NEWS

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for Northern Ireland for rain and snow, in force from 04:00 to 20:00 on Wednesday 18 February 2026, with disruption to travel possible across the province. The warning, which impacts all parts of Northern Ireland, highlights the risk of outbreaks of rain, hill snow and strong southeasterly winds throughout the day. Rain, snow and strong winds forecast across the province According to the Met Office, an area of rain — falling

Ballymena teen Eva-Lilly Beckett selected to represent Ireland at the 2026 Europe Netball Under 17 Championships A Ballymena Academy pupil has been selected to represent Ireland at the 2026 Europe Netball Under 17 Championships, with Eva-Lilly Beckett earning a place in the Ireland U17 squad following a competitive international trial process. Eva-Lilly, who is from Ballymena and plays her club netball with Antrim Ladies Netball Club , will compete at the prestigious tournam

The former Ruby’s Bar on Old Glenarm Road, Larne Planning permission has been approved by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for the demolition of a public house and the construction of new housing on Old Glenarm Road in Larne. The development proposal by applicant Harry Diamond of Ruby Homes (NI) Ltd relates to the site of Ruby’s Bar and includes a mix of social and private “market” housing. The scheme proposes 24 dwellings comprising 12 three-bedroom houses, eight one-bed

Young Greenisland FC U12 players Alfie, Josh, Teddy, Jake, Zach and Theo are pictured as the Budget Energy SuperCupNI confirms the elite international academies who will travel from Europe, North America, the Middle East and Central America to compete in the 2026 Boys’ Minor Section of the tournament. Eight elite international academies from across Europe, North America, the Middle East and Central America have been confirmed for the 2026 Budget Energy SuperCupNI Boys’ Minor

Kilrea Bridge on the B64 Bann Road in Kilrea will fully reopen to all vehicles at 5pm on Wednesday 18 February, following the successful completion of permanent structural repair works, the Department for Infrastructure has confirmed. The bridge, which has been restricted to cars and light vehicles since early December, will once again be accessible to all traffic as width and weight restrictions are lifted. The reopening marks the completion of the main stabilisation works,

Michaela McBurnie from the Meadows Equestrian Centre with students Emma Brow (Hillsborough) and Ellie Getty (Cloughmills). The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) has brought industry and education together at its Enniskillen Campus, hosting an Opportunities in Equine Careers Fair as part of its annual Careers Day to support students planning their future in the equine sector. The Opportunities in Equine Careers Day was designed to help students develop

Ballymoney Train Station Plans to expand parking at Ballymoney Train Station have moved a step closer after the Minister for Infrastructure confirmed that funding has been allocated to support the project, with North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows welcoming the development. In a written response to a question from Mr Burrows, the Minister confirmed that the Department for Infrastructure has allocated funding enabling Translink to purchase a site on Meeting House Street, directly adja

Belfast International Airport will host its second Jobs Fair of 2026 later this month, offering more than 100 full-time, part-time and seasonal vacancies as it prepares for the busy summer season and continues its £100 million investment programme. The recruitment event will take place on Saturday 21 February at The Dunsilly Hotel in Antrim, from 11am to 3pm , with airport teams and partner companies on hand to discuss roles, salaries and benefits. Wide range of roles across

‘Machiko Nancy‘ – a new £2.7 million Shannon class lifeboat to serve with Larne RNLI (Image: Jason Bain / RNLI) A new £2.7 million Shannon class lifeboat has arrived at Larne RNLI, marking a significant milestone for the County Antrim station as it prepares to replace its long-serving Trent class lifeboat, Dr John McSparran. The state-of-the-art all-weather lifeboat reached Larne at 1358hrs (1.58pm) on Sunday 15 February — timed to coincide with the number displayed on its hu

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for ice across Northern Ireland from 8pm on Monday 16 February 2026 until 10am on Tuesday 17 February 2026 , with motorists and pedestrians urged to take extra care as temperatures fall to or below freezing. According to the national forecaster, wintry showers throughout Monday will leave many surfaces wet into the evening. As skies clear overnight and temperatures drop, untreated roads and pavements are at risk of becoming i

