NEWS

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for ice covering all of Northern Ireland, with hazardous conditions expected overnight and into Friday morning. The warning will be in effect from 12.00am until 11.00am on Friday, 9 January 2026 , as temperatures fall and wintry showers create icy patches on roads and pavements. According to the Met Office, “clearing skies and scattered wintry showers” are expected to develop through the night, increasing the risk of ice, p

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has called for a new bridge in Kilrea in the wake of the prolonged closure of the village’s Bann bridge. At January’s full council meeting, members approved a cross-party motion proposed by UUP councillor Richard Holmes and seconded by Sinn Féin councillor Sean Bateson and DUP alderman Michelle Knight-McQuillan . The motion stated: “This council notes the recent closure of Kilrea’s Bann Bridge due to maintenance issues and the detri

Site location highlighted in red for proposed 57 apartment development in Galgorm, Ballymena A planning application has been lodged with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for 57 new apartments outside Ballymena. The application has been submitted by an agent on behalf of David McGroggan of Galgorm Homes Limited. The proposal seeks permission for 57 apartments with associated car parking on a vacant site opposite Galgorm Industrial Estate, located between the River Maine and

Ulster Unionist Party North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows speaking at the party’s annual conference in 2025 Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) MLA for North Antrim Jon Burrows has formally announced his candidacy for the leadership of the party, setting out an agenda of renewal, reform and what he describes as “straight-talking, service-driven” politics aimed at reconnecting with voters across Northern Ireland. In a statement issued on Thursday, 8 January 2026, Mr Burrows said his decisio

Applications for pre-school and Primary One (P1) places for children starting education in September 2026 have officially opened through the Education Authority’s (EA) online EA Connect portal. More than 40,000 applications are expected across Northern Ireland for the incoming academic year, making this one of the most significant annual processes for families preparing children for their first step into formal education. Parents and guardians have until 12 noon on Tuesday, 2

South Antrim MP Robin Swann has called on the Infrastructure Minister to review the Department for Infrastructure’s (DfI) Roads policy on grit provision, warning that the current approach risks undermining community efforts to improve safety during winter weather. The intervention follows recent snow and icy conditions, during which many communities relied heavily on grit to help keep roads and footways passable. Mr Swann said residents have expressed a willingness to take p

Oldstone Coffee and Play… a hidden gem tucked away in the Antrim countryside Tucked away in the Antrim countryside, just a 13-minute drive from Ballymena town centre, a former church built in 1872 has been given a thoughtful new lease of life. Oldstone Coffee and Play , located in Clough village , is the latest example of how rural spaces can be reimagined to serve modern communities — without losing their warmth, character or sense of history. The idea was born from a simpl

Missing Cookstown man, 21-year-old Taylor Stewart Police have confirmed that the body of a man has been located in Cookstown this afternoon, Wednesday 7 January, following days of intensive search efforts across the town. While formal identification has not yet taken place, police have confirmed that the family of Taylor Stewart, who has been missing since the early hours of New Year’s Day, has been informed. Taylor, aged 21, was last seen in the Church Heights area of Cookst

Police are appealing for information following a serious two-vehicle road traffic collision on the Annaghilla Road, near Augher, on Wednesday morning (7 January). Emergency services were called to the scene shortly before 8.10am after reports of a collision involving a white Audi A4 and a yellow Renault lorry. The driver of the Audi, a man aged in his 20s, was taken to hospital where he remains in a critical condition. Police have said it is not believed the driver of the lor

(L-R) Jennifer Welsh, Chief Executive of Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Mrs Rachel Canning, Sister of Belfast City Hospital Day of Surgery, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Ms Katja Hartmann, Deputy Sister of Belfast City Hospital Day of Surgery. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has praised staff at the Day of Surgery Unit at Belfast City Hospital following the unit’s receipt of an Elective Care Recognition Award, recognising excellence in innovation, improved practice and

CGI showing proposed extension at Robinson Hospital The Northern Health and Social Care Trust board has been given an update on the proposed refurbishment of the Robinson Hospital on Newal Road, Ballymoney. Robinson Hospital, which opened in 1933, provides care for patients requiring rehabilitation, palliative care or further assessment following an acute hospital admission. A report presented to Trust board members at a recent meeting said the project will deliver a new-buil

Chickenpox vaccination is to be added to Northern Ireland’s childhood immunisation programme from January, offering thousands of children protection each year against an illness that, while often considered mild, can lead to serious and even life-threatening complications. The Public Health Agency (PHA) confirmed the move will mark the first time children in Northern Ireland can receive free protection against chickenpox through the routine childhood vaccination schedule. Hea

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has paid tribute to road gritting teams for their efforts in keeping Northern Ireland’s main routes safe during the Christmas period and the current spell of severe winter weather. Gritting crews have been operating throughout the festive season and during an ongoing cold snap that has brought heavy snowfall to parts of the Northern Ireland, placing increased pressure on road services and frontline staff.

South Antrim MP Robin Swann has welcomed new assurances from the Treasury that proposed inheritance tax arrangements for family farms will apply beyond married couples and civil partners, following strong concerns raised by farming organisations in Northern Ireland. The clarification was provided by Treasury Minister Dan Tomlinson after Mr Swann raised the issue in Parliament, highlighting widespread anxiety within the farming community that the proposed rules could unintent

Jim Allister MP and Andrew Rosindell MP with victims of Gaddafi sponsored IRA terrorism outside the Foreign Office after meeting minister, Hamish Falconer. Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister has accused successive UK governments of failing victims of Libyan-sponsored IRA terrorism, following a high-level meeting with Foreign Office Minister Hamish Falconer. Mr Allister said the meeting, held alongside Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell and representatives of

A meeting is due to take place this week between Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s chief executive, Richard Baker, and his counterpart at Bryson Recycling over missed bin collections across the borough. Councillors were told at a meeting of the council’s Operations Committee, held at Antrim Civic Centre on Monday evening, that service issues will be discussed on Wednesday, ahead of a further meeting with members in the council chamber later this month. Airport Sinn Fé

Severe winter weather has placed intense pressure on road services across North Antrim, with local MLAs raising concerns over grit shortages, untreated roads and the Department for Infrastructure’s preparedness following heavy snowfall. Large parts of rural North Antrim have been affected by snowfall of between six and eight inches over the past two days, leaving some roads difficult to access and heightening safety concerns for residents, commuters and emergency services. TU

A yellow weather warning for ice has been issued for Northern Ireland, with hazardous conditions expected to develop overnight as temperatures fall and wintry showers move across the region. The warning is in force between 6:00pm on Tuesday 6 January 2026 and 11:00am on Wednesday 7 January 2026, with icy patches likely to form on untreated surfaces, increasing the risk of travel disruption. Forecasters say that after a day that has been less cold than recent days, conditions

Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) is urging households to make fire safety a year-round habit rather than a short-lived New Year’s resolution, as new figures highlight the continued risk of accidental house fires during the winter months. The appeal follows a series of tragic house fires in December and comes as data shows winter remains one of the most dangerous times of year for accidental dwelling fires, with cooking, electricity and smoking materials the lead

CGI image of proposed apartments at Galgorm Resort, Ballymena A planning application has been lodged with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for 32 new self-catering apartments at Galgorm Resort on Fenaghy Road, outside Ballymena. A planning statement submitted with the application indicates the proposed luxury apartments would form a four-storey development with a central communal entrance space. The scheme would include a variety of apartment types and shared facilities. E