NEWS

Gavin and Elaine Lowry, with sons Timmy (left) and Joshua (right) A Ballymena family is rallying behind a much-loved father, husband, and classroom assistant as they take on an extraordinary endurance challenge to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer and vital funds for the charity NIPANC (Northern Ireland Pancreatic Cancer). The event, organised by Gavin Lowry’s daughter-in-law Megan with support from wider family and friends, has already raised more than £3,000 — with hope

Women’s Aid ABCLN Retail Manager Michelle McIlwrath, Noreen McClelland, Women’s Aid CEO Gillian Creevy with staff and volunteers. Women’s Aid ABCLN has officially opened a vibrant new pop-up shop in the heart of Antrim, offering shoppers a chance to find high-quality preloved treasures while supporting vital local services for women and children experiencing domestic abuse. The new store, based in Grace House on Fountain Street, features an impressive selection of new and nea

TUV agriculture spokesperson and Causeway Councillor Allister Kyle Northern Ireland’s dairy sector is facing what has been described as one of its most severe financial crises in years, with farm-gate milk prices plunging more than 12p per litre since autumn. As the annual RUAS Winter Fair approaches, industry fears are mounting that many family farms are now on the brink of financial collapse. The warning comes from TUV agriculture spokesperson and Causeway Councillor Allist

Slemish College Students Scarlet Kerr-McKillop and Darragh Martin Two Slemish College students, Scarlet Kerr-McKillop and Darragh Martin , were among the young people given the chance to step inside NI Water’s laboratories as the utility company kicked off the second year of its hybrid work experience programme. The pair joined aspiring scientists from across Northern Ireland for an immersive mix of virtual and in-person learning designed to give students aged 16 to 19 real-w

The spa at Antrim Forum An additional charge to use the spa at Antrim Forum leisure centre has been approved by councillors. Members of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Operations Committee agreed at a meeting in Antrim Civic Centre on Monday evening to introduce a £10 “bolt-on” charge per person for use of the facility. A report to the committee stated: “The introduction of a £10 per person spa bolt-on at Antrim Forum reflects the facility’s status as a premium, lu

(L-R) Northern Trust Day Opportunitues volunteers Lee, Kerry, Shop Manager Shirley Kearney, Chris, Annette and Sandra. A group of dedicated volunteers from the Northern Health and Social Care Trust’s Day Opportunities service are being celebrated for their commitment to supporting a local charity shop in the heart of Carrickfergus. Lee, Kerry, Chris, Annette and Sandra – described as the “fab five” – give up their time each week to volunteer at the Action Cancer store, where

Waterstone’s Ballymena has released its latest Top 10 bestselling books, offering a rich mix of new fiction, humour, festive favourites and anticipated annuals. As Christmas shopping season gathers pace, local readers are turning to a wide variety of titles — from Northern Irish literature to children’s blockbusters and high-profile thrillers. This Week’s Top 10 Bestselling Books 1. The Benefactors — Wendy Erskine A sharply observed and darkly funny portrait of contemporary N

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for rain  covering all six counties of Northern Ireland this Sunday, 7th December 2025. The warning, which is active between 8:00am and 3:00pm , cautions the public about the likelihood of heavy rainfall leading to some disruption across the region. . Anticipated Impact and Rainfall Totals A band of rain is set to sweep northeast across Northern Ireland during Sunday daytime. The primary concern is the volume of rainfall falling onto

Antrim Castle Gardens successfully launched its inaugural "Evening of Inclusive Enchantment" this week, offering a serene and supportive environment for adults and children with additional needs to experience the popular festive event, the Enchanted Winter Garden. The historic gardens, located in Antrim, Northern Ireland, sparkled on Thursday, 4th December, as they welcomed families for a special night designed to ensure the magic of Christmas was accessible to all. The initi

Michael Meharg, Nicola Bothwell and Eimear Kearney accept the Chartered Institute of Public Relations Northern Ireland Awards Gold award on behalf of Lough Neagh Partnership for Best Public Affairs Campaign from Samantha Livingstone and Brittany Breslin of CIPR NI Committee. Lough Neagh Partnership has been awarded the prestigious Gold award for Best Public Affairs Campaign at the inaugural Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Northern Ireland Awards. The event, wid

