NEWS

Queen’s University Belfast Queen’s marks 175 years of opening education beyond campus with new spring programme Queen’s University Belfast is celebrating a remarkable 175 years of extramural education, continuing a long-standing tradition of making university-level learning accessible to the wider public through its latest Open Learning spring programme. The milestone marks nearly two centuries since the University first began offering classes “outside the walls” of the inst

A man is receiving hospital treatment after being shot in the hand during an early-hours gun attack on the Bushmills Road in Coleraine, with police closing part of the route on Sunday morning as investigations continue. The shooting happened in the early hours of Sunday, 12 April, when the victim was walking home between 1.00am and 1.30am. According to initial reports, a male dressed entirely in black, with his face covered, approached the man on the Bushmills Road and fired

Families across Ballymena and the wider area are being invited to enjoy a free day of outdoor fun later this month as the Portglenone Bluebell Festival returns to Portglenone Forest on Saturday 25 April, celebrating one of the area’s most striking spring displays. Running from 11:00am to 3:00pm, the festival promises a full programme of activities built around the annual arrival of the forest’s bluebells, transforming the woodland into a colourful spring attraction for visit

L-R: Martin McGrogan, Managing Director of MMG Contracts Ltd and Gordon Cruikshanks, Regional Managing Director for Lidl Northern Ireland at the site of the new public house Lidl Northern Ireland has begun construction on a landmark new public house and associated off-sales beside its long-established Dundonald store in County Down, marking the retailer’s first venture of its kind and bringing its full award-winning range of wines, beers and spirits to the local community for

14-year-old Amber Pollock and 13-year-old Bay Giltrap, both missing from Bangor, County Down Police have issued an urgent appeal for information as efforts continue to trace two missing teenagers from the Bangor area who are believed to be together and may have travelled as far as Dublin. Officers are seeking the public’s help to locate 14-year-old Amber Pollock and 13-year-old Bay Giltrap , who were last seen on Saturday, 11 April. The pair are understood to have boarded an

Asda Antrim raises funds for Dementia NI Asda Antrim has strengthened its support for the local community with backing for two separate initiatives — helping bring generations together in Randalstown through a community sports event and raising more than £6,000 for Dementia NI. The supermarket’s latest community efforts have seen Randalstown Ulster-Scots Society awarded a £600 grant through the Asda Foundation, while colleagues at the Antrim store have also completed a major

Concept drawing of Roe Park House demonstrating how the property would look if Galgorm Collection planning proposal approved. Galgorm Collection’s multi-million-pound transformation of Roe Valley Resort has taken another visible step forward, with plans submitted to restore the original Georgian entrance of historic Roe Park House. A Listed Building Consent application has been lodged with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council seeking approval to reinstate the former main

One of Northern Ireland’s leading hospitality groups has announced a major new sponsorship deal with the 2026 Briggs Equipment North West 200, adding fresh commercial backing to one of the province’s biggest sporting and tourism events ahead of race week next month. Galgorm Collection confirmed it will become an inaugural sponsor of the internationally renowned road race for the first time, with the 2026 event set to run from May 4 to May 9 along the North Coast. The move bri

Jordan Herron of Larne Athletic Club won the men’s race at the 2026 Saint-Gobain Exterior Solutions Larne 10 Mile Race. Jordan is pictured crossing the line in a time of 54:15. (All photographs by Presseye/Stephen Hamilton) A record number of runners from across Northern Ireland and beyond lined the County Antrim coast on Saturday as the 2026 Saint-Gobain Exterior Solutions Larne 10 Mile Race delivered its biggest event to date, with local athlete Jordan Herron and Pamela Ki

Twenty-eight years after the Belfast Agreement reshaped Northern Ireland’s future, Ulster Unionist leader Jon Burrows MLA has said the next political mission must be to turn the peace secured in 1998 into lasting prosperity, governance reform and renewed public confidence in Stormont’s institutions. Marking the anniversary of the landmark accord on Friday, April 10, Burrows used the moment to reflect on both the transformation brought by the Agreement and what he described as

