NEWS

Colman Byrne, Laura Murray and Michael Graham invite you to Discover CAFRE during Open Farm Weekend at Greenmount Campus, Antrim and Enniskillen Campus. Families across Northern Ireland are being invited to step behind the scenes of rural life next month as CAFRE opens two of its major campuses to the public for a free weekend packed with hands-on activities, food experiences and live farming demonstrations. From sheep shearing and tractor simulators in Antrim to equestrian d

Ballymena is preparing for one of its biggest annual public events as thousands of spectators, bandsmen, lodge members and families are expected to gather across the town for the 2026 District Twelfth demonstration. The traditional Twelfth of July parade will take place on Monday, 13 July, bringing together 30 local lodges, 17 bands and the unmistakable sound of the Lambeg drum as the procession makes its way through the town centre before heading to the main demonstration fi

Set to host Strictly Come Dancing 2026: Presenter Emma Willis, professional dancer Johannes Radebe and comedian Josh Widdicombe. (Image: BBC/Ray Burmiston) The BBC has unveiled a dramatic new era for Strictly Come Dancing, confirming the show will be fronted by three presenters for the first time in its history following the departure of long-serving hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Presenter Emma Willis, professional dancer Johannes Radebe and comedian Josh Widdicombe

The Ballymena Branch of Parkinson's UK enjoyed a Movement to Music session as part of World Parkinson's Day. People across Ballymena living with Parkinson’s — along with their families and carers — are being encouraged to reach out for support through a long-running local group that has spent nearly two decades helping residents navigate one of the world’s fastest-growing neurological conditions. Parkinson’s UK’s Ballymena and District Branch says nobody affected by the condi

One of Northern Ireland’s fastest-growing outdoor festivals is preparing for its biggest year yet as thousands of visitors are expected to descend on Dungiven this summer for a three-day spectacle of world-class tractor pulling, major country music acts, fireworks and family entertainment. Revvv It Up Festival returns to Revvv Park in the heart of the Sperrins from Friday July 17 to Sunday July 19, with organisers dramatically expanding the event after rapid growth since its

Waterstone’s Ballymena has revealed its latest Top 10 bestselling books, with golf biography, literary fiction and sci-fi adventures all proving popular among local readers this week. The newest chart reflects a growing appetite for contemporary fiction and thought-provoking reads, while upcoming releases from some of the literary world’s biggest names are already generating excitement ahead of publication. Top 10 this week A varied mix of fiction, memoir and literary bestsel

Children across the borough will once again be able to take part in a packed summer of sports, games, creative activities and outdoor adventures as Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council officially launches its 2026 Summer Schemes programme. Running throughout July and August, the annual schemes are set to return to leisure centres, community venues and the grounds of Antrim Castle Gardens, with families already being encouraged to plan ahead amid expectations of high demand

The haunting rasping call of one of Northern Ireland’s rarest birds is set to become the soundtrack to a unique summer outing on Rathlin Island next month, as visitors are invited to experience the elusive corncrake in its natural habitat during a guided picnic event hosted by the RSPB Northern Ireland. Taking place on Thursday, June 11, the ‘Rathlin Island Corncrake Picnic’ will give attendees the chance to explore the island’s spectacular landscape alongside the RSPB’s Rath

VR Mesolithic hut from the Mountsandel virtual reality experience An internationally significant archaeological site in County Londonderry is set to undergo its first major survey in half a century, as experts prepare to dig deeper into the ancient secrets of Mountsandel. The new investigation at Mountsandel — regarded as one of Ireland’s earliest known human settlements — will form part of a wider heritage project backed through the Causeway Coast and Glens PEACEPLUS Action

Families across Northern Ireland waiting for confirmation of school places for children with special educational needs are being offered direct one-to-one support through a new series of online drop-in sessions hosted by the Education Authority. The initiative comes amid growing pressure on the region’s SEN system, with demand for specialist placements continuing to rise sharply and thousands of additional places projected to be needed over the next decade. Parents and carers

Chief Superintendent Kelly Moore and Rhonda Geary, Royal Ulster Agricultural Society. Thousands of visitors are expected to descend on the Eikon Exhibition Centre this week as the Balmoral Show returns for four days of farming, food, business and family entertainment — with the PSNI warning motorists to expect delays and plan ahead. Running from Wednesday 13 May to Saturday 16 May 2026, the annual event is one of the biggest fixtures in Northern Ireland’s rural calendar, draw

Pictured with Mayor of Mid & East Antrim Borough, Councillor Jackson Minford are local musicians Rodney Beggs and ‘Lacey’. Ballymena is preparing to celebrate a landmark moment in its history as the town marks 400 years since the foundations of the modern settlement were established. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has now unveiled a major programme of Ballymena 400 events for 2026, with organisers promising a year of community celebration, local history, family entertain

Two young Ballymena footballers are preparing to take on some of the biggest names in world youth football after being selected for the 2026 County Antrim SuperCupNI squad ahead of this summer’s tournament. Charlie O’Neill and Jack Orr have both secured places in the County Antrim Boys Junior panel, giving local football fans another strong Ballymena connection to one of Northern Ireland’s most prestigious sporting events. The announcement comes as organisers confirmed broadb

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford blows the starting whistle as young runners set off for the junior parkrun in The People's Park, Ballymena. More than 100 children are now turning out every week for Ballymena’s junior parkrun, with the Sunday morning event rapidly becoming one of the town’s most popular new family activities. Held in The People’s Park every Sunday at 9.30am, the free 2K run for children aged four to 14 has created a fresh buzz around t

CAFRE representatives, Albert Johnson and Dr Eileen McCloskey pictured with UFU policy officer, Kellie McEvoy, and UFU deputy president Glenn Cuddy, at the launch of the 2026 Beef Conference. Farmers from across Northern Ireland are set to gather at Greenmount Campus next month for a major beef industry conference focused on one of the sector’s biggest challenges — how to improve profitability while meeting growing sustainability demands. Hosted jointly by the Ulster Farmers’

A brand-new beer festival is coming to Antrim Castle Gardens this summer, bringing more than 40 beers, cocktails, wines, live entertainment and food vendors to one of Northern Ireland’s most scenic outdoor venues. The first-ever Antrim Castle Gardens Beer Festival will take place across two days on Friday 19 and Saturday 20 June 2026, running from 12 noon until 10pm each day. Organisers say the new event is aimed at lovers of craft beer, cider, wine and cocktails, with the fe

The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland (GOLI) is preparing to welcome thousands of visitors to its stand at this year’s Balmoral Show, with organisers promising a busy four days featuring community engagement, heritage displays, fundraising efforts and giveaways. The Institution will once again have a presence at Northern Ireland’s largest agricultural showcase when the 157th Balmoral Show takes place from 13–16 May at the Eikon Exhibition Centre. More than 120,000 visitors are ex

Thousands of pounds are expected to be raised for Alzheimer’s Society this summer as Clarke prepares to bring back its hugely popular Charity Car Show to Ballymena — with organisers promising the biggest and most ambitious event yet. Now entering its third year, the growing community event has become one of the standout local motoring showcases in the area, attracting families, car enthusiasts and supporters from across Northern Ireland. This year’s show will take place on Sa

Waterstone’s Ballymena has unveiled another packed weekly update, with bestselling fiction, welcoming community book clubs and a wave of notable new releases helping to keep readers engaged this spring. This week’s Top 10 reflects a broad mix of tastes among Ballymena readers, with everything from children’s favourites and sci-fi adventures to literary fiction and historical drama featuring strongly. Top 10 this week (Saturday 9 May 2026) A varied mix of bestselling fiction a

Linda McMillan, Chief People Officer for Fibrus Group with Ronan Conlon, Founder of FitMinds Coach, and FitMinds programme participants. Children of all abilities across Northern Ireland are set to take part in a major programme of inclusive summer activity camps after FitMinds Coach announced plans to welcome more than 1,000 young children to sessions across 20 locations this summer. The one-day camps, designed for children aged three to six, will run throughout July and Au