NEWS

Audiences are being invited to step into the past and explore shared cultural journeys through a new heritage programme at The Old Courthouse Theatre, presented by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council. Titled Journeys , the series brings together live performance, music and storytelling to reflect on culture, place and movement through time, offering a varied programme designed to resonate with audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Counci

North Antrim TUV MLA Timothy Gaston has raised profound concerns about the state of Northern Ireland’s health service, using a tragic local case to highlight what he described as systemic failures in ambulance response policy. Speaking in the Assembly on Tuesday, January 20, Mr Gaston said the Department of Health had become “by far the most frustrating Department” he had dealt with during his first 19 months as an MLA, accusing it of ignoring Assembly contributions, delayi

Rising rents in Ballymena and across Northern Ireland are being fuelled by a chronic lack of housing supply, failures in waste water infrastructure and the use of taxpayer-funded accommodation for asylum seekers, North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston has claimed. Speaking during an Assembly debate on housing affordability on Monday, January 19, Mr Gaston said pressures being felt acutely in Ballymena and surrounding areas were the result of structural failures that have been ignor

Antrim Area Hospital Emergency Department Five beds were placed adjacent to fire safety doors at Antrim Hospital as a “last resort” to ease pressure in the emergency department, the Northern Health and Social Care Trust board has been told. Speaking at a meeting of the Trust board at Antrim Hospital on Thursday (22 January), Gillian Traub, director of operations , said additional bed capacity had to be “created”. She explained that five in-patient spaces were identified, enab

North Antrim MLA Sian Mulholland Ulster Scots language classes are set to begin in Armoy later this month, with North Antrim MLA Sian Mulholland welcoming the initiative as a meaningful celebration of local culture, heritage and community identity. The free course, titled Dinnae houl yer wheest! , is being delivered by the Ulster Scots Agency and will commence on Thursday 29 January 2026, running for six weeks at the Tilly Molloy Centre in Armoy. Classes will take place week

Waterstone’s Ballymena has revealed its latest Top 10 bestselling books, with psychological thrillers, literary fiction and popular self-help titles continuing to dominate readers’ choices as January draws to a close. Freida McFadden claims three places in this week’s chart, reflecting sustained local demand for fast-paced, twist-heavy thrillers, while acclaimed novels by Roisín O’Donnell and Maggie O’Farrell also feature strongly. This week’s Top 10 bestselling books 1. The

Back in the Game Ballymena representatives Ian Getty (right) and Gary McFetridge (left with Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Councillor Jackson Minford Back in the Game Ballymena has underlined the importance of community connection and men’s mental wellbeing after attending a major wellbeing event in Ballymena. The local group was invited to take part in the annual ‘Wellbeing Monday’ event, hosted by Radius and Triangle Housing Associations, working in partnership with Turning P

Slew of offences uncovered when Nissan Micra vehicle stopped by PSNI Road Policing Interceptors in Ballymena town centre A routine stop by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Road Policing Interceptors has uncovered a catalogue of alleged motoring offences after officers intercepted a Nissan Micra in the Ballymena area late last night (Friday 23 January). Police say the driver appeared to be missing several of the most basic legal requirements for being behind the w

Northern Ireland is set to face a spell of unsettled weather over the coming days, with two yellow weather warnings for rain issued amid concerns about localised flooding, difficult travel conditions and further disruption. The first warning comes into effect from 18: 00 on Saturday 24 January until 09:00 on Sunday 25 January , as a slow-moving area of low pressure brings a prolonged period of rain across the region overnight. A band of rain and showers, heavy at times, is ex

Siblings Christopher, Eeyore and Tigger, along with Robin (second left) was the first dog to be adopted from Dogs Trust Ballymena in 2026 Dogs Trust Ballymena has begun 2026 with renewed determination to help more dogs find loving, permanent homes, after successfully rehoming 455 dogs during 2025. With demand for kennel spaces remaining high, the charity is encouraging people from across Northern Ireland to visit its Ballymena rehoming centre, where there are currently 31 dog

