NEWS

Nerell Browne and Emily Morgan A charity-funded support programme is helping the Northern Health and Social Care Trust retain more newly qualified nurses as they make the often-challenging transition into frontline healthcare roles. Funded through the Trust’s Charitable Trust Funds, the initiative has improved support for newly registered nurses working across Medicine and Emergency Medicine services, with the Trust reporting better retention rates and increased confidence am

Andrew Todd with the RNLI lifeguard team at Whiterocks Beach A father who was rescued alongside his two children after being caught in a powerful rip current at Whiterocks Beach, Portrush, has returned to thank the RNLI as the charity marks 25 years of its lifeguard service. The visit coincides with International Lifeguard Appreciation Day on Friday, 31 July, with the RNLI paying tribute to the lifeguards who patrol beaches across the UK and Ireland and highlighting the role

David Kelly flew to his first ever ITRC win on the Circuit of Ireland. (PHOTO: D Harrigan Images) The countdown is on to one of Northern Ireland’s biggest motorsport weekends, with the 50th Modern Tyres Ulster Rally set to bring thousands of competitors, fans and visitors to Ballymena and across County Antrim on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 August. The landmark anniversary event will feature many of the UK’s and Ireland’s leading rally drivers, iconic closed-road stages through no

Thomas Haighton, manager of Hawthorns Adult Centre in Carrickfergus, pictured with service users Julia, Lauren and Roy who between them have accumulated almost 150 years of attendance at the centre. Five decades of friendship, opportunity and inclusion were celebrated this week as Hawthorns Adult Centre in Carrickfergus marked its 50th anniversary with service users, families and staff reflecting on a remarkable journey. The centre, which first opened in July 1976, has suppor

CGI showing elevations of approved plans to create 19 town centre apartments at a historic former bank building in Ballymena. Planning permission has been granted to transform a historic former bank building in Ballymena town centre into 19 apartments. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Planning Committee approved the application at a meeting in The Braid on Thursday morning. The proposal will see the partial demolition of the building at 97 Mill Street, alongside its ada

Grove Road, Ballymena Drivers in Ballymena are being warned to expect up to eight weeks of disruption as a £627,000 resurfacing scheme gets under way on Grove Road next month. The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has confirmed that resurfacing work on the C109 Grove Roadwill begin on Monday 10 August, with the project expected to continue until Wednesday 7 October, subject to weather conditions. What road is affected? The £627,000 investment will see 2.17 kilometres of Gro

A motorcyclist has been taken to hospital after a single-vehicle collision on the Coast Road in Glenarm on Wednesday night. Emergency services were called to the scene at around 9.55pm following reports of the crash in the Glenarm area. Police said the rider, a man, was injured in the collision and was taken to hospital for treatment. His condition has not been disclosed. Appeal for witnesses Officers are now appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision, or who may have c

One of London’s famous red Routemaster buses undergoing extensive refurbishment by Ballymena headquartered Wrightbus London’s famous red Routemaster buses are being given a new lease of life through a major refurbishment programme led by Ballymena-based bus manufacturer Wrightbus. The latest bus to complete the programme has returned to passenger service after a comprehensive overhaul, with dozens more set to follow over the coming year as part of a project designed to extend

Ulster Unionist Party Leader and North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows The sentence imposed on a former dementia care worker convicted of abusing vulnerable patients cannot be referred to the Court of Appeal for review under current Northern Ireland law, the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) has confirmed. The update has prompted Ulster Unionist Party Leader and North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows to call for changes to sentencing laws and the powers available to the Director of Public Prosec

Young gymnasts from Elite Gymnastics Academy in Toomebridge, Katie DeNiro and Emily Rose McGuckin Young gymnasts from a Co Antrim club will make up a significant part of the Northern Ireland team at this year’s National Gymnastics League National Finals after three more athletes secured selection. Anabel McMurray, Katie DeNiro and Emily Rose McGuckin, all from Elite Gymnastics Academy in Toomebridge, have been chosen to represent Northern Ireland at the British Gymnastics-bac

