NEWS

Isla McManus with her plaque in The Junction, Antrim. The Junction in Antrim rolled out a festive welcome for rising star Isla McManus, following her standout performance as a Junior Eurovision Ireland finalist. The young singer was joined by friends, family, and Santa Claus himself for a celebratory breakfast recognising her meteoric rise in the world of music. During the event, The Junction presented Isla with a commemorative plaque – soon to be displayed inside the shoppin

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has voted to support a motion to rename Prince Andrew Way in Carrickfergus, following growing public concern over continued association with the disgraced former royal. The motion, brought forward by the Alliance Party during a meeting on Monday evening (24 November), proposes renaming the street while retaining a link to the Royal Family. Carrickfergus Castle Councillor Lauren Gray said the council would “work to rename Prince Andrew Way

Police in Ballymoney have issued a fresh warning to motorists after an uninsured vehicle was taken off the road, leaving both the driver and the owner with a combined 12 penalty points and £410 in fines. Officers from the Ballymoney and Moyle Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) stopped the car earlier today as part of ongoing road safety checks. During the stop, police established that the person behind the wheel had no valid insurance to drive the vehicle — and the owner, who

Pictured from left is Peter McCool, owner, The Phoenix Maxol in Ballymena with Brian Donaldson, CEO, The Maxol Group.  Two Northern Ireland service stations have been recognised among the best in the Maxol network after standout performances at the Maxol Excellence Awards 2025, held during the company’s annual Retail Conference at The K Club. Phoenix Maxol Ballymena Named Store of the Year The Phoenix Maxol in Ballymena is celebrating a major achievement after being crowned S

Front and centre (holding the flowers) are Branch Manager Liz Graham and local businesswoman Winnie Mellet, pictured with branch staff Danske Bank has officially opened its new Ballymoney branch at 12 High Street, completing its planned relocation to modernised premises in the heart of the town. The opening was marked by a special event attended by local businesswoman and Ballymoney Chamber of Commerce President Winnie Mellet, who cut the ribbon to welcome customers into the

PSNI police vehicle which was rammed off the road and through a fence Police have arrested a man in his 40s after a police vehicle was rammed off the road in Belfast on Sunday, 23 November, leaving three officers injured. The incident began at around 4.45pm, when officers on patrol in the Ballysillan Road area reported spotting a silver Ford Focus driving in a suspicious manner. Chief Inspector Claire Hamilton said: “At approximately 4.45pm, officers on patrol in the Ballysil

Sentenced: Harvey Shaw (20) A 20-year-old man has been handed a prison sentence for his involvement in large-scale disorder in Ballymena earlier this year. Harvey Shaw, also known as Harvey John Lee Shaw, was sentenced at Antrim Crown Court on Monday 24 November to 24 months in custody after being convicted of Riot. Shaw, from Ballymena, was arrested for his role in the sustained “race-motivated disorder” that took place in the town on Tuesday 10 June 2025. Police described

The white Yamaha 450 Kodiak quad bike stolen from Larne Police have launched an appeal for information following the theft of a grey Yamaha 450 Kodiak quad bike in the Deerpark Road area of Larne. The incident occurred at around 9pm on Thursday 20 November 2025, when the £7,000 vehicle was taken from a rural property. Officers are urging anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity, or who may hold potentially relevant footage, to come forward. In a statement, police sa

Graduates of the Northern Ireland Hospitality School have doubled within the last year as support from the private sector also almost doubles. Pictured during the School’s graduation ceremony at Galgorm Resort are, from left, Djann Balmes, a former Bar Academy graduate who now manages the Conservatory and Gin Library at Galgorm Resort, Ashley Douglas, Northern Ireland Hospitality School Director of Operations and Brenda McGale, Britvic Ireland.  The Northern Ireland Hospitali

One of Ballymena’s oldest and best-loved butcher shops will open its newly expanded premises on Tuesday 25 November, marking a major milestone for the long-established family business. Barr’s Family Butchers – first opened by master butcher George Barr in 1878 – has been a cornerstone of Ballymena town centre for nearly 147 years. Located on Ballymoney Street, the historic butchery has served generations of local families and remained in the Barr family across five generation

Around 2,500 new businesses creating over 3,500 jobs have taken off in Northern Ireland over the last two years thanks to the region’s free business support service Go Succeed. The figures were revealed at an engagement event held at Parliament Buildings addressed by Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald pictured, centre, with Chris Moore, UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and Marie Ward, Newry, Mourne, and Down District Council More than 1,000 businesses in the Mid & East Antrim bo

Two people have died following a serious road traffic collision in Glenavy, the Police Service of Northern Ireland has confirmed. The fatal crash occurred on Saturday, 22nd November, shortly after 6.25pm on the Lurgan Road. Emergency services were called to the scene following reports of a collision involving a grey Skoda Fabia and a grey Cupra Formentor. Chief Inspector Simpson of the PSNI’s Collision Investigation Unit said: “Shortly after 6.25pm, we received a report of a

Antrim and Newtownabbey councillors have been asked to consider suspending car parking charges on Saturdays in the run-up to Christmas in a bid to boost town centre trade. In 2020, the council approved free parking at Market Square Car Park in Ballyclare on each Saturday during December. The local authority is now seeking to extend this initiative by offering free parking on every Saturday this December at all council-owned car parks in the borough where charges currently app

The Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) has issued a stark warning that Northern Ireland’s fishing industry is facing an existential crisis, following new scientific advice recommending dramatic quota cuts for key species in 2026. Speaking in the Northern Ireland Assembly on Tuesday, November 18, TUV MLA Timothy Gaston said the fishing sector was “standing on the edge of a cliff” and called for “swift and decisive intervention” to prevent the collapse of what he described as “

The Silnavogie Sheepdog Trial organisers and committee presenting a cheque to Air Ambulance NI The annual Shilnavogie Sheep Dog Trial once again united competitors, families, and supporters on Saturday 13 September, raising an impressive £1,502.50 for Air Ambulance NI. Held at the farm of Mr John Davison in Shilnavogie, the friendly, strictly amateur event drew 25 competitors and their highly trained dogs for a day focused on skill, participation, and community spirit. Despit

Dougies Goodies, one of Northern Ireland’s best-loved bakery brands, has officially launched in the Aelia Duty Free store at Belfast International Airport, giving departing passengers the chance to enjoy a “taste of home” before they fly. The Ballymena-born bakery — recognisable for its vibrant pink branding and famous iced treats — now offers its signature cakes, traybakes and bakes to travellers looking to take a little piece of Northern Ireland with them on their journey.

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust is now looking for new Community Health and Wellbeing Champions to join its volunteer community. The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has launched a new volunteer drive, appealing to members of the public with a passion for improving health outcomes in their local communities. The Trust is now seeking Community Health and Wellbeing Champions who will work alongside staff to help share information, services and resources aimed at

Randalstown ARCHES Association has unveiled the Randalstown Community Calendar 2026, marking the organisation’s 30th anniversary with a project designed to celebrate local heritage while raising vital funds for two well-loved charities. The calendar, priced at £10, was officially launched during this year’s Christmas Lights Switch-On and will be available to purchase from ten outlets across Randalstown from Monday. Created to honour the town’s “community spirit, heritage, an

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has formally identified the man who died in a two-vehicle collision on the Windyhill Road between Limavady and Coleraine. The victim has been confirmed as 57-year-old David Elder, from the Ballymoney area. Mr Elder tragically died at the scene of Thursday’s crash, which occurred shortly after 9.45am and involved a lorry and a white Peugeot Partner van. The Windyhill Road remained closed for several hours on Thursday, 20 November,

L-R Robert Ryan, Chief Executive Officer of Lidl Ireland and Lidl Northern Ireland; Gordon Cruikshanks, Regional Managing Director, Lidl Northern Ireland Lidl Northern Ireland has confirmed a combined spend of more than £5.5 million on goods and services sourced from suppliers and business partners across both the Mid and East Antrim and Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council areas, according to its newly published Supplier and Business Partner Impact Report. The latest annu