Inset: Interim chief executive of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Valerie Watts The interim chief executive of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has indicated the local authority previously faced the prospect of a “hefty fine” over delays in responding to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests. Speaking at a recent meeting of the borough council, Valerie Watts told members the council’s FOI performance had been “lagging behind” in the past. During discussion of the

Norman McBurney OBE at the renamed home stand in the main arena at Ballymena Showgrounds, in his honour. The home stand at Ballymena Showgrounds has been officially renamed the Norman McBurney OBE Stand, marking a significant civic tribute to one of Mid and East Antrim’s most influential business and sporting figures. The formal naming ceremony took place on Thursday, 23 January 2026, celebrating the lifetime contribution of the Co Antrim businessman whose impact has spanned

Helping to launch the new initiatives alongside Titanic Belfast’s Head of Operations, Paula Bradley is Niamh Givens. Titanic Belfast has unveiled a range of new accessibility initiatives aimed at ensuring every visitor can enjoy the world-renowned attraction in a comfortable, welcoming and inclusive environment. The new measures include the introduction of Sensory Backpacks and Quiet Sessions, further strengthening the attraction’s commitment to accessibility and inclusion fo

Planning permission has been approved for the construction of a £3.5 million cancer support centre at Antrim Hospital, members of the Northern Health and Social Care Trust board have been told. Paddy Graffin, the Northern Trust’s Divisional Director of Infrastructure, informed members at a meeting held at Antrim Hospital on Thursday that permission has been granted by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council for the proposed new facility. The centre is being funded through a p

Robin Swann MP South Antrim MP Robin Swann has called on Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council to take a stronger and more ambitious lead in protecting the Common Swift, warning that continued habitat loss is contributing to a worrying decline in the species across Northern Ireland. The Common Swift, designated the borough’s official ‘Bird of the Borough’ in 2015, is a cavity-dwelling bird that depends on small gaps in older buildings for nesting. However, modern renovatio

Inset: Cairndhu House, Larne Police in Larne have issued a public safety warning following a rise in reports of people entering derelict and abandoned buildings across the district, highlighting the serious risks associated with so-called “urban exploring”. Officers say the trend, which often involves individuals accessing disused industrial sites, vacant homes or former commercial premises, can carry life-threatening dangers and potential legal consequences. Larne Neighbourh

Ballymena Elim Church is set to host a special evening of reflection and inspiration this weekend as former Ballymena United and Crusaders manager Roy Walker shares his life story with the local community. The latest instalment of the church’s Life Stories series will take place on Sunday 25 January at 6:30pm , offering the opportunity to hear first-hand from one of Northern Ireland’s most recognisable sporting figures. Roy Walker is widely known across Northern Ireland’s spo

The site of the approved housing development in Ballymena A planning application has been submitted seeking non-material amendments to a previously approved housing development at Crebilly Road in Ballymena. The proposal relates to a residential scheme that received planning approval from Mid and East Antrim Borough Council in June 2021 for the redevelopment of a 1.3 acre site at 115 Crebilly Road, opposite the Ballykeel 2 estate. The approved development consists of 16 famil

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford pictured with a group of students participating in the Activate Your Curiosity event More than 400 young people from across Northern Ireland were given a hands-on insight into the world of science, technology, engineering, arts and maths (STEAM) as the flagship Activate Your Curiosity (AYC) event returned to Ballymena. The fourth AYC event took place at The Braid, Ballymena, on Tuesday 20 January, welcoming Year 10 stud

Judy Nelson (Lifeboat Press Officer RNLI), John Moore (Author), Jane Booth (General Manager White House), Bob Milton (Chair Fundraising team RNLI), Val McDonald (chair of REACH). A new book celebrating the rich social history of Portrush has proved a remarkable success, selling out within weeks of its launch and raising £1,600 for two much-loved local charities. Portrush Reflections, written by local author John Moore, was launched on 26 November last year and had completely