NEWS

Stephen Lynn running the Belfast Half Marathon in aid of Guide Dogs NI. Thursday 12 November 2026 A Ballymena optician has turned his Belfast Half Marathon challenge into a fundraising success, raising £1,560 to help people living with sight loss enjoy greater independence and confidence. Stephen Lynn, retail director at Specsavers Ballymena, completed the race in September, supported by friends, family, colleagues and customers who contributed to his fundraising efforts for

Moyra Mills, Macmillan Cancer Service Improvement Manager and Amy Wilson, Macmillan Information and Support Manager, are encouraging the public to take part in a photography competition, with selected images set to go on display in the new Macmillan Information and Support Centre at Antrim Area Hospital. Wednesday 11 November 2026 A photograph of a peaceful coastline, woodland or glen could soon offer a moment of comfort to someone facing cancer, as the public is invited to h

Wednesday 11 November 2026 Communities, charities, businesses and individuals across Northern Ireland are being invited to help decide what a future major peacebuilding and investment programme should prioritise, as a public consultation opens on the next phase of PEACEPLUS funding. The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) is seeking views on the challenges facing local communities and where future investment could make the greatest difference between 2028 and 2034. The consult

Police Ombudsman office in Belfast Wednesday 11 November 2026 Allegations of police officers exploiting vulnerable women for sexual purposes now account for around one third of the Police Ombudsman’s most serious investigations in Northern Ireland, an Assembly committee has been told. The disturbing scale of the problem emerged as MLAs examined findings of an investigation into officers allegedly abusing their positions of authority to pursue sexual or inappropriate emotional

(L-R): Ellie Massey, Trainee Solicitor; Rachel Hogan BL, SEND Specialist Legal Adviser; and Kathryn Stevenson, Head of Legal Services. Wednesday 11 November 2026 Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) could benefit from stronger legal protections under revised proposals for Northern Ireland’s education system, following months of intervention by children’s rights advocates concerned that planned reforms could weaken existing safeguards. The Children’s

Wednesday 11 November 2026 Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has reaffirmed its decision to introduce blue wheelie bins across Ballymena and Carrickfergus, despite calls from Bryson Recycling to reconsider the move and claims that an alternative system could save £3 million a year. In a statement issued today (Wednesday 11 November), the council made clear that preparations are continuing to replace the existing kerbside recycling boxes with a single blue bin for household

Wednesday 11 November 2026 More than 300 schools across Northern Ireland have reported receiving a threatening email this morning, with police treating the message as a hoax and assessing the risk to the public as low. Police said checks had not found anything untoward at this stage. Enquiries are continuing into the identical message, which police said originated outside the UK. The assessment is based on enquiries and information available so far. Police also believe some s

Tuesday 10 November 2026 Families in Carrickfergus are being invited to enjoy a magical new Christmas experience as a free Twinkle Trail prepares to light up Shaftesbury Park this December, with a special launch event for younger children followed by five evenings open to the public. Organised by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, the festive attraction promises an enchanting display of lights, colour and Christmas cheer, offering families an opportunity to enjoy the season

Tuesday 10 November 2026 Detectives are appealing for witnesses after a masked man reportedly pointed a gun at a woman in Antrim on Tuesday morning (10 November), before fleeing the scene on an electric bicycle. The frightening incident was reported to police shortly after 8.40am in the Greenvale Drive area of the town. Police say the suspect produced what was described as a firearm and pointed it at the woman before making off. Masked suspect fled on electric bicycle Detecti

CGI of proposed town centre housing development in Meeting House Lane, Ballymena Friday 06 November 2026 A major Ballymena town centre regeneration scheme has moved to full planning, with new documents revealing plans for social housing as 858 local households remain in housing stress. The Housing Executive says Ark Housing Association intends to progress social housing within the proposed 74-home Meeting House Mews development at Church Street and Meeting House Lane, where i

