NEWS

Dean Harrison takes North West 200 Superbike pole Thursday evening qualifying resumed at the 2026 Briggs Equipment North West 200 following the day’s earlier fatal incident, with riders returning to the Triangle circuit for shortened final sessions across all four classes. In difficult circumstances on the north coast, Honda Racing’s Dean Harrison emerged as the fastest man in the Superbike class, securing pole position for Saturday’s feature races after producing the quickes

Ballymena Show is set to return later this month with organisers promising a major refresh aimed at broadening the appeal of one of the area’s best-known agricultural events. The annual show will take place on Saturday 30 May 2026 at Ballymena Livestock Market, bringing together farming traditions, local food, family entertainment, and new attractions under a renewed “Farming, Food and Family” vision. Gates will open at 9:00am, with showing beginning from 10:00am, as visitors

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick promotes her Party in the Parterre at Antrim Castle Gardens in aid of her chosen charities. Families across the borough are being invited to Antrim Castle Gardens later this month as the Mayor’s Party in the Parterre returns with an afternoon packed full of entertainment, activities and fundraising for local charities. The community event will take place on Saturday 30 May from 1pm to 4pm in the scenic surrounding

Brothers and keen farmers, Adam and Matthew, join Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS) operations director, Rhonda Geary as they count down to this year's show and encourage visitors to travel by bus or train, with convenient, reliable and hassle-free services available throughout the event. Northern Ireland’s biggest celebration of farming, food and rural life is set to return next week, with thousands expected to descend on the Eikon Exhibition Centre for the 2026 Balm

Photo Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+ The next chapter in the Yellowstone universe is officially underway, with Paramount+ unveiling the first full trailer for Dutton Ranch — the highly anticipated spin-off centred on Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler. The new Paramount+ Original Series premieres globally on Friday, May 15 with two launch episodes, transporting the fan-favourite couple from the mountains of Montana to the dangerous and unforgiving landscape of South Texas. Set in

Ireland will host the largest-ever GAA World Games this July, with a record 115 teams from across the globe set to descend on Waterford for the five-day tournament. The international event, running from 13th to 17th July 2026, will bring together thousands of players competing in Gaelic football, hurling, camogie and LGFA, marking a major milestone in the global growth of Gaelic games. Europe drives surge in global participation Europe will form one of the strongest contingen

Members of the Northern Trust’s Palliative Care and Learning Disability Working Group pictured at an event to mark the launch of the bereavement information for adults with a learning disability. Talking about death remains one of life’s most avoided conversations—but a major regional campaign this week is aiming to change that, with new support, resources, and community events rolled out across the Northern Trust area to help people face it with greater confidence and compas

Briggs Equipment North West 200 Race Director, Mervyn Whyte, pictured with Rob Hodson and Storm Stacey who with both make their North West debuts at the famous north coast venue on May 4-9. (Photo credit: Stephen Davison) A rising British Superbike star is set to take on one of the most daunting challenges in road racing this week, as Storm Stacey prepares to make his debut at the Briggs Equipment North West 200. The 23-year-old arrives at the iconic Triangle circuit in Portr

Ainstable Hammer who sold for 30,000gns. One of the UK’s most respected Beltex sheep breeders is set to take centre stage at this year’s Balmoral Show, as top animals from across the region compete for honours in a key livestock showcase. Cumbrian breeder Brian Hall will judge the Beltex sheep classes on Wednesday, 13 May at 9:30am in the Sheep Rings, where exhibitors will present what is expected to be a high-calibre line-up of the popular terminal sire breed. Experienced b

Waterstone’s Ballymena has revealed its latest Top 10 bestselling books, with a strong mix of contemporary fiction, crime thrillers and memoirs leading the way — alongside a packed schedule of book clubs and a standout storytime event featuring a local author. With readers continuing to seek out both escapist fiction and thought-provoking titles, this week’s chart reflects a broad and evolving range of interests across the Ballymena community. Top 10 this week A blend of best

