NEWS

Lapwing nest in the Antrim Hills The 2025 breeding season has delivered a significant boost for some of Northern Ireland’s most threatened wading birds, thanks to a close partnership between RSPB NI, local farmers and landowners across the Antrim Hills. RSPB NI staff and volunteers have spent recent months surveying, protecting and monitoring key species across a number of sites, working hand-in-hand with the agricultural community to improve habitat conditions and give vulne

We've made it to 'V' for Victoria Sponge - SAVE this all time classic, failsafe recipe. This is a recipe you should have up your sleeve for birthdays and celebrations - everyone will love you! Sometimes the classics are just the best. I went for a flavoured vanilla cream but you could also use buttercream. I guarantee this will go down well. Only 4 more recipes to complete the A-Z! Jill Stewart ( @jillbakes_ ) INGREDIENTS… Serves 12-14 For the sponge: 225g butter or spread, s

Ballymena is set to come alive with festive cheer as the much-loved Jingle All the Way campaign returns for 2025, with the Ballymena NI Hospice Support Group preparing to host its eagerly anticipated Jingle Day in aid of the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice. Taking place on Saturday 6th December , from 10:00am to 3:30pm , the event promises a packed programme of family-friendly entertainment across Harmony Hub (the Bandstand) and Greenvale Street , bringing the communit

Pudsey and Asda Antrim's Ashley Ritchie visited local schools in aid of BBC Children in Need Colleagues at Asda Antrim have helped raise an impressive £2,100 for BBC Children in Need after teaming up with customers and local schools to support the annual charity appeal. The fundraising effort was led by the store’s Community Champion, Ashley Ritchie , who organised a series of activities including tombolas, raffles, in-store bucket collections and visits to nearby primary sch

Waterstone’s Ballymena has revealed this week’s Top 10 bestselling books, alongside fantastic half-price offers, festive storytime fun, and the highly anticipated romantasy release Brimstone by Callie Hart. This Week’s Top 10 Bestsellers Exit Strategy – Lee Child & Andrew Child Jack Reacher is back in this high-octane thriller as he pursues a dangerous conspiracy with his trademark resourcefulness and grit. A gripping addition to the bestselling series. Always Remember – Char

Meat and other foodstuffs are among the items most frequently stolen from shops in Mid and East Antrim, according to crime prevention officer Paul Black. The PSNI officer told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that there has been “a big increase in shoplifting” in the borough since the pandemic. “There are two types – those who are desperate for food and those who are stealing to order,” he said. Speaking at a public meeting of the Mid and East Antrim Policing and Comm

A puffin makes history on the Isle of Muck Nature Reserve, off Islandmagee – the first to nest here in Ulster Wildlife’s 25 years of managing this seabird sanctuary. (Images & Video: Ronald Surgenor) For the first time in a quarter of a century, puffins have been recorded nesting on Ulster Wildlife’s Isle of Muck Nature Reserve, off Islandmagee in Co. Antrim — marking a significant milestone for seabird recovery in Northern Ireland. The discovery, made during routine surveys

Northern Trust dietetic colleagues Kathryn Duff, Shelley Hannon, Michelle Graham Steele, Ursula Quinn, Katherine Hudson and Elizabeth Armstrong received the ‘Community Nutrition Professional of the Year’ award at the 2025 Complete Nutrition (CN) Awards in recognition of their innovative work around community nutrition care. A team of dietitians from the Northern Health and Social Care Trust has been named ‘Community Nutrition Professional of the Year’ at the 2025 Complete Nut

The famous pink brand of Dougies Goodies has officially arrived at Applegreen Lisburn Southbound, bringing a burst of colour — and a lot of sweetness — to one of Northern Ireland’s busiest service stations. The collaboration, launched on Friday 14 November, sees Dougies Goodies’ signature cakes and bakes now available at Applegreen’s Lisburn South services. The partnership pairs Applegreen’s convenient, on-the-go offering with Dougies’ fun, playful identity and the distinctiv

DUP North Antrim MLA Paul Frew, and Councillor Reuben Glover at the junction of Dans Road and Galgorm Road DUP MLA Paul Frew has urged authorities to act swiftly to address what he describes as the “much higher than would be expected” number of road traffic accidents on a key stretch of the Galgorm Road in Ballymena. Mr Frew and Alderman Reuben Glover have been approached by numerous concerned residents regarding safety issues on the section between Cambridge Avenue and the D

