NEWS

TUV leader Jim Allister MP, and party candidate for The Glens, Jamise McIlhagga Saturday 31 October 2026 Former chemistry teacher Jamise McIlhagga has been announced as the Traditional Unionist Voice candidate for The Glens electoral area on Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council. McIlhagga, who works in Jim Allister MP’s constituency office, previously stood for council under the TUV banner in 2014 and is now preparing to contest a seat again. Her selection is the latest a

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Róis-Máire Donnelly, joins Santa’s elf Candy Plum and youngster Dessie to announces plans for Belfast’s Christmas lights switch-on for 2026. Thursday 29 October 2026 Families planning a festive trip to Belfast can secure free tickets for the city's annual Christmas lights switch-on from next Tuesday, 3 November, with two separate ticket releases giving visitors a chance to attend. The popular event returns to Belfast City Hall on Saturday 14

Thursday 29 October 2026 Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has launched a recruitment process to appoint a permanent chief executive, offering an annual salary of up to £133,618 to lead the local authority responsible for Ballymena, Carrickfergus, Larne and surrounding communities. The appointment would bring an end to more than four years of interim leadership under Valerie Watts, who has held the position since June 2022. The permanent, Ballymena-based role carries an adv

Thursday 29 October 2026 A stray dog whose fight for survival set an important precedent for local authorities has celebrated his first year of freedom after a lengthy legal battle that could have ended in his destruction. Max, originally from Dundonald, captured hearts across Northern Ireland and beyond when campaigners fought to save him after he was classified as a banned Pit Bull-type dog. Now living with Molly Piper at her family's Mid Antrim Animal Sanctuary, Max has sp

CGI showing the newly approved hotel in Cushendall Thursday 29 October 2026 A landmark Cushendall hotel that has stood empty for around eight years could finally welcome guests again after councillors approved ambitious plans to transform it into a 38-bedroom destination with a restaurant, bar, function room and gym. Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Planning Committee approved the major redevelopment of the former Glens Hotel on Coast Road on Wednesday evening, 28 O

Monday 26 October 2026 Mid and East Antrim councillors have been given details of millions of pounds spent on road improvements across the borough during the last financial year, alongside plans for further resurfacing, maintenance and street lighting upgrades in 2026/27. Presenting the Department for Infrastructure’s (DfI) annual roads report to the council’s Neighbourhoods and Communities Committee at The Braid in Ballymena last week, Alan Keys, Divisional Roads Manager for

The newly installed commemorative plaque in the Harryville area of Ballymena Monday 26 October 2026 Long before Liam Neeson became Ballymena’s best-known Hollywood star, another local actor was making his mark on the silver screen – and now his remarkable story has been commemorated in the heart of Harryville. A new plaque has been unveiled on Queen Street in honour of Robert Baxter McKenzie, better known as Bob McKenzie, who appeared in more than 300 films and helped establi

Seven Towers Leisure Centre, Ballymena Monday 26 October 2026 Leisure centres in Ballymena, Larne and Carrickfergus could open from 6am until 10pm on weekdays under plans approved by a Mid and East Antrim Borough Council committee to introduce longer, standardised opening hours across all three facilities. The proposals, which would affect Seven Towers Leisure Centre in Ballymena, Larne Leisure Centre and the Amphitheatre in Carrickfergus, are expected to come into operation

The People’s Park, Ballymena Sunday 25 October 2026 Residents across Mid and East Antrim are being urged to avoid parks with heavy tree cover as Storm Boelo brings strong winds, prompting closures, cancelled activities and disruption to council services throughout the borough. People’s Park, Sentry Hill and Memorial Parks in Ballymena are among the locations affected, while several facilities in Larne and Carrickfergus have also been closed or placed under monitoring. Mid and