A major cross-border initiative is encouraging people across Mid and East Antrim to get moving this May, with a growing programme of free, weekly community walks designed to boost physical health, mental wellbeing and social connection. The Walking for All programme, led by Outscape and supported by PEACEPLUS, is inviting residents to mark National Walking Month by joining organised walks taking place across the borough, with no cost, no equipment required, and routes tailore

David Harkin, Franchisee Performance Manager at Subway UK and Ireland, is pictured with a group of finalists from across the competing clubs ahead of the NIYFA Subway Cup Finals Day at the Mid Ulster Sports Arena, Cookstown, where Northern Ireland’s top youth teams will compete for national honours. Northern Ireland’s most promising young footballers are set to take centre stage as 34 of the country’s leading youth teams prepare to compete for national honours at the NIYFA Su

TV and radio presenter Dermot O’Leary filming in Ballycastle for the second series of ‘Dermot’s Taste of Ireland’. A major new television series showcasing Northern Ireland’s coastline is set to reach millions of viewers this weekend, as broadcaster Dermot O’Leary returns with a second series of his hit travel and food programme exploring the island of Ireland. The new series of ‘Dermot’s Taste of Ireland’ will begin airing on ITV1 and streaming platform ITVX on Saturday, 2 M

Blue Lights cast members Nathan Braniff, Siân Brooke and Katherine Devlin The cast of hit police drama Blue Lights have paused filming in Belfast to back a major BBC campaign celebrating the city’s growing influence in television, as a striking new installation transforms a key route through the city centre. Actors Siân Brooke, Nathan Braniff and Katherine Devlin stepped away from production on the show’s fourth series to visit a specially designed billboard on Great Victoria

Westlife are set to take centre stage on this week’s Late Late Show as the chart-topping group returns for the final episode of the season, marking a major moment in their 25th anniversary celebrations and a packed year ahead for fans across Ireland and Northern Ireland. Shane Filan, Kian Egan and Nicky Byrne will lead the line-up with a performance of three of their biggest hits, alongside a surprise collaboration being kept tightly under wraps. The trio will also sit down w

Hannah Graham, Zarah Hutchinson, Lee Kane, Clare Doherty and Katherine Murphy led the BEAM Dawn Walk 2025, which saw over 250 participants walk through Ballymoney as the sun was rising, promoting positive mental health messages. A Ballymoney group focused on promoting positive mental health is continuing its 2026 programme with the return of its Dawn Walk and a series of community engagement efforts designed to strengthen connection, wellbeing and civic pride. BEAM – Building

Richard Cooper celebrating winning the Tides Restaurant Supersport Race at last year’s Briggs Equipment North West 200. (Photo Stephen Davison/Pacemaker Press) Seven-time Briggs Equipment North West 200 winner Richard Cooper says he and the SMS Nicholl Oils team are leaving their first test sessions on the BMW M1000RR “very, very happy” — with confidence building rapidly ahead of race week at Portrush from May 4–9. The 43-year-old Nottingham rider has been getting to grips wi

PSNI Chief Superintendent Mark Roberts, NW 200’s Mervyn White and PSNI Constable from Roads Policing. Police are urging road users travelling to and from this year’s North West 200 to prioritise safety, as tens of thousands of visitors prepare to descend on the North Coast for Northern Ireland’s largest sporting event. With race week scheduled to run from 4th to 9th May, officers have warned that increased traffic, changing road conditions, and heightened excitement around th

Young Dunloy woman Lasairfhíona Nic Ruairí A 20-year-old musician from Dunloy is set to take to one of Belfast’s biggest stages this summer, as a new large-scale traditional music production aims to attract thousands of visitors to the city. Lasairfhíona Nic Ruairí will perform on both harp and fiddle in Celtic Heart, a brand new “destination” stage show commissioned by the Waterfront Hall. The production will run from April through to September, offering audiences a live sho

Photos: Bob McEvoy With weeks still to go before runners take to the streets, one of Ballymena’s most anticipated sporting events has already reached full capacity, signalling a surge of local enthusiasm and community backing. The Fairhill Five Mile Race, organised by Ballymena Runners and sponsored by Fairhill Shopping Centre, is officially sold out ahead of its return on Thursday 4th June, setting the stage for a packed and high-energy evening in the town centre. The sell-o