With the much-anticipated opening of Primark expected to draw significantly higher footfall, Fairhill Shopping Centre Management has announced the introduction of a new pay-on-arrival parking option to help ease congestion during the busy period. In a message to customers, management said they had been “reviewing the parking system and have added the option of paying on arrival when you park at the Centre”. The change, they explained, aims “ to help reduce queues at payment

Janet Devlin joins Tiarnán O’Neill, Chief Finance Officer at Galgorm Collection, to celebrate the launch of Christmas All Around, the luxury hotel group’s new festive film. Northern Ireland singer-songwriter Janet Devlin is the face – and voice – of Galgorm Collection’s new Christmas campaign, Christmas All Around, an emotive festive film celebrating the meaning of time, connection and togetherness during the holiday season. The Gortin-born artist, known for her distinctive v

Project Co-ordinator for Good Morning Ballymena, Debbie Chestnutt Good Morning Ballymena has been awarded the prestigious King’s Award for Voluntary Service — the highest honour given to volunteer groups across the United Kingdom — in recognition of its exceptional contribution to the wellbeing of older and vulnerable people in the local community. The organisation, which provides vital support, reassurance, and companionship to individuals across the Ballymena area, describe

farmdrive co-founders - Gareth Gordon, CTO, and Gareth McDonald, CEO Northern Ireland agri-tech company farmdrive has raised £1 million in pre-seed investment to drive international growth of its pioneering livestock data and supply chain platform. The funding round was led by TechStart Ventures and Ascension Ventures, with participation from Angel Invest, and will support product development, team expansion, and entry into new markets across the UK and Europe. Founded in 202

The new Generation 2 Electroliner built by Wrightbus in Ballymena. Ballymena-based manufacturer Wrightbus has launched its most efficient battery electric bus to date, marking another major step in the company’s drive to decarbonise public transport. The new Generation 2 Electroliner boasts significant improvements in range, charging speed, battery life and efficiency — the result of a multi-million-pound in-house battery development programme. The cutting-edge model is alrea

PSNI Chief Inspector Siobhan Watt, PCSP Vice Chair Sharon Maxwell, PCSP Chair Councillor Lauren Gray, District Electoral Area Manager Ballymena and Lead for PCSP Jane Dunlop, and NIFRS Station Commander Johnston Birrell. (Image: Steven McAuley / McAuley Multimedia) Mid and East Antrim Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) is joining forces with the PSNI and Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) to encourage everyone to play their part in improving road

Church Street, Ballymena Mid and East Antrim’s town centres are set to shine even brighter this Christmas thanks to a £150,000 investment in festive lighting announced by Communities Minister Gordon Lyons. The Department for Communities is providing £135,000, with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council contributing an additional £15,000 towards the new Festive Lighting Scheme. The funding will support the installation of new and enhanced seasonal lighting across Ballymena, Larne

Pictured at the opening of the Infinity Room are Noah’s parents Corrina and Johnny McAleese, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Leona Laverty, Bereavement Co-Ordinator, Northern Trust. A new bereavement support space, created in memory of a Dunloy toddler who tragically lost his life in a farming accident, has officially opened at Causeway Hospital. The Infinity Room, named in honour of two-year-old Noah McAleese and his love of Toy Story, was opened this week by Noah’s parents

Jake Quigley A 21-year-old man from Ballymena has been jailed for his role in a violent, race-motivated disturbance that took place in the town’s Clonavon area earlier this year. Jake Quigley was sentenced at Antrim Crown Court today, Wednesday 12th November, for his involvement in the large-scale disorder on 9th June. He received a two-year custodial sentence, followed by two years on licence. The incident, described by police as “shameful scenes” , saw significant damage ca

The British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland (BHF NI) is calling on the Ballymena community to don their elf hats and lend an “elfing” hand in their local charity shop this festive season. As Christmas approaches, the charity is seeking volunteers – or “elves” – to help bring festive cheer while supporting life-saving heart research. From decorating the shop and sorting donations to chatting with customers, volunteers can make a real difference in their local community this