NEWS

Galgorm Collection has announced a new sponsorship partnership with the Antrim Camogie Minor squad. Sean Kelly, Antrim Camogie Public Relations Officer is pictured with Tiarnán O’Neill, Chief Financial Officer at Galgorm Collection and some members of the Antrim Camogie Minor squad.   A new partnership between Galgorm Collection and the Antrim Camogie Minor squad is set to provide a significant boost for the county’s rising players as they prepare for the season ahead. The h

A man has been charged with multiple offences following a disturbing incident in Portglenone in which a woman was reportedly assaulted and forced into a vehicle on a busy village street. Detectives investigating the incident in the Main Street area of Portglenone on Saturday evening, 14 March, confirmed that a 42-year-old man has now been charged to court. The development follows an earlier report from a member of the public that a male assaulted a female at around 10pm, alle

From gripping crime novels to children’s favourites and bestselling thrillers, Waterstone’s Ballymena has revealed its latest Top 10 bestselling books alongside exciting new arrivals, children’s storytime and upcoming book club meetings. The weekly round-up from the Ballymena bookshop highlights the titles currently flying off the shelves, as well as the newest releases readers should keep an eye out for. This Week’s Top 10 Bestselling Books Leading the chart this week is And

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly in Washington DC last year. Northern Ireland will be firmly in the international spotlight this week as Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly travels to Washington, D.C. for a packed programme of events marking St Patrick’s Day. The deputy First Minister said the visit is a key opportunity to promote Northern Ireland internationally, strengthen economic ties with the United States, and champion local businesses on a global stage

Sinn Féin political banner opposite Ballycastle Presbyterian Church, and the banner subsequently removed. A political banner placed opposite a church in Ballycastle ahead of St Patrick’s Day has been swiftly removed after concerns were raised by North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows , who said the move helped protect the town’s tradition of positive cross-community relations. The Ulster Unionist Party leader said the large Sinn Féin banner had appeared opposite Ballycastle Presbyteria

Detectives are appealing for witnesses after a woman was reportedly assaulted and forced into a vehicle in a disturbing incident in Portglenone on Saturday night. Police say the incident happened on Main Street at around 10pm on Saturday, 14 March, when a member of the public reported seeing a male assault a female. According to officers, the woman was punched to the head and face before being forced into a black Nissan Qashqai. A 42-year-old man has since been arrested on su

A small farm in Rostrevor has been the scene of a disturbing animal attack after thirteen lambs were discovered dead, with police describing the killings as “shocking”. The lambs, found on Drumsesk Road, had apparently been deliberately killed with their necks broken, prompting an urgent appeal for information from the public. Night of terror on the farm The incident is believed to have occurred overnight between 7pm on Friday, 13 March, and 7.45am on Saturday, 14 March. Insp

A powerful night of remembrance, music and community spirit in Ballymena has raised more than £20,000 for Air Ambulance Northern Ireland, with a special fundraising event held in memory of two young women whose lives were tragically cut short. The Bingo Music Bonanza, hosted at the Tullyglass Hotel, brought together hundreds of supporters for an emotional evening dedicated to Naomi Lynn and Lydia Ross , who both died in separate car accidents. Organised by Ritchie Entertainme

Optical advisor Carol-Ann Kirkpatrick with 23-year-old daughter Rachel. Mother’s Day will be extra special at Asda Antrim this year, where four mums will celebrate the occasion alongside their own children who work as colleagues in the store. From quick chats between shifts to shared laughter on the shop floor, the families say working together brings a unique bond – even if it sometimes means seeing a little too much of each other. Among them is optical advisor Carol-Ann Kir

Inset: Northern Ireland Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald Households facing a sudden surge in energy costs must receive urgent and meaningful support, Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald has said following discussions with the British Government. Speaking after a meeting on Saturday evening, 14 March, with Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Martin McCluskey MP, the Minister said intervention must be “meaningful, targete

The Top of the Crop choir will be guided by local music teacher and experienced musician Philip Kerr, with practice sessions planned for Thursday 26 March and Thursday 30 April from 8pm-9.30pm in Cullybackey Business Centre, Main Street, Cullybackey. A brand-new community choir is set to bring voices together in Cullybackey, offering rural residents a welcoming space to sing, socialise and build friendships. The new ‘Top of the Crop’ choir is the latest initiative from the No

Sean and Fiona McAllister celebrate their recent wins! A long-established pedigree sheep flock from County Antrim has celebrated a major run of success after securing multiple top honours at the annual Kerryhill Society prize giving. Crookmuir Pedigree Kerryhills, owned by Sean and Fiona McAllister from Ballycastle, achieved a series of impressive results at the annual Kerryhill Prize Giving Dinner, including the prestigious title of Overall Champion Irish Flock. The couple a

Families across the borough are being invited to a magical spring adventure as Dobbies Garden Centres partner with DreamWorks’ popular children’s show Gabby’s Dollhouse for a special free event next month. The themed Little Seedlings Club workshop will take place on Saturday 4 April at Dobbies stores in Antrim and Lisburn , offering children a fun-filled hour of crafts, discovery and Easter-themed activities. A spring adventure for young gardeners The event will transport ch

Northern Ireland Finance Minister John O’Dowd Northern Ireland’s Finance Minister has warned that any new government support to help households with rising energy costs must fully include families who rely on home heating oil — a common reality across communities including Ballymena. John O’Dowd said the UK Government must ensure any assistance announced by the Chancellor is “meaningful, timely and delivered” in a way that supports households using oil-fired central heating,

(L-R) Christian Reynolds, Managing Director of Wrightbus; Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester; John McLeister, Wrightbus Sales Managing Director for UK and Ireland Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has confirmed a new order for 55 electric buses from Ballymena manufacturer Wrightbus, reinforcing confidence in UK manufacturing and strengthening the region’s growing zero-emission transport network. The announcement came during a visit to the company’s headquarters and

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford pictured with Darren Tweed, wife Amber, and son Jack at Mayoral reception to recognise Darren's extraordinary commitment to fundraising. A Ballymena man whose personal journey has inspired extraordinary fundraising efforts has been formally recognised by the Mayor of Mid and East Antrim after completing a remarkable 100km charity run. Darren Tweed was honoured at a special reception hosted by Mayor of Mid and East Antri

Belfast city (Pic: K. Mitch Hodge) Visitors heading to Belfast for St Patrick’s Day celebrations are being urged to plan ahead, with police warning that several major events will bring traffic disruption across the city centre. A packed schedule of festivities on Monday will see thousands gather for the popular SPAR Craic 10K and the annual carnival parade, prompting road management measures and diversions throughout the day. Police say motorists should expect delays and foll

(L-R): Dr Darren Mornin Principal of Limavady High School, Cian Canning Head Boy, St Mary's High School Limavady, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins, Harry Kealey, Head Boy, Limavady High School and Sean Mullan Principal of St Mary's High School. One of the biggest changes to driver licensing in Northern Ireland in almost 70 years is set to reshape how young people learn to drive — with new rules aimed at tackling the high number of serious road collisions involving new driv

Pictured: William Houston sadly died falling an incident at a County Antrim quarry. A quarry company has been fined £110,000 after a subcