NEWS

Air Ambulsnce NI departing from the scene of the serious collision in Larne. Image: Jason Bain A motorcyclist remains in a critical condition in hospital following a serious road traffic collision in Larne on Sunday afternoon. Police have launched an appeal for witnesses and footage after a motorcycle and a van were involved in a collision in the Circular Road area of the town. The incident occurred shortly before midday and prompted an emergency response from police and the

Ballymena dad and daughter duo Trevor and Georgia Steele work together at the Asda Antrim store. A father and daughter who work side by side at Asda Antrim have become well known among colleagues for an affectionate nickname that has spread throughout the store – with dad Trevor Steele now better known to many as “Sugar Bear”. The Ballymena family’s story is one of shared shifts, shared friendships and plenty of workplace banter, with Trevor and daughter Georgia Steele disco

Some of the members of Carrick Pool League Pool clubs across Carrickfergus are being recognised as more than just places to compete and socialise, with a local league using the game’s strong community spirit to encourage men to open up about their mental health and seek support when they need it. Recently, during Men’s Health Week, the Carrick and District Pool League (CDPL) joined forces with the Public Health Agency (PHA) to promote the message that talking about mental hea

Stock photo A Ballymena dog owner has appealed for witnesses to come forward after his 10-year-old Border Collie was left fighting for her life following a violent attack by two loose Bully-type dogs in the town’s Demesne estate. The incident happened at around 8.15pm on Thursday, June 18, on a green area at Glenshesk Drive near Demesne Avenue. The owner says his dog, who was being walked on a lead at the time, suffered multiple puncture wounds to her face, legs and stomach a

Pictured at The Ecos Hub are: (l-r): Dwain Steele of Hampton Conservatories; Paul Blahyj of Toyota Lean Management Centre; David Greer, Operational Excellence Manager at Invest Northern Ireland; Simon McKee, Operational Excellence Coach, Invest NI; Mark Hutchinson, CEO of Hutchinson Engineering; Ryan Black, Director of Growth and Major Projects at Mid and East Antrim Borough Council; David Watson, Chair of the MTF Network and Julian Ball of the Toyota Lean Management Centre.

Maggie O’Farrell’s Land remains at the top of the bestseller chart at Waterstone’s Ballymena this week, as readers continue to gravitate towards a mix of literary fiction, romance, mystery and crime. The latest weekly update from the Ballymena bookshop also highlights upcoming book clubs, family storytime sessions and a host of acclaimed new titles, including several books shortlisted for this year’s Women’s Prize. Top 10 this week A varied selection of bestselling fiction do

Motorists and shoppers in Ballymena are being advised to plan ahead today as Mid and East Antrim Pride takes place in the town, bringing temporary road closures, traffic disruption and an increased police presence. The Pride parade is expected to draw participants and supporters into the town centre on Saturday afternoon, June 20, while separate protest activity is also anticipated in parts of Ballymena. Police have said they will have additional officers on duty to help ensu

Motorists and town centre visitors are being advised to expect traffic disruption in Ballymena this Saturday as Mid and East Antrim Pride returns to the town, with road closures, a parade through the town centre and a heightened police presence planned throughout the afternoon. The event is due to take place on Saturday, June 20, with participants assembling in the Waveney Road area from approximately 1pm before the parade begins at 2pm. Police have confirmed that a number of

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon launched the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Performance Improvement Plan 2026/27 Recycling performance has fallen, town centres are perceived to be in decline and almost half of households across Mid and East Antrim are affected by long-term health conditions or disabilities. Those are among the challenges identified by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council as it unveiled a year-ahead improvement plan that includes a maj

Translink’s Ballymena Rail and Bus Centre Northern Ireland’s bus and rail network is preparing for a summer-long showcase of community pride, environmental action and workplace excellence, with several facilities across the Ballymena and East Antrim area among 37 locations entering the 2026 SPIRIT of Translink Facility Awards. Among the local facilities taking part are Ballymena Bus and Rail Centre, Whitehead Station, Larne Buscentre, Larne Town railway station, Greenisland S

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has raised concerns over the potential cost of proposed animal welfare changes that could require pet cats to be microchipped. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is carrying out a public consultation on a series of proposed reforms to animal welfare policy in Northern Ireland. The department is seeking views on measures including increased dog licence fees, the regulation of rescue and rehoming organisation

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon is pictured with Breige Mulholland, Head of Finance and Operations at Air Ambulance NI and Samantha Booysen, Director of Operations at Rural Support from the two charities he has chosen to support during his term in office. Mid and East Antrim’s new Mayor has pledged to use his year in office to support two charities that provide critical help to people facing some of the most challenging moments of their lives. Alderman To

Stock image Becoming a first-time mum can be overwhelming, isolating and frightening. For one Ballymena mother, support from a local SureStart programme proved so transformative that she now describes it as being “integral to my survival” during some of the most challenging years of her life. “The past four years have been the best of my life,” says Ballymena mum Paige*. It is a statement she does not make lightly. During that time, she has also faced significant personal cha

Mrs Valerie Alexander, Dunclug College What began as a journey from Ballymena to some of the poorest communities in India has grown into a life-changing mission that has transformed opportunities for countless young people — and earned one local teacher national recognition in The King’s Birthday Honours. Mrs Valerie Alexander, a driving force behind Dunclug College’s long-standing partnership with the ASHA Society in New Delhi, has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM)

Sabrina Lynn, Head of Service, Louise Gillespie, Programme Delivery Officer, Suzanne Pullins, Northern Trust Chief Executive, and Lynsey McVitty, Health and Wellbeing Locality Lead, prepare to cut the celebration cake at the ‘thank you’ event. Hundreds of patients and service users across Northern Ireland benefit every year from the time, compassion and dedication of volunteers working within the Northern Health and Social Care Trust — and this week those volunteers were reco

DUP Bannside Councillor Tyler Hoey A proposal inspired by a Ballymena child who became overwhelmed before attending a community event is set to bring sensory support boxes into council buildings across Mid and East Antrim after receiving unanimous backing from local councillors. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council voted in favour of a motion brought forward by DUP Councillor Tyler Hoey during a meeting at The Braid on Monday, June 8, paving the way for officers to examine the

Greg McKinley, Operations Director at The Gallaher Trust, was the recipient of a BEM in this year’s King’s Birthday Honour’s List. Greg is pictured delivering an address at the recent Ballymena 400: Building on Partnership and Progress event. The quiet work of helping people into jobs, supporting skills development and ensuring a major Ballymena employer left a lasting legacy has earned one local man one of the UK’s most respected honours. Greg McKinley, Operations Director o

(L-R) Sarah McLaughlin, Executive Director for Health, and Catriona Delargy, IMPACTAgewell Team Leader, Agewell Partnership For many older people across Ballymena, Larne and Carrickfergus, support for better health and wellbeing is increasingly being found not just in a doctor’s surgery, but through local community groups, advice services and social activities designed to reduce isolation and improve quality of life. That approach was placed firmly in the spotlight this month

Leanne Richmond, Clinical Sister in the Neonatal Unit at Antrim Area Hospital. A baby’s earliest experiences can have a profound impact on their future emotional wellbeing, according to healthcare professionals at Antrim Area Hospital, who are using Infant Mental Health Awareness Week to highlight the lifelong importance of strong early relationships. The Northern Health and Social Care Trust is raising awareness of how simple but meaningful interactions between babies and th

The burnt out vehicle on Sunday morning A car was completely destroyed after a deliberate fire in a residential area of Ballymena in the early hours of Sunday morning, prompting a police appeal for information. The incident happened in the Shetlands Gardens area of Ballykeel II shortly after 3.10am on Sunday, June 14, when emergency services were called to reports of a vehicle on fire. Police officers attended the scene alongside crews from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescu