NEWS

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons pictured at the launch of the Northern Ireland Football Fund Grassroots Facilities Programme Pilot Scheme with players and the Chairman of Wellington Rec Football (l-r) Royce Balmer, Rachael-anne Seymour, Kenny Thompson (chairman) and Ben Tilney. A £9million funding injection aimed at transforming grassroots football facilities across Northern Ireland has been unveiled by Communities Minister Gordon Lyons  — with grants of up to £1.5million n

Inset: Northern Ireland Health Minister Mike Nesbitt Northern Ireland’s hospital waiting lists for outpatients, inpatients, and diagnostics have recorded small but meaningful reductions, a rare positive shift amid years of mounting demand. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt welcomed the latest figures and credited healthcare staff for their “tremendous effort” in improving patient access to care. Minister praises incremental improvements Speaking alongside the publication of the qu

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford, pictured with Councillor Anna Henry to announce the Community Toilet Scheme which has launched in Portglenone. Portglenone village is making life a little easier for residents and visitors, thanks to a new Community Toilet Scheme launched by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council in partnership with local businesses. The initiative allows anyone to use participating businesses’ toilet facilities free of charge during norm

Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Criminal Investigation Department have arrested three individuals as part of an ongoing investigation into suspected fraud linked to a local council body. The inquiry follows a report received in May 2024 concerning alleged fraudulent activity. As part of today’s operations, Wednesday 4th March, authorities carried out arrests in both Ballymoney and Derry/Londonderry. A 39-year-old man was arrested in the Ballymone

Ulster Unionist Councillor Alan Barr and party representative Sam Patton in Clough Ulster Unionist Councillor Alan Barr and party representative Sam Patton have issued a stark warning over dangerous speeding in Clough and Rathkenny, saying it is only a matter of time before a serious injury or fatality occurs unless urgent action is taken. The issue emerged while the pair were leafleting in the area, where residents expressed frustration and fear over vehicles travelling at

The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Oliver McMullan, pictured with Corrina and Johnny McAleese at a special reception in Cloonavin honouring the work of Noah’s Story, the charity founded in memory of their two-year-old son, Noah. A family’s heartbreak has become a force for change across the north coast — and this week that compassion was formally recognised at Cloonavin. The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Oliver McMullan, hosted a special recepti

Ulster Unionist Party Leader Jon Burrows MLA, writing in The Orange Standard calls for “Unionism for the Future” Unionism stands at a crossroads — and its next chapter, according to Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows , will be shaped by whether it thinks long-term, works together and delivers for everyday people. Writing in the March 2026 edition of The Orange Standard, the official publication of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland , the Jon Burrows  sets out a candid an

(L-R) Eva Lilly Beckett and Taleen Eldris, pictured with Ballymena Academy Principal Mr Stephen Black, and school netball coach, Julie-Anne Cairns Two Ballymena Academy pupils are set to step onto the European stage this week — and they are doing it in an Ireland dress. Taleen Eldris and Eva Lilly Beckett have been selected to represent Ireland at the upcoming Netball Europe event in Aberdeen, taking place from Friday 6 March to Sunday 8 March 2026. The international tournam

A public row has erupted over responsibility for pollution in Lough Neagh, after the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) accused NI Water of presenting “modelling as fact” in claims that 70% of water pollution originates from the agricultural sector. The farming body has expressed “serious concern” over what it describes as inaccurate comments made by an NI Water representative, who stated that the figure was factual. The UFU says that assertion is both misleading and inappropriate.

