slur daubed on the railway bridge on the Toome Road, Ballymena. Editor’s note: This article contains images of racist graffiti which has been blurred to obscure offensive language. It is included solely to illustrate the location and nature of the incident reported. Alliance MLA for North Antrim, Sian Mulholland, has issued a strong condemnation after racist and hateful graffiti, including a swastika and racial slurs, was discovered on a bridge over Toome

North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows and Constituency Manager Colin Crawford with members of Ballymena Squash Club North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows has given his backing to Ballymena Squash Club’s campaign to “Free Court 3” and secure the long-term future of squash in the town. Mr Burrows met with members of the recently formed club, which has grown rapidly since its launch in January 2024, now boasting a membership of 40 enthusiastic players. “I was delighted to meet with members of Ba

A touching tribute to those who served their country is on display at St Colmanell’s Parish Church, Ahoghill, where a Remembrance Exhibition is running until Tuesday 11 November 2025. The exhibition has been lovingly created by the church family, featuring hundreds of poppies, wall hangings, floral arrangements, wartime artefacts, secret trench diaries, and stories of local people and unsung heroes. Visitors can explore a deeply personal collection of displays that not only c