NEWS

CGI showing proposed extension at Robinson Hospital The Northern Health and Social Care Trust board has been given an update on the proposed refurbishment of the Robinson Hospital on Newal Road, Ballymoney. Robinson Hospital, which opened in 1933, provides care for patients requiring rehabilitation, palliative care or further assessment following an acute hospital admission. A report presented to Trust board members at a recent meeting said the project will deliver a new-buil

South Antrim MP Robin Swann has welcomed new assurances from the Treasury that proposed inheritance tax arrangements for family farms will apply beyond married couples and civil partners, following strong concerns raised by farming organisations in Northern Ireland. The clarification was provided by Treasury Minister Dan Tomlinson after Mr Swann raised the issue in Parliament, highlighting widespread anxiety within the farming community that the proposed rules could unintent

Jim Allister MP and Andrew Rosindell MP with victims of Gaddafi sponsored IRA terrorism outside the Foreign Office after meeting minister, Hamish Falconer. Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister has accused successive UK governments of failing victims of Libyan-sponsored IRA terrorism, following a high-level meeting with Foreign Office Minister Hamish Falconer. Mr Allister said the meeting, held alongside Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell and representatives of

A meeting is due to take place this week between Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s chief executive, Richard Baker, and his counterpart at Bryson Recycling over missed bin collections across the borough. Councillors were told at a meeting of the council’s Operations Committee, held at Antrim Civic Centre on Monday evening, that service issues will be discussed on Wednesday, ahead of a further meeting with members in the council chamber later this month. Airport Sinn Fé

Severe winter weather has placed intense pressure on road services across North Antrim, with local MLAs raising concerns over grit shortages, untreated roads and the Department for Infrastructure’s preparedness following heavy snowfall. Large parts of rural North Antrim have been affected by snowfall of between six and eight inches over the past two days, leaving some roads difficult to access and heightening safety concerns for residents, commuters and emergency services. TU

A yellow weather warning for ice has been issued for Northern Ireland, with hazardous conditions expected to develop overnight as temperatures fall and wintry showers move across the region. The warning is in force between 6:00pm on Tuesday 6 January 2026 and 11:00am on Wednesday 7 January 2026, with icy patches likely to form on untreated surfaces, increasing the risk of travel disruption. Forecasters say that after a day that has been less cold than recent days, conditions

CGI image of proposed apartments at Galgorm Resort, Ballymena A planning application has been lodged with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for 32 new self-catering apartments at Galgorm Resort on Fenaghy Road, outside Ballymena. A planning statement submitted with the application indicates the proposed luxury apartments would form a four-storey development with a central communal entrance space. The scheme would include a variety of apartment types and shared facilities. E

John McLeister, front left, and Phil Owen, with members of the sales team. Wrightbus has made a confident start to 2026 by strengthening its senior sales and leadership structure, with the company’s sales organisation alone now representing more than 200 years of combined service at the Ballymena-based manufacturer. The zero-emission bus builder says the appointments underline both continuity and deep-rooted expertise within the business, at a time when competition from overs

As cold weather warnings are issued by the Met Office across Northern Ireland, Dogs Trust Ballymena has issued a stark warning to dog owners, urging them to keep their pets well away from frozen lakes, ponds and waterways. While many dogs enjoy swimming, the charity warns that familiar splash spots can become extremely dangerous during freezing conditions. Ice may appear solid, but in most cases it is not strong enough to support a dog’s weight. If it breaks, dogs can plunge

Icicles in the Glens of Antrim. (Image Liz Weir) A yellow weather warning for ice has been issued for Northern Ireland, with hazardous conditions expected to develop from Monday evening through to Tuesday morning, raising concerns for commuters, motorists and pedestrians. The warning is effective from 5pm on Monday 5 January 2026 until 10am on Tuesday 6 January 2026, according to the Met Office. Forecasters say ice formation on untreated surfaces is likely to cause impacts in

