NEWS

Hannah Martin, Sustainable Ruminant Genetics with dairy farmer Andrew McCollum, Ballycairn Farms discuss plans for Session 2 at the Dairy Conference 2026: Driving Profitability, Delivering Sustainability. Sunday 04 October 2026 Northern Ireland dairy farmers will be shown how genetic information can be turned into practical breeding decisions to improve herd performance, profitability and sustainability at a major industry conference in Antrim later this month. Dairy Conferen

(L-R) BSc (Hons) Food Innovation Management students, Olivia Acheson, Cookstown, and Ellen Nelson, Tobermore, along with Mr. Fintan McCann, Head of Food Education invite you to attend CAFRE’s Open Week from Tuesday 06 October to Saturday 10 October 2026 at Loughry Campus, Cookstown, Greenmount Campus, Antrim and Enniskillen Campus Sunday 04 October 2026 Students considering their next move after school can explore courses, facilities and campus life at the College of Agricult

Saturday 03 October 2026 Gruffalo Granny by Julia Donaldson has taken the number one spot at Waterstone’s Ballymena, as the store celebrates the completion of its refit and welcomes readers in to discover its refreshed look. Rebecca Yarros’ Threshing Day enters the chart at number two following its release, while last week’s bestseller, Charles Spencer’s Swan Song, remains popular in third place. The latest Top 10 offers an especially atmospheric selection for autumn, with ho

UFU deputy president Clement Lynch, who is urging farmers to have their say on DAERA’s bTB wildlife intervention consultation. Saturday 03 October 2026 Northern Ireland farmers are being urged to have their say on the future of bovine TB controls before a major consultation closes next week, as the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) calls for wildlife intervention to form part of efforts to eradicate the disease. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) c

Patrick Kielty, host of the RTÉ The Late Late Show. (Image: Andres Poveda) Friday 02 October 2026 Ashley Campbell, Nathan Carter and Una Healy will join Patrick Kielty tonight as The Late Late Show’s Country Music Special returns with live performances, a Dolly Parton tribute and a surprise Hall of Fame induction. Viewers can watch on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player from 9.35pm tonight, Friday 2 October, with a surprise opening performance featuring some of Irish country music’s bigge

Thursday 01 October 2026 Free tickets for the City Walls section of Derry Halloween’s 40th anniversary trail will be released at noon on Monday, October 5, ahead of three evenings of circus, aerial performances and folklore-inspired encounters. The Awakening the Walled City Trail returns from October 28–30, running nightly from 6pm to 9pm across the historic city centre. Only the City Walls section requires a ticket. Visitors can explore all other trail locations without book

Tuesday 29 September 2026 Families are being invited to get building, exploring and solving this October as The Great Coleraine Build brings hands-on Bricks4Kidz sessions, a free town centre fairytale trail and the chance to win a family trip to LEGOLAND®. The programme, organised by Coleraine Connect with support from Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council, begins with 13 large brick-built fairytale displays appearing in businesses across Coleraine from Thursday, 1 October.

Saturday 26 September 2026 Charles Spencer has taken the number one spot at Waterstone’s Ballymena with Swan Song, heading a particularly family-friendly Top 10 which sees three books by Julia Donaldson make the chart. The newly released Gruffalo Granny takes second place, followed by another Donaldson favourite, Monkey Puzzle, at number three — while The Gruffalo’s Child also features at number seven. Elsewhere, Lee Child and Richard Osman continue to prove popular with Ball

Sunday 27 September 2026 Bushmills will become a giant showcase for food, drink, music and local creativity next weekend as one of the Causeway Coast’s best-known festivals returns with a new identity and an expanded programme. The former Bushmills Salmon & Whiskey Festival is entering a new chapter as The Giant Table, running from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October and bringing chefs, producers, makers, musicians and visitors together across the village. While salmon and whiskey h

Friday 25 September 2026 Families across Mid and East Antrim can look forward to three days of Halloween entertainment this October, with fireworks, spooky trails, live performances, fancy dress, discos and town centre activities planned across Ballymena, Larne and Carrickfergus. Events will run from Thursday 29 to Saturday 31 October, with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council publishing an evolving programme of family-focused activities taking place throughout the borough. Th