Drains Bay on the Antrim coast A report on bathing water quality at Mid and East Antrim beaches during the summer was presented to the Borough Council’s Neighbourhoods and Communities Committee at a meeting in The Braid, Ballymena, on Tuesday evening. Findings showed that following water quality testing on July 29, swimming was temporarily advised against at Portmuck, Islandmagee, due to faecal pollution. Committee members were told this can arise from sewage outfalls, combin

Education Minister Paul Givan is pictured at Anahilt Pre-school Playgroup, Hillsborough with pupils and Dara Graham, Preschool Leader. Education Minister Paul Givan has announced a major expansion of pre-school education provision, with an additional 102 pre-school settings  across Northern Ireland approved to offer full-time education from September 2026. This announcement represents the second phase of settings approved to transition to offering full-time places under the o

Christmas arrived early for Ballymena today as Primark officially opened the doors of its brand-new store at Fairhill Shopping Centre — a major £5 million investment that doubles the retailer’s footprint in the town and delivers a welcome boost to the local economy. The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Jackson Minford, joined store colleagues for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking a significant milestone for the internationally recognised retailer, which first

St Louis Grammar School, Ballymena St Louis Grammar School has secured its place among Northern Ireland’s top-performing post-primary schools, ranking ninth in the prestigious Sunday Times Parent Power 2026 guide . The annual league table, widely considered the definitive benchmark for school performance across the UK, will be published online on Friday 5 December and in print on Sunday 7 December. Nationally, St Louis Grammar also earns a strong position at number 65 within

Kilrea Bridge Kilrea Bridge is set to reopen to cars and light vehicles this weekend, as the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) confirms that temporary stabilisation works are nearing completion. The route will reopen at 8am on Saturday 6 December, restoring a vital connection for local residents and businesses in the run-up to Christmas. The bridge, located on the B64 Bann Road, has been closed to allow engineers to carry out essential safety work. DfI has now confirmed tha

Pictured (L-R) Wholetime Firefighters from Antrim area, Emma Hutchinson from Carrickfergus, Daniel Richey from Ballyclare and Emer McLernon from Ballymena. Ballymena’s own Emer McLernon is among 18 new Wholetime Firefighters who graduated today from the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) Learning & Development College (LDC), marking the completion of an intensive 18-week training programme and the beginning of their operational careers serving communities across N

WJ O’Donnell & Sons Funeral Directors have announced a special community event, “The Meaning of Christmas”, which will take place on Sunday 7th December 2025 at 7pm in their Ballymena funeral home (41–43 Mount Street, BT43 6BW). The gathering, open to everyone in the community, is intended to provide a space of peace, reflection, and comfort for anyone who finds the festive season difficult after the loss of a loved one. All voluntary proceeds will be donated to Cruse Berea

A 25-year-old man living in County Antrim has been extradited from Northern Ireland to Lithuania, where he is wanted to stand trial for a series of alleged human trafficking offences involving children. Officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s International Policing Unit confirmed the extradition took place on Thursday, 2nd December, concluding a process that began with the man’s arrest in Templepatrick on 2nd June 2024. The offences are alleged to have taken pl

The team from The Rowan Sexual Assault Referral Centre celebrate success at the GNI Mag awards. The Rowan Sexual Assault Referral Centre has been recognised for its vital work supporting victims of sexual violence, winning the Health and Wellbeing Award at this year’s GNI Mag Awards in Belfast. The annual ceremony celebrates individuals, organisations, and services that champion inclusivity and play a significant role in improving the mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing

Inset: North Antrim MLA Paul Frew North Antrim MLA Paul Frew has raised fresh concerns over ongoing delays in the collection of recycling boxes by Bryson Recycling, as households across Ballymena and the wider Mid and East Antrim Borough Council area continue to report prolonged disruption. Mr Frew said he had been “contacted numerous times over the last number of weeks” by residents frustrated at waiting days beyond their normal schedule for collections to be completed. Som