NEWS

Castle Street 3 car park, Ballymena CCTV has been installed at a Ballymena town centre car park following a series of reports of antisocial behaviour, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has confirmed. The Church Street 3 car park, which can be accessed from both Castle Street and the Larne Road Link, has become a regular meeting point for young drivers during night-time hours. While the area is commonly used for parking, concerns have been raised due to its close proximity t

Stena Futura Stena Line has recorded its highest ever freight volumes on its Belfast services, underscoring the city’s growing importance as a key logistics and transport hub linking Northern Ireland and Great Britain. During 2025, almost 600,000 freight units were shipped across Stena Line’s three Belfast routes to Cairnryan, Liverpool (Birkenhead) and Heysham, representing a 1.0% year-on-year increase and marking another record-breaking year for the ferry operator. The mile

Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland (CGNI) has confirmed that the Ulster Banner will continue to be used as the flag representing Northern Ireland athletes at the Commonwealth Games, following formal guidance from the Minister for Communities. The decision brings to an end days of intense political scrutiny and public debate after proposals emerged suggesting the traditional flag could be replaced with a corporate-style logo. In a statement issued on Tuesday (13 January 2026)

Former District Commander for Mid and East Antrim, Superintendent Gerry McGrath, marking Emergency Services Day at The Braid in Ballymena. Former Mid and East Antrim PSNI District Commander, Superintendent Gerry McGrath , has been appointed as a trustee of the RUC George Cross Foundation following his recent retirement from frontline policing. The appointment forms part of a wider set of board confirmations announced today (14 January) by Justice Minister Naomi Long , who has

Work has officially begun on a long-awaited new Park and Ride facility at Ballymena Bus and Train Station, marking a significant milestone in a campaign that has spanned more than a decade. The North Antrim DUP MLA Paul Frew has welcomed confirmation from Translink that construction is now underway on a 387-space Park and Ride expansion, an issue he says he has been actively pursuing since 2013. Speaking following the announcement, Mr Frew said: “I am delighted that Translin

Kells & Connor Young Farmers’ Team ‘Tour de Kells’ leaving Kells in Ballymena, Co Antrim – Andrew Millar, Alex Millar, Adam Lyttle, James Fullerton and Zoe McIlroy Five members of Kells & Connor Young Farmers Club (YFC) have completed an impressive long-distance cycling challenge, raising thousands of pounds for a Northern Ireland children’s charity. The group — Andrew Millar, Alex Millar, Adam Lyttle, James Fullerton and Zoe McIlroy — took on the “Tour de Kells” challeng

Ralph Singco with his wife Cathrene Kith Quiñones Singco Police have confirmed that a man in his 30s who was critically injured in a Co Antrim road collision has sadly died. The man has been named locally as Ralph Singco, the husband of the pregnant woman who was killed in the same tragic crash. Mr Singco was critically injured in the two-car collision on the Moira Road near Nutts Corner in Crumlin on Sunday afternoon, 11 January, and has now sadly died from his injuries. The

Land & Property Services has launched a new digital service designed to make it easier for ratepayers across Northern Ireland to manage their rates accounts online. The new Rates Online platform allows customers to view account details, report changes, make payments and raise queries through a single online portal. Users can also opt to receive their rates bills electronically, reducing paperwork and offering faster access to important information. The service forms part of a

RAF Aldergrove, and (inset) South Antrim MP Robin Swann speaking in the House of Commons Robin Swann MP has urged the Government to act with urgency to ensure the “full utilisation” of Aldergrove’s world-class military facilities, following the withdrawal of RAF Puma helicopters and the end of a long chapter in the site’s aviation history. Speaking in the House of Commons, the South Antrim MP questioned the Ministry of Defence on how it intends to address a growing capacit

Sam Moore of S&T Moore, Coleraine A long-established Coleraine menswear retailer is entering a new chapter after nearly half a century, as owner Samuel Moore prepares for retirement and the business is taken over by Wallace’s of Ballymena. In a statement released this today (Tuesday 13 January 2026), S & T Moore confirmed that Samuel Moore will be stepping back after 48 years at the helm of the business — a store that began as a small local shop and went on to become a famili