A man in his eighties has sadly died following a single-vehicle road traffic collision in Bushmills, County Antrim, police have confirmed. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said the incident occurred on Saturday afternoon, 3 January, in the Carnbore Road area of the town. Chief Inspector Simpson, from the Collision Investigation Unit , said police received a report at approximately 2.35pm. “Police received a report at around 2.35pm on Saturday afternoon of a one-v

The Food Warehouse store set to open in Ballymena Ballymena is set to welcome a major new retail arrival, with The Food Warehouse , part of the Iceland Food Group, preparing to open its newest Northern Ireland store in the town. The Ballymena outlet will be the fifth Food Warehouse location in Northern Ireland, joining existing stores in Newtownabbey, Belfast, Craigavon and Banbridge. Love Ballymena understands the store is expected to open its doors before the end of March 2

Police in Antrim are appealing for information following an attempted burglary at a property in the town. Officers received a report at approximately 10.35pm on Thursday, 1st January, after damage was discovered at a house in the Randakstiwn Road area. It is believed the property was entered sometime between 3.20pm and 10.30pm that same day. During the incident, a patio door was damaged and a pane of glass smashed, allowing access to the home. While several rooms inside the p

Detectives are appealing for information following a violent aggravated burglary at a residential property in Ballymoney late on Thursday night, 1 January. Police were called to an address on Charlotte Street shortly after 11.40pm after reports that a number of men had forced entry to a home and assaulted the occupant. The victim sustained serious injuries during the attack and was taken to hospital, where he remains under medical care. Detective Inspector Ballentine said the

The Met Office has issued two consecutive yellow weather warnings for snow and ice across Northern Ireland, warning that prolonged wintry conditions could lead to travel disruption from Friday afternoon through the weekend and into Monday morning. The first warning is in effect from 3:00pm on Friday 2 January 2026 until 12:00pm on Saturday 3 January 2026 , with a second warning following immediately from 12:00pm on Saturday 3 January until 12:00pm on Monday 5 January 2026. Fo

Ballymena Runners have announced the return of their popular Cosy Sofa programme for 2026, offering local people the chance to take their first steps into running in a friendly, supportive and community-focused environment. The eight-week programme will run from Tuesday 6 January to Tuesday 3 March 2026 , with weekly sessions beginning at 7:00pm in the Sports Zone Hall at Northern Regional College (NRC), Ballymena. Parking will be available at the Ballymena Showgrounds, acces

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has put forward a motion to rename a park in Dervock. At December’s Leisure and Development Committee meeting, a motion proposed by TUV councillor Allister Kyle , and seconded by TUV councillor Jonathan McAuley , called for Riverside Park in Dervock to be renamed McKinley Park, in memory of William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States, and to “commemorate the deep ancestral ties between Dervock and the McKinley family”. Th

Crop walks during the ‘Growers’ Gathering’ provided opportunities for useful discussions and viewing of implementation strategies in action at Greenmount Campus, Antrim. The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) has launched a new series of industry-focused events with the inaugural Growers’ Gathering for Production Horticulture, bringing together growers, researchers and policymakers to address one of the sector’s most pressing challenges – reducing and u

Police have charged a 41-year-old man following his arrest after a vehicle pursuit linked to the Antrim area which ended on the M2 on Monday evening, 29 December. Sergeant Wallace explained how the situation escalated rapidly across several locations, posing serious risks to other road users. “At around 9.15pm, officers were attending a report in the Antrim area when they observed a white Audi A4 acting suspiciously,” he said. “A short time later, the same vehicle was repor

Peter Willis will line up in the Pirelli British Sportbike Championship next season, joining the CFMOTO Sportbike team, after many successful competing in the R&G British Talent Cup. Teenage racing prospect Peter Willis has been confirmed as the latest addition to the CFMOTO Sportbike team for the 2026 British racing season, marking a significant step up in his rapidly progressing motorsport career. The 17-year-old rider from Cullybackey, County Antrim, joins the team after s