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon, pictured with members of the Mid and East Antrim Business Stakeholder Network and local business owner, Gina Thompson of Causeway Aromatics, after their recent meeting at Northern Regional College in Ballymena. Friday 23 October 2026 Businesses across Mid and East Antrim have secured more than £384,600 in additional funding through a council-backed support network, helping local firms invest in growth, develop new products

CGI of the approved new Home Bargains store in Antrim Friday 23 October 2026 Plans for a new £8 million Home Bargains store in Antrim have been approved by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Planning Committee, paving the way for a major retail investment expected to create 95 jobs and regenerate the former Townparks Car Sales site. The development, located at the junction of Ballymena Road and Springfarm Industrial Estate, will see the existing site transformed into a

Wednesday 21 October 2026 Plans for a new petrol filling station and retail outlet on Ballycraigy Road in Antrim have been unanimously approved by councillors, with a condition requiring a zebra crossing following concerns over pedestrian safety. Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Planning Committee granted reserved matters approval at its meeting in Mossley Mill on Monday evening (19 October). The development, proposed by Solo Direct Ltd, will include a petrol filling

Wednesday 21 October 2026 Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has invested £1.5 million in new bin lorries and street cleaning equipment, with Ballymena among the towns set to benefit from the fleet upgrade. Six new refuse collection vehicles and three compact street sweepers have been purchased to support waste collection and street cleansing services across the borough. The investment forms part of the Council’s ongoing programme to modernise its fleet, improve the reliabil

Church Street in Ballymena town centre where one of the council’s 19 cameras is located. Tuesday 20 October 2026 Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has confirmed there are 19 CCTV cameras in Ballymena but has refused to reveal how many are currently operational, following questions raised by court evidence that cameras covering part of Church Street were not working. The council disclosed the total number of cameras in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request from

(L-R) Local Inner Wheel Club President Patricia Perry, Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Alderman Tom Gordon, and Inner Wheel District Chairman, Kathy McCaul during their visit to present the framed timeline marking 400 years of Ballymena. Tuesday 20 October 2026 A framed timeline tracing key dates in Ballymena’s development over the past 400 years has been presented to the Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough, Alderman Tom Gordon, by a women’s service club with more than eight de

Sunday 18 October 2026 Plans to open a new ice cream parlour within the historic Clotworthy House at Antrim Castle Gardens have been unanimously approved by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Planning Committee. The proposal will see the building’s existing shop, reception and garden exhibition area converted into an ice cream parlour with an indoor seating area, offering visitors another place to enjoy refreshments at one of the borough’s major tourist attractions. Co

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Tom Gordon Sunday 18 October 2026 Mid and East Antrim Mayor Alderman Tom Gordon has led tributes to people who have died in recent weeks, including victims of road tragedies and two respected figures from Northern Ireland’s arts and storytelling communities. Speaking at a meeting of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council at The Braid in Ballymena on Monday evening, the Mayor expressed his condolences to bereaved families and reflected on th

The Garron Plateau overlooking the Antrim coast Saturday 17 October 2026 Plans for a major wind farm in the Antrim Glens have come under renewed scrutiny after Mid and East Antrim Borough Council maintained its concerns over the development’s potential impact on one of Northern Ireland’s most distinctive landscapes. The proposed Unshinagh Wind Farm, located approximately five miles south-west of Carnlough and five miles west of Glenarm, has been scaled back from 14 turbines t

Independent Ballymena councillor Rodney Quigley Saturday 17 October 2026 Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has been urged to turn its commitment to Ballymena’s recovery into meaningful action, amid questions over funding, progress and support for communities affected by last summer’s riots. Ballymena Independent Councillor Rodney Quigley has called for greater clarity on what has been achieved since the council approved a recovery plan last November, warning that residents

Dr Emily Wray, a Planning Assistant with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Friday 16 October 2026 A Coleraine planning professional is celebrating national recognition after being named among the UK finalists for a prestigious award honouring the next generation of talent in the planning profession. Dr Emily Wray, a Planning Assistant with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, has been shortlisted for the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Young Planner of the Ye