Plans for a new lakeside Eco Village near Portrush are offering a detailed look at a holiday development designed to sit naturally within a former quarry landscape while delivering sustainable accommodation and local jobs. Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has now received a full planning application from White Rock Eco Parks for a 45-unit Eco Village on a 4.72-hectare site at a disused quarry close to Ballybogey Road. The proposal includes self-contained holiday lod

Inset: Braid Ulster Unionist Councillor Alan Barr Braid Ulster Unionist Councillor Alan Barr has strongly criticised ongoing failures in Bryson Recycling’s kerbside collection service, warning that residents across Mid and East Antrim are being left frustrated and short-changed despite paying for a service that is “simply not being delivered”. The councillor says he has been inundated with complaints from households reporting repeated missed collections, damaged bins and re

Local UUP Councillor Brian Thompson with Rosie Orr and a number of other local residents launch Stop The Build Community Group as they deliver a strongly supported petition and letters of opposition to council’s planning director at Ardeevin, Ballymena. Opposition is continuing to grow against a proposed housing development close to the Braid River Walk in Ballymena, with residents from across the wider Tullygarley and Galgorm Road areas joining forces to protect what they de

Finalist in BBC NI’s House Of The Year, Knots Landing, Ballymena Images: BBC NI / Elyse Kennedy A striking detached new build near Ballymena has been named the second home to secure a coveted place in the House Of The Year final, placing the property firmly in the national spotlight. Knots Landing, located outside Ballymena, impressed judges in the current BBC Northern Ireland series, earning its place among the five standout homes competing for the prestigious title. Celebra

A less-than-pleased resident shared their frustration of the new kerbside recycling system implemented by Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council Antrim and Newtownabbey councillors have highlighted ongoing concerns over missed bin collections, despite a recovery plan having been agreed last week between contractor Bryson Recycling and the borough council. In an update on Monkstown and surrounding areas, Threemilewater DUP councillor Mark Cooper said in an online post: “Despit

(L-R): Current Northern Trust staff member Alison Irwin from Portstewart, and former colleague Yvonne Carson from Cloughmills. Two colleagues from the Northern Health and Social Care Trust have been recognised in The King’s New Year’s Honours List, with one current staff member and one retired colleague awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for their outstanding contributions to health and social care. Yvonne Carson , a current member of staff, and former colleague Alison Ir

Victim of County Antrim collision Cathrene Kith Quiñones Singco The Police Service of Northern Ireland has confirmed the identity of the woman who died following a two-car collision near Nutts Corner in Crumlin on Sunday afternoon, 11 January. She has been named as Cathrene Kith Quiñones Singco, who was travelling as a backseat passenger at the time of the collision on the Moira Road. In a further tragic development, police have confirmed that Cathrene was pregnant and that h

Domestic abuse-related calls to the Police Service of Northern Ireland increased over the Christmas and New Year period, reinforcing concerns that the festive season remains one of the most dangerous times of year for victims. New figures released by the PSNI show that between 20 December 2025 and 2 January 2026, police received 1,407 domestic abuse calls, an increase on the 1,290 calls recorded during the same period in 2024–2025. The data highlights sustained demand for pol

A woman in her 30s has died following a serious two-vehicle road traffic collision near Nutts Corner in Crumlin, police have confirmed. The fatal collision occurred on the Moira Road at around 2pm on Sunday afternoon, 11 January. Emergency services attended the scene after a blue Ford Fiesta and a silver Skoda Superb were involved in the crash. The woman, who was travelling as a backseat passenger, was taken to hospital for treatment but sadly later died from her injuries. A

Inset: North Antrim TUV MP Jim Allister The decision to end the use of the Ulster Banner as the flag representing Northern Ireland athletes at the Commonwealth Games has sparked a strong political backlash, with unionist representatives accusing organisers of unnecessary and divisive political interference. TUV leader Jim Allister MP said he was “deeply disappointed” by the move, warning that the controversy risked overshadowing the sporting achievements of athletes due to