Matthew Armstrong with his much-loved dad, Dessie Tuesday 10 November 2026 “The fact of the matter is my father won't be here for ever.” For Ballymena councillor Matthew Armstrong, those words capture the deeply personal reason behind a charity fundraiser he is organising for people living with pulmonary fibrosis – an incurable lung condition that has changed life for his father, Dessie, and their family. What began as a persistent dry cough in summer 2019 led to a diagnosis

The dead cattle strewn across a field in Fivemiletown following the DAERA cull operation. Tuesday 10 November 2026 A major independent review into the controversial culling of 51 cattle near Fivemiletown has exposed serious failures in DAERA’s governance, planning and control of the operation — despite concluding that the Department acted lawfully and the animals killed were humanely destroyed. Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir has accepted all 10 recommendations from former I

Tuesday 10 November 2026 A woman in her 80s has died following a road traffic collision involving a car in Newtownards, police have confirmed. The woman was seriously injured after being struck in a collision involving a white Mercedes C200 on Circular Road on Thursday 5 November. Emergency services attended the scene shortly after 5.30pm, with the injured pedestrian taken to hospital for treatment. Police have now confirmed that she has died as a result of her injuries. Poli

Storm Stacey sets his eyes on North West 200 glory in 2027. Tuesday 10 November 2026 Storm Stacey is returning to the Briggs Equipment North West 200 in 2027, determined to repeat the remarkable debut that saw him defeat Michael Dunlop, end Glenn Irwin’s record-breaking winning streak and establish himself as one of road racing’s most exciting new talents. The 23-year-old Staffordshire rider confirmed his return during a visit to Portrush, revealing that he will race alongsid

Local school teacher and children’s author, Andrew Crooks, holding his latest story book, ‘The Elf Who Found Himself’. Tuesday 10 November 2026 A Ballymena teacher has turned an important lesson about confidence and self-belief, first shared with his own children, into a new Christmas story encouraging young readers to recognise their strengths and never give up on themselves. Andrew Crooks, a maths teacher and Head of Year 9 at Dunclug College, has published his third childr

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is facing renewed calls to reconsider its decision to introduce blue recycling bins across Ballymena and Carrickfergus, with Bryson Recycling claiming an alternative collection system could deliver potential annual savings of £3 million. The charity has urged the council to follow the example of neighbouring Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, where a kerbside-sort recycling system has been expanded alongside reductions in household re

Sofia Sweetlove presents The Princess of Wales with daffodils during her service visit in Northern Ireland in 2019. (Credit: Aaron McCracken Photography) Tuesday 10 November 2026 A little girl from Ballymena who presented the Princess of Wales with daffodils picked from her family garden has shared the story behind a treasured photograph, as children’s charity Action for Children celebrates 10 years of royal patronage. Sofia Sweetlove was just three years old when she met Ca

Tuesday 10 November 2026 Families across Northern Ireland will face higher school meal prices from January, while changes to school transport, music tuition and funding for schools form part of a further £20 million savings package agreed by the Education Authority (EA). The measures will bring the Authority’s planned savings and efficiencies to approximately £50 million this financial year, yet it is still forecasting a funding shortfall of more than £100 million to maintain

The property in County Antrim proposed as a new Teen Challenge residential addiction recovery centre. Monday 9 November 2026 Plans have been submitted to transform a former guesthouse near Belfast International Airport into a residential addiction recovery centre, providing accommodation and support for up to 24 people struggling with drug and alcohol dependency. The proposal, submitted to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council on behalf of registered charity Teen Challenge

HRH The Duke of Gloucester with the Mayor of Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council, Cllr Dawn Huggins and the Chief Executive of Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust, Mr Edward Mason, pictured during the visit to the historic WWII Trainer Dome at Artikelly, Limavady on Thursday 5th November. Monday 9 November 2026 A rare Second World War training dome near Limavady is being transformed into an immersive heritage attraction, with a royal visit offering a first look at restor