NEWS

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

Pictured (L-R) are Nicole Ross, Business Development Manager and Chief Financial Officer, Ross Companies, Iain Joannides, Head of Regional Business for the Eastern Region, Invest NI and William Ross, Managing Director, Ross Companies Thursday 29 October 2026 A Ballymena engineering manufacturer is investing £3.6 million in a major expansion that will create 25 new jobs, almost double its workforce and support further growth across Great Britain and Ireland. Ross Companies, wh

Thursday 29 October 2026 Detectives are appealing for witnesses after two masked men entered a house in Ballyclare and threatened a resident during a burglary on Wednesday evening (28 October). The incident happened in the Springhill Meadows area, with police receiving a report at approximately 9.20pm. One of the intruders may have been armed with a knife. The men searched the property before fleeing empty-handed, leaving the resident badly shaken but physically unharmed. Mas

(L-R) Jonathan Mitchell, co-founder of Our Brewery and Michael Crealey, Lead Packaged Buying Manager at Tesco Northern Ireland, toast to the awarded Our Brewery range available at selected Tesco stores across NI. Wednesday 28 October 2026 An award-winning family-run brewery from Randalstown has expanded its presence on Tesco shelves across Northern Ireland, with two additional beers joining its range at 28 stores, including Ballymena, Antrim, Coleraine and Carrickfergus. Our

Wednesday 28 October 2026 Patients across Ballymena and the wider Northern Trust area could receive more treatment at home and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions this winter, as health authorities prepare for another challenging period for emergency departments, hospital beds and community services. New winter surge plans published across Northern Ireland set out measures to improve patient care, reduce ambulance handover delays and help medically fit patients leave hospit

Missing man last seen in Belfast: 32-year-old David Campbell Wednesday 28 October 2026 Police are appealing for help in locating 32-year-old David Campbell from Belfast amid growing concerns for his welfare, six days after he was last seen. David was last seen at the Mater Hospital in north Belfast during the early hours of Thursday 22 October. Police believe he could have travelled anywhere in Northern Ireland and are urging the public to help find him. Description of missin

County Hall, Ballymena Wednesday 28 October 2026 Up to £110,000 is expected to be spent preparing County Hall in Ballymena to accommodate civil servants temporarily, even though the government plans to dispose of the building once a major refurbishment of Academy House is completed. The Department of Finance wants to modernise Academy House on Broughshane Street and make it the long-term base for civil servants currently working across both Ballymena government buildings. How

Pictured (L–R): Kelly Kerr (NHSCT), Gillian Steele (NHSCT), Stephen McCartney (NRC) and Christopher Hillcox (EA). Wednesday 28 October 2026 Parents and carers of autistic people gathered at Northern Regional College’s Ballymena campus for a conference aimed at making it easier for families to access support, plan for the future and look after their own wellbeing. Held on Friday 23 October, the Supporting Autism Together conference brought education, healthcare and support pro

Tuesday 27 October 2026 Northern Ireland households have an average of just £137 a week remaining after taxes and essential bills, the lowest spending power anywhere in the UK, as rising fuel costs place renewed pressure on family finances. New figures from Asda’s October 2026 Income Tracker reveal that liquid fuel prices have increased by 104.9% in the year to September, adding to the financial pressures facing households heavily dependent on oil heating. Despite rising inco

Pictured are the senior leadership team at Rapid. From left to right: Kathryn McClenaghan, Creative Director; James Scullion, Founder and Owner; and Kevin Doran, Managing Director. Tuesday 27 October 2026 A creative and digital marketing agency founded by Ballymena-born entrepreneur James Scullion is expanding its team and setting its sights on further growth after securing major contracts with some of Northern Ireland’s best-known organisations. Belfast-based Rapid Agency ha

Debbie Chestnut of Good Morning Ballymena receives the Social Enterprise of the Year Award from James Perry MBE of the Ballymena Business Centre. Tuesday 27 October 2026 A Ballymena organisation helping older people overcome loneliness and isolation has been recognised for its contribution to the local community, winning the Best Social Enterprise Award at the 2026 Ballymena Business Awards. Good Morning Ballymena received the award, sponsored by Ballymena Business Centre, at

Willie Gregg presents a cheque to Stephen Watson from the NI Children's Kidney Fund. The presentation coincided with the seventh anniversary of Stephen's kidney transplant. Tuesday 27 October 2026 Three Northern Ireland charities supporting children with serious illnesses, families facing difficult circumstances and people experiencing mental health challenges have benefited from the generosity of those who supported Wee Joan’s Dog Walk. Willie Gregg presented cheques to repr

Local neighbourhood policing teams and community representatives who attended the recent event at Coleraine Police Station Tuesday 27 October 2026 Neighbourhood policing teams across Causeway Coast and Glens have been strengthened with additional officers, as police seek to increase their visibility in local communities and improve how residents’ concerns are addressed. The increased staffing was highlighted at a Meet the Teams event at Coleraine Police Station on Friday 16 O

Tuesday 27 October 2026 Two beloved Trumpeter swans and more than ten ducks have died following a serious oil contamination incident at Broughshane Waterfowl Park, leaving volunteers devastated as they fight to save the remaining affected birds. The Broughshane Environment, Waterfowl and Wildlife Trust (BEWWT) confirmed the losses on Monday (26 October), four days after heating oil entered the park's waters following what the charity described as an act of vandalism involving

(Front row): Peter Houston, President Ballymena Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gemma Houston, Wilma Gordon Lady Mayoress, Alderman Thomas Gordon Mayor Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and Adrienne Wiggins. (Back row): Ryan Black and Ronan Moore, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Carol Wilson, Honorary Secretary Ballymena Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Pete Snodden, Cool FM, Tom Wiggins, Chief Executive, Ballymena Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Alan Stewart,

Tuesday 27 October 2026 A man has been taken to hospital after being beaten with iron bars and shot in the leg by masked men who entered a house in Dervock during the early hours of Tuesday morning (27 October). Police said four masked men, one armed with a handgun and the other three carrying iron bars, entered a property in the Stratham View area shortly before the incident was reported at 12.30am. The victim was struck on the head and arms with the bars before being shot i

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