NEWS

Police in Ballymena have attended the Shilnavogy Road area following reports of suspected hare coursing, as officers continue to step up efforts to tackle wildlife crime across the district. Ballymena Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) confirmed they were in the area on Saturday (January 10) after receiving information suggesting illegal hare coursing activity. Hare coursing, which involves the pursuit of hares by dogs for sport or gambling, is illegal and widely regarded as a

Staff from The Harbourview Hotel, Carnlough, who exhibited on the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council stand at the Balmoral Show 2025. Food and drink producers and visitor experience businesses across Mid and East Antrim are being offered the chance to showcase their products to tens of thousands of visitors at the Balmoral Show 2026. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has opened Expressions of Interest for local businesses to take part in the NI Food Pavilion at the Balmora

(L-R): Health Minister Mike Nesbitt; Sandra McAllister, Consultant Plastic Surgeon and Regional Multidisciplinary Team Lead for Sarcoma; Professor Mark Taylor. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has welcomed leading figures from Northern Ireland’s sarcoma community to Stormont following their national recognition in Sarcoma UK’s 2025 Shining Star Awards, which celebrate excellence in care, advocacy and patient support across the UK. The meeting, held at Parliament Buildings, brough

A new doctor-led medical weight management service has officially launched in Ballymena, bringing clinically supervised weight loss care to the heart of the local community. Weight Loss Clinic NI , founded by local GP Dr McCandless , has expanded its services with a new Ballymena branch located within Highway Health on Broughshane Street. The expansion aims to improve access to safe, evidence-based weight management for people whose weight is affecting their health, wellbeing

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company’s Ben-my-Chree vessel The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has announced a significantly enhanced ferry timetable for 2026/27, strengthening maritime connections between Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man and opening up new opportunities for passengers, freight operators and businesses on both sides of the Irish Sea. The new three-vessel schedule, which is now on sale, marks the first time in more than 15 years that the Isle of Man has o

Ant & Dec, hosts of ITV’s Limitless Win An associate principal from Ballymena is set to take centre stage on national television this weekend as David Radcliffe of Gracehill Primary School appears on the latest series of Ant & Dec’s Limitless Win, ITV’s flagship primetime quiz show. Hosted by Britain’s best-loved presenting duo Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, the hit entertainment format returns for a fifth series, promising higher stakes, bigger risks and the chance for c

Parents across Northern Ireland have welcomed a move by the Department of Education to formally endorse the Parent Pact, a voluntary initiative encouraging families to delay giving children a smartphone until at least the age of 14. The Department has written to all school principals in Northern Ireland to raise awareness of the Parent Pact, developed by Smartphone Free Childhood, a grassroots parents’ movement representing more than 350,000 families across the UK. Launched i

Hannah Currie Northern Regional College (NRC) is celebrating the inspiring achievements of engineering graduate Hannah Currie, whose determination, talent and generosity of spirit are helping to reshape perceptions of STEM careers across Northern Ireland. Originally from Randalstown, Hannah recently graduated at the College’s Higher Education & Access Graduation, marking the culmination of a remarkable journey that has taken her from returning adult learner to WorldSkills UK

Murdered: Glenn Quinn Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Major Investigation Team have renewed their appeal for information into the murder of Carrickfergus man Glenn Quinn, marking six years since his death. The renewed appeal, issued yesterday, Friday 9 January, is backed by a reward of up to £40,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Mr Quinn’s murder. Mr Quinn was found dead inside his home in the Ashleigh P

BBC Radio Ulster’s much-loved choral celebration, BBC Sing!, is set to return in 2026 with a brand-new four-part series recorded at venues across Northern Ireland. The programme, which brings together community choirs from right across the region, will feature four special recording events taking place in Ballymena, Newry, Omagh and Newtownabbey . Each event will see a local BBC community choir take centre stage, celebrating the power of collective singing and the unique spir