Passengers travelling on the Dublin, Bangor, Larne and Derry~Londonderry rail lines are being urged to plan ahead as Translink confirms a series of essential engineering works across two weekends in February. The planned works will affect services on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 February , and again on Saturday 28 February and Sunday 1 March , with rail replacement bus services operating on impacted routes. The programme of works, coordinated with Irish Rail, will result in temp

Hollybank staff members Darren Mitchell and Kellie Grant. Hollybank Supported Living in Magherafelt is recruiting additional Band 3 support workers, as the Northern Health and Social Care Trust encourages people to consider a career in social care supporting adults with learning disabilities. Recruitment open days will take place in March, with applications now open online. The Trust is seeking staff to work across supported living and short breaks services at Hollybank, offe

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer The Government has announced urgent action to strengthen the Online Safety Act and close legal loopholes that ministers say are putting children at risk, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledging that “no platform gets a free pass” when it comes to online safety. Speaking to parents and young people on Monday 16 February, the Prime Minister will set out new powers designed to ensure the law keeps pace with fast-moving technologies, including

Jane Rea on the family farm in Shilnavogy in the Antrim hills. (All Images: BBC NI / Below The Radar TV) Jane Rea’s Bloomin’ Wild, a new four-part farming series set on a family farm in Shilnavogy, County Antrim, begins this week on BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer. The series follows the changing seasons in the Antrim Hills, exploring food, craft and Ulster-Scots culture woven into everyday rural life. Filmed on Jane Rea’s family farm in the small townland of Shilnav

A 45-year-old man has been arrested and charged following a burglary at Boots pharmacy at Ballymena Health and Care Centre on the Cushendall Road in Ballymena, police have confirmed. The alarm was raised on Thursday morning, February 12, when damage was discovered at the pharmacy premises within the health centre. Police confirm arrest and charges A spokesperson for the Police Service of Northern Ireland said: “Police investigating a burglary of a pharmacy in Ballymena on Th

Young Ballymena woman Chloe Mitchell who was brutally murdered in the town. The Chloe Mitchell trial will proceed after Justice Minister Naomi Long and representatives of the Criminal Bar Association reached agreement following talks aimed at resolving the current impasse within the criminal justice system. In a joint statement issued on Sunday (15 February), the Minister and the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) confirmed that an accelerated review of the fees structure will co

City of Derry Farm & Equestrian Centre. A brand-new immersive food and farm experience is inviting visitors into the heart of rural Derry as part of this year’s Love LegenDerry Food Month celebrations. ‘Milk, Meadows & Mountains’ is a 2.5-hour hosted journey blending artisan cheese, farm life and heritage storytelling, delivered through a collaboration between Dart Mountain Cheese and City of Derry Farm & Equestrian Centre. Designed to connect visitors with the region’s food

Eugene and Catherine McKeever, who founded the McKeever Hotel Group 40 years ago and have overseen its growth from Corr’s Corner in Newtownabbey in 1986 to a dynamic family business with seven hotels employing a 600-strong team. McKeever Hotels is celebrating 40 years in business with a 12-month anniversary programme, marking four decades of growth from a single Newtownabbey restaurant to a seven-hotel hospitality group employing 600 people across the island of Ireland. The f

Claudia Jaczyk, 23, sadly died in a road traffic collision in County Antrim Claudia Jaczyk, 23, from the Newtownabbey area, has been named as the woman who died following a collision involving a bus and a car on the Ballyrobin Road in Templepatrick on Saturday, February 14. The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed the young woman’s identity as enquiries continue into the fatal crash, which occurred on the busy route near Belfast International Airport. The collision in

The derelict Floral Hall at Belfast Zoo. (Image: David Lee Drone) The historic Floral Hall at Belfast Zoo is set to benefit from a £500,000 investment after Belfast City Council agreed funding as part of its 2026/27 rate setting process, marking a first step towards restoring the landmark Art Deco ballroom in north Belfast. As part of this week’s rate setting decisions, councillors confirmed that £15.8 million has been allocated towards 20 capital projects across the city, in