Ulster Unionist Party Leader, North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows People living with Parkinson’s in Ballymena are being invited to speak directly to their local MLA about the pressures they are facing — particularly around delayed healthcare appointments, treatments and medications. On Friday 20 March, Jon Burrows, MLA for North Antrim and leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, will meet members of the Parkinson’s community at Ballymena North Business Centre from 3.30pm to 4.30pm. The

Colleagues from the Northern Trust’s Eating Disorder Service. For two decades, the Northern Health and Social Care Trust has quietly supported some of the most complex and misunderstood mental health conditions in our community. Now, as it marks 20 years of its Eating Disorder Service, the Trust is calling for greater understanding to reduce stigma and help more people reach recovery sooner. The milestone coincided with Eating Disorders Week, which ran February 23 to March 1

A violent incident in Bushmills on Monday night left two occupants shaken and a woman injured after masked men armed with weapons forced their way into a home. The attackers ransacked the property before fleeing on foot. Detectives have launched an investigation following what police have described as an aggravated burglary in the Mount Pleasant area. Detective Inspector Hanbidge said: “Police received a report on Monday, 2nd March at approximately 9.30pm that a number of mas

Drivers dropping passengers at Belfast International Airport will soon pay significantly more, with the airport confirming a sharp rise in its drop-off tariff from Monday 9 March. The charge in the airport’s drop-off zone will increase from £3 to £5 — a jump of more than 65 per cent — in a move the airport says reflects wider financial strain on businesses across Northern Ireland. A spokesperson for Belfast International Airport said: “From Monday 9th March the tariff in our

Brandon McCaughan (Pics: DPPI Images / Ligier European Series) Ballymena racing talent Brandon McCaughan is stepping onto the biggest stage of his prototype career yet after confirming a full 2026 campaign in the Ligier European Series with reigning champions Team Virage. After dazzling in limited appearances over the past two seasons — including a flawless double victory at Silverstone last year — the 22-year-old has now secured a full-time seat in one of Europe’s most compe

Community pharmacy teams serving Portglenone and Broughshane are in the spotlight after securing major nominations in the Pharmacy In Focus Awards 2026 — a recognition that places their work at the heart of modern healthcare delivery. Bannside Pharmacy  has been shortlisted in the Commitment to Health & Wellbeing category, while Medicare Pharmacy Broughshane  is in contention for Community Pharmacy of the Year . Adding to the celebrations, Shania O’Boyle of Bannside Pharmacy

Energy costs in Northern Ireland are surging again — and political pressure is mounting for urgent scrutiny. The Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party  (UUP), North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows , has written to the Utility Regulator seeking assurances that energy providers will not use escalating international tensions as justification for what he describes as unjustified or excessive price increases. His intervention comes as households across Northern Ireland face sharp rises in ho

More than 3,500 children and young people are currently living in foster care across Northern Ireland — and the number is rising year on year. Behind that statistic are real lives, real stories and children like eight-year-old Kaiden, who is waiting for a place to call home. There are currently 3,514 children and young people in foster care in Northern Ireland. As demand continues to grow, HSC NI Foster Care says the need for more foster carers who can provide a safe and nurt

Slemish Market Garden, Ballymena A planning application for the retention of a farm shop, car park extension and change of use of an existing office and former retail unit to storage in Ballymena has been approved by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Planning Committee. Members granted permission at a meeting on Thursday (February 26) for works at Slemish Market Garden, located within the grounds of the Ecos Nature Park at Kernohan’s Lane. The approval also covers a new s

Irish Children’s Laureate/Laureate na nÓg Patricia Forde answering questions from children at St Colmcille's and  Carniny Primary School as part of the Whole Wild World North tour. Ahead of World Book Day on Thursday, 5 March 2026, children from Carniny Primary School and St Colmcille’s Primary School welcomed Irish Children’s Laureate/Laureate na nÓg, Patricia Forde , along with a team of authors and illustrators to Carniny Primary School as part of the Whole Wild World Nort

Minister Kimmins is pictured with Sarah Schaefer, ESG Director and John McLeister, Managing Director of Sales for the UK and Ireland The push to decarbonise Northern Ireland’s transport network took centre stage in Ballymena this week as Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins  visited Wrightbus  to see first-hand how the sector is shaping the journey to net zero. Touring the factory floor, the Minister met staff and viewed progress on zero-emission bus technology that is already