Friday 25 September 2026 Alex Warren, the chart-topping US singer behind global smash hit “Ordinary”, has announced a major Belfast show as part of his new UK and European outdoor tour for summer 2027. The Grammy-nominated artist will headline Belsonic on Monday 21 June 2027, with special guests still to be announced. Tickets go on general sale at 10am on Friday 2 October through Ticketmaster Ireland. Eight-date summer run across UK and Europe Belfast will be the second stop

Farmers’ Choir NI Committee Members attending NI Farming Awards at the Culloden Hotel More than 40 members of Farmers’ Choir NI are back rehearsing in Ballymena for a new season — and they already have plenty to sing about after earning recognition at both Northern Ireland and UK level. The cross-community choir, which brings together farmers, people working in agriculture and members of rural communities, has reached the final of the Making Music UK Group of the Year Award 2

Horticulture students Charley Benson (Lisburn), Ramona McCluskey (Ballymena) and Barry Wheeler (Antrim) encourage prospective students to explore Greenmount Campus facilities at the upcoming Open Day Wednesday 23 September 2026 Greenmount Campus in Antrim is opening its doors next month to prospective students interested in careers ranging from landscaping and plant production to sports turf management and floristry. The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFR

McDonald’s Ballymena where McHappy Day will be celebrated this upcoming weekend Wednesday 23 September 2026 Northern Ireland has emerged as one of the UK’s most generous regions in a new survey released ahead of the first McHappy Day in the UK and Ireland this weekend. McDonald’s commissioned the research before the fundraising day on Saturday 26 September, when £1 from every qualifying main meal sold will be donated to Ronald McDonald House UK and Ronald McDonald House Irela

Monday 21 September 2026 McDonald’s customers in Ballymena will be able to help families with seriously ill children simply by ordering a qualifying meal this Saturday, as the restaurant chain brings McHappy Day to Northern Ireland for the first time. The fundraising day takes place on Saturday 26 September, with £1 from every qualifying main menu meal sold at participating restaurants donated to Ronald McDonald House charities. Money raised will help provide free accommodati

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald, Brendan McAleer, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Diaspora and International Development Officer, Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Róis-Máire Donnelly, and Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins pictured before a meeting of partners and stakeholders involved in delivering Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026. Monday 21 September 2026 Belfast is already turning its attention to an even bigger Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 2027 after this summer’s event

Saturday 19 September 2026 The Correspondent by Virginia Evans has returned to the top of the bestseller chart at Waterstone’s Ballymena, leading a crime-heavy Top 10 featuring some of the biggest names in contemporary fiction. Ann Cleeves takes second place with The Killing Stones, while Patrick Ryan’s Buckeye climbs into the top three ahead of Lyra Parish’s Fall I Want. The latest update also brings two half-price offers, details of the next Saturday Storytime and Fiction B

Broadcaster and musician Malachi Cush returns with a new series of Healing Sounds on BBC Radio Ulster Wednesday 16 September 2026 A powerful new series of ‘Healing Sounds’, presented by broadcaster and musician Malachi Cush, begins on BBC Radio Ulster tomorrow night with an hour-long programme marking 25 years since the 9/11 attacks. The 12-part series will bring together deeply personal stories of grief, trauma, illness, loss and resilience, with guests choosing four songs t

Ballydunmaul Flute Band Wednesday 16 September 2026 Drivers are being urged to allow extra time or use an alternative route through Randalstown on Saturday evening, 19 September, with traffic disruption expected during Ballydunmaul Flute Band’s parade. Police have advised road users to expect delays in and around the town between 8pm and 10pm as participants and spectators gather for the event. The parade will leave Shane’s Terrace at 8pm and is expected to finish at the same

A previous Wee Joan’s Charity Dog Walk makes its way along Portrush’s West Strand. The popular event returns this Sunday, raising funds for Willie’s Orphan Fund, Children to Lapland and Children’s Kidney Fund NI. A previous Wee Joan’s Charity Dog Walk makes its way along Portrush’s West Strand. The popular event returns this Sunday, raising funds for Willie’s Orphan Fund, Children to Lapland and Children’s Kidney Hundreds of paws are expected to hit the sand in Portrush this