NEWS

Robin Swann MP South Antrim MP Robin Swann has called on Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council to take a stronger and more ambitious lead in protecting the Common Swift, warning that continued habitat loss is contributing to a worrying decline in the species across Northern Ireland. The Common Swift, designated the borough’s official ‘Bird of the Borough’ in 2015, is a cavity-dwelling bird that depends on small gaps in older buildings for nesting. However, modern renovatio

A yellow weather warning for rain has been issued for Northern Ireland, with forecasters warning of potential flooding and transport disruption throughout Thursday. The warning is in effect between 10:00 and 23:59 on Thursday 22 January 2026 , covering County Antrim, County Armagh, County Down, County Londonderry and County Tyrone. Periods of persistent rain are expected to affect much of the region during the day. Weather officials say 15 to 25mm of rainfall is likely to fal

Local UUP Councillor Brian Thompson with Rosie Orr and a number of other local residents launch Stop The Build Community Group as they deliver a strongly supported petition and letters of opposition to council’s planning director at Ardeevin, Ballymena. Opposition is continuing to grow against a proposed housing development close to the Braid River Walk in Ballymena, with residents from across the wider Tullygarley and Galgorm Road areas joining forces to protect what they de

Police in Ballymena have attended the Shilnavogy Road area following reports of suspected hare coursing, as officers continue to step up efforts to tackle wildlife crime across the district. Ballymena Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) confirmed they were in the area on Saturday (January 10) after receiving information suggesting illegal hare coursing activity. Hare coursing, which involves the pursuit of hares by dogs for sport or gambling, is illegal and widely regarded as a

The Met Office has issued successive yellow weather warnings for strong winds across Northern Ireland, warning of potential disruption from Sunday through into Monday. The first warning is in force from 00:00 until 21:00 on Sunday, 11 January 2026 , and covers County Antrim, County Down, County Londonderry and County Tyrone. A second warning follows immediately afterwards, running from 21:00 on Sunday, 11 January, until 12:00 on Monday, 12 January 2026 , and applies to County

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain affecting Northern Ireland, with the potential for localised flooding as heavy rainfall combines with milder temperatures and melting snow. The warning is in effect from 9.00pm on Saturday 10 January until 9.00pm on Sunday 11 January , covering the entire region. According to the Met Office, bands of rain will move across Northern Ireland during Saturday evening and throughout Sunday, bringing the risk of flooding in

A yellow weather warning for snow and ice has been issued for Northern Ireland, with icy conditions expected to develop overnight on Friday and into Saturday morning. The warning is in force from 5pm on Friday 9 January until 11am on Saturday 10 January , covering much of the region during a period when temperatures are forecast to drop sharply below freezing. Forecasters say clear spells on Friday evening and overnight will allow temperatures to fall quickly, leading to the

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for ice covering all of Northern Ireland, with hazardous conditions expected overnight and into Friday morning. The warning will be in effect from 12.00am until 11.00am on Friday, 9 January 2026 , as temperatures fall and wintry showers create icy patches on roads and pavements. According to the Met Office, “clearing skies and scattered wintry showers” are expected to develop through the night, increasing the risk of ice, p

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

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

Farmers across Northern Ireland are being urged to familiarise themselves with newly introduced Farm Sustainability Standards (FSS), which came into force today, 1 January 2026 , and will underpin eligibility for a wide range of agricultural support schemes. The new standards form a central pillar of the Sustainable Agriculture Programme (SAP) and are designed to ensure continued access to the Farm Sustainability Payment (FSP) and other key schemes supporting the agri-food se

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

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice across Northern Ireland, with motorists and early-morning commuters urged to take extra care due to the risk of icy conditions and possible travel disruption. The warning is in effect from 00:00 until 10:00 on Friday, 2 January 2026, and covers all six counties of the province — Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone. According to the Met Office, the warning follows a spell of rain, sleet and

Landowners across Northern Ireland are being encouraged to consider planting new native woodlands with the 2025 Small Woodland Grant Scheme officially open for applications. The announcement was made by Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir, who confirmed that the scheme will remain open until 7 January 2026 , providing financial support to help establish small-scale native woodland projects. The scheme is designed to support landowners in creating n

As the festive season draws to a close, residents in Ballymena and across Northern Ireland are being advised to prepare for a sharp drop in temperatures and the possibility of wintry weather in the coming days. According to the latest forecasts from the UK Met Office, the week from Monday 29 December 2025 to Monday 5 January 2026 will bring predominantly cold and dry conditions at first, transitioning to more unsettled patterns with a risk of snow toward the latter part of th

Belfast International Airport awarded Platinum level by BITC’s 2025 NI Environmental Benchmarking Survey. BITC’s MD Lisa McIlvenna presents the award to Belfast International Airport’s Evan Black and Kevin Napier. Belfast International Airport has been recognised as one of Northern Ireland’s most sustainable organisations after securing a prestigious Platinum rating in the 2025 NI Environmental Benchmarking Survey. The Airport, which is part of the VINCI Airports global netwo

Gary McErlain, Chair of the Lough Neagh Partnership The Chair of the Lough Neagh Partnership has urged DAERA Minister Andrew Muir to urgently reconsider a newly announced financial support package for fishermen, warning that it fails to reflect the true scale of loss suffered by the industry amid the ongoing environmental crisis at the lough. Gary McErlain said the £100,000 support scheme for Lough Neagh brown eel fishers, announced earlier this week, risks underestimating t

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has entered into a debate over which household recycling system works best, after the issue was raised at a meeting of a neighbouring council. Speaking in the council chamber at Mossley Mill on Monday evening, Antrim DUP councillor Paul Dunlop highlighted the differing approaches taken by local authorities. Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has recently completed the roll-out of a triple-stacked wheelie box system to 25,000 house

A fourth suspected case of Bluetongue virus is under investigation in Co Down, after DAERA confirmed two further suspect infections in cattle during ongoing surveillance within Temporary Control Zones (TCZs). The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs said the latest suspected cases were identified in two cattle on a second farm near Greyabbey, bringing the total number of premises with suspected infection to four. The development follows confirmation by the

Quagga Mussels (left) and Zebra Mussels (right) - (1.5x magnification) The first confirmed case of the highly invasive quagga mussel in Northern Ireland has been detected in Lower Lough Erne, triggering alarm among environmental scientists, politicians and local communities who depend on the lough for livelihoods, recreation and drinking water. The discovery has prompted sharp criticism of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) from Fermanagh and