The Met Office has issued successive yellow weather warnings for strong winds across Northern Ireland, warning of potential disruption from Sunday through into Monday. The first warning is in force from 00:00 until 21:00 on Sunday, 11 January 2026 , and covers County Antrim, County Down, County Londonderry and County Tyrone. A second warning follows immediately afterwards, running from 21:00 on Sunday, 11 January, until 12:00 on Monday, 12 January 2026 , and applies to County

Ulster Unionist MP for South Antrim, Robin Swann Ulster Unionist MP for South Antrim, Robin Swann, has secured a seat on the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee, strengthening Northern Ireland’s representation on one of Westminster’s most significant scrutiny bodies. Mr Swann has taken up one of the Government positions on the committee, a move which reflects his cross-party approach at Westminster and the working relationships he has developed with MPs across the House

A recovery plan has been agreed between Bryson Recycling and Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council in a bid to address missed bin collections across the borough. Bryson Recycling reported a “positive meeting” with the council’s chief executive, Richard Baker, earlier this week to discuss ongoing problems with the collection service. A spokesperson for Bryson Recycling said: “We discussed the issues being raised and also the actions required to get our service back to a st

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain affecting Northern Ireland, with the potential for localised flooding as heavy rainfall combines with milder temperatures and melting snow. The warning is in effect from 9.00pm on Saturday 10 January until 9.00pm on Sunday 11 January , covering the entire region. According to the Met Office, bands of rain will move across Northern Ireland during Saturday evening and throughout Sunday, bringing the risk of flooding in

A 44-year-old man has been charged in connection with a burglary at licensed premises in the Ballyginniff Road area of Aldergrove, near Crumlin. Police confirmed the charges follow an incident reported in the early hours of Friday, 9 January, when officers were alerted to what was described as an ongoing burglary. The man has been charged with burglary and going equipped for burglary and is due to appear before Ballymena Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, 10 January. As is stand

Tray bakes – a staple of local bakeries across Northern Ireland – have become the latest focus of criticism over the continued application of EU law in the region, according to North Antrim MP Jim Allister. In a statement issued this week, the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader said that a bakery in his constituency has been forced to relabel its tray bakes to comply with EU allergen requirements that go beyond those required under UK law. Mr Allister said the situation

A yellow weather warning for snow and ice has been issued for Northern Ireland, with icy conditions expected to develop overnight on Friday and into Saturday morning. The warning is in force from 5pm on Friday 9 January until 11am on Saturday 10 January , covering much of the region during a period when temperatures are forecast to drop sharply below freezing. Forecasters say clear spells on Friday evening and overnight will allow temperatures to fall quickly, leading to the

Sammy Small Tributes have been paid following the death of respected Ballymena businessman and family man Sammy Small, whose vision and dedication helped build the well-known flooring business Smallcost from humble beginnings into a trusted household name across Northern Ireland. Mr Small passed away peacefully on 6 January 2026 at Carnmoyne Residential Home in Ahoghill, surrounded by his loving family. In a heartfelt family statement , his loved ones paid tribute to a man wh

Mid and East Antrim could ring in a new era for public telephones if a series of planning applications submitted to the borough council are given the go-ahead. Applications have been lodged by New World Payphones Limited for the installation of phone kiosks on public footpaths at: • 1A Glynn Road, Larne • 1A Victoria Road, Larne • 134A The Roddens in Larne • 70 Dunluskin Gardens, Carrickfergus • 1 Pattersons Row, Carrickfergus • 86 Cushendall Road, Ballymena • 12–14 Antrim Ro

Image: Anne Kelly Ferry passengers travelling to Rathlin Island and across Strangford Lough will face increased fares from 1 February 2026, following confirmation from the Department for Infrastructure. The Department has announced that the revised charges will apply to both the Ballycastle–Rathlin Island ferry service and the Strangford–Portaferry ferry service, with the increases aligned to Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation. According to the Department for Infrastructur