Police have said they are actively monitoring online calls for coordinated protests across Northern Ireland next week amid growing anger over rising fuel costs linked to the escalating US/Israel–Iran war in the Middle East. The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed on Saturday, 11 April 2026, that an operational response has already been prepared if required ahead of the planned demonstrations on Tuesday, 14 April. The warning comes after a series of social media posts

Uform in Toomebridge Uform has announced the acquisition of TKC in a landmark deal set to reshape the kitchen, bedroom and living space supply market across the UK and Ireland, marking a significant expansion for one of Northern Ireland’s best-known manufacturing and distribution businesses. The move sees the Mid Ulster-based group significantly broaden its reach across key trade channels while establishing a stronger physical presence in Great Britain, creating what the comp

Kathryn McKay with husband Mark, and daughters Isla and Grace. What began as a lump discovered without warning has become a story of resilience, friendship and gratitude, as Ballymena mother-of-two Kathryn McKay prepares to turn one of the darkest chapters of her life into a night of hope for other families facing cancer. This Saturday evening, 11 April , Kathryn — alongside close friend Lauren Herbison — is inviting the local community to come together for A Night at the R

Mounting anger over soaring fuel and fertiliser costs across Northern Ireland has prompted fresh political pressure on Westminster, as planned fuel protests loom and Stormont’s First Minister and deputy First Minister jointly urge the Prime Minister to intervene without delay. The developing row comes as households, businesses, farmers and hauliers across Northern Ireland face intensifying financial strain, with rising fuel and energy prices deepening the wider cost-of-living

Artist’s impression of the new Staycity aparthotel in Belfast city centre Construction work has officially begun on the first Staycity aparthotel in Northern Ireland, with the £20 million development set to bring 98 new guest units to the heart of Belfast city centre by May 2027. The project marks a significant investment in Belfast’s growing visitor economy and will also serve as the launch site for Staycity Group’s new brand concept, making the city the first location to s

The BEAM team and local volunteers gathered cleanup, community and craic in Ballymoney! More than 50 people from across Ballymoney turned out for a community litter pick at Riverside Park, in a strong show of local spirit that organisers say was about far more than clearing rubbish from public spaces. The event, organised by BEAM – Building Empowerment & Awareness to Mind – took place on Tuesday 31 March and brought together people of all ages from across the town, with volun

A animal snare discovered at a riverside location where otters were found Northern Ireland is set to remain the only part of the UK without movement towards a ban on animal snares during the current Assembly mandate, after the Agriculture Minister confirmed there are no plans to bring forward legislation on the issue. The confirmation has prompted sharp criticism from South Antrim MP Robin Swann, who said the decision leaves Northern Ireland lagging behind the rest of the UK

A major resurfacing scheme is set to take place this summer on one of Ballymena’s busiest approach roads, with work planned on the main route from Galgorm into the town. The resurfacing will cover the stretch from the double roundabout at Tullyglass to the Grange Road junction, a key artery used daily by local residents, commuters and businesses travelling in and out of Ballymena. The planned works were confirmed in a statement issued by TUV councillors Stewart McDonald and M

Factory floor, Wrightbus Ballymena Ballymena-based bus manufacturer Wrightbus is taking a leading role in a new UK Government-backed project exploring whether autonomous vehicle technology could help tackle some of the most urgent challenges facing public transport, including chronic driver shortages, rising costs, and the pressure to decarbonise services. The zero-emission bus manufacturer has been selected as lead partner in ASPIRE, one of just eight projects chosen under t

Doireann Ní Ghlacáin and Anton Savage at Ravensdale, Co. Louth in RTÉ‘s latest series of Tracks & Trails Spring’s most soothing television watch is back this week as RTÉ’s much-loved walking series Tracks & Trails returns for its 13th season, bringing viewers across some of Ireland’s most spectacular landscapes — including a dedicated Northern Ireland episode featuring Belfast’s Cave Hill and Rathlin Island, Co Antrim. The new five-part series begins this Friday, 10 April, at