Photo: D Harrigan Images Ballymena will become the centre of Northern Ireland motorsport next week as the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally celebrates its 50th anniversary with a new home and the return of some of the country’s most famous stages. For the first time in seven years, the rally has moved north from Newry, with Ballymena Showgrounds serving as the hub for the landmark event on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 August. The venue will host Rally HQ, the service park, scrutiny, media

Pictured at an event in the Great Hall, Parliament Buildings to mark Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026were the Assembly Speaker, Edwin Poots MLA with dancer Laila Hendrick and musicians Riley McAuley and Michael McErlane; Labhrás Ó Murchú, Director General of Comhaltas Ceóltóirí Eireann and Attracta Ní Bhrádaigh, President of Comhaltas Ceóltóirí Eireann. Traditional music and dance from across Northern Ireland took centre stage at Parliament Buildings on Wednesday as the Norther

A leading County Armagh historian will visit Broughshane this week to give a public presentation examining one of the most significant events in Irish and British history ahead of the annual Relief of Derry commemorations next month. The Broughshane Branch of the Apprentice Boys of Derry is hosting historian Quincey Dougan for an evening exploring the Siege of Derry and the history of the Apprentice Boys, with the talk taking place on Wednesday 29 July at Broughshane Orange H

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon joins Walk Leaders from Ballycarry who are bringing neighbours together through walking as part of the new Walking for All initiative in the area. A community walking group in Ballycarry has quickly grown into one of the largest in Mid and East Antrim, with organisers now encouraging more people to lace up their walking shoes and get involved. Since launching earlier this year, the Ballycarry Walking Group has attracted aro

Five newly trained volunteer Walk Leaders are set to help more people in Cushendall enjoy free weekly community walks aimed at improving health, wellbeing and social connection. The volunteers, all members of the Cushendall Development Group, recently completed Walk Leader training and will now support the local Walking for All group, which meets every Tuesday at 1pm. The initiative is designed to encourage people of all ages and abilities to get outdoors, enjoy gentle exerci

Motorists in the Larne area are being warned to expect significant disruption from next week as a major £854,000 road resurfacing project gets underway, bringing a continuous five-week closure to part of the B99 Waterfall Road and Watch Hill Road. The Department for Infrastructure scheme will resurface almost 3km of road between the Ballyrickard Road/Waterfall Road junction and the New Line junction, with work due to begin on Monday 3 August. Five-week closure planned To allo

Inset: North Antrim MP Jim Allister Northern Ireland should introduce its own university training programme for dental hygienists and therapists to help ease pressures on dental services, according to North Antrim MP Jim Allister. The Traditional Unionist Voice leader has written to Health Minister Mike Nesbitt calling for the creation of an undergraduate Dental Hygiene and Therapy degree, arguing that the absence of any local training route is contributing to workforce short

Electrical recycling point at one of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Household Recycling Centres (HRC) Residents across Mid and East Antrim are being urged to take extra care when disposing of batteries, vapes and electrical items after a series of potentially dangerous fire incidents at the borough’s Household Recycling Centres. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council says several recent near-misses have been caused by items being placed in the wrong recycling containers,

A model of Lightning McQueen, commissioned by Disney Pixar will make a visit to Ballymena this week Families across Ballymena will have the chance to meet a real-life Lightning McQueen this week as a remarkable Disney-commissioned replica of the much-loved Pixar character arrives at Raceview Karting for a special charity fundraising event. The famous fibreglass car, which was originally created in the United States as a promotional vehicle for the Cars 2 film premiere and lat

Tracey Hargey, left, with colleague Grace Gordon Quick-thinking staff at Asda in Larne have been praised after working together to help an elderly customer who collapsed and struck his head while shopping. The incident happened near the store’s self-service checkouts when the man suddenly fainted, prompting colleagues to spring into action while an ambulance was called. Staff rushed to help Team leader Tracey Hargey, who has worked at Asda Larne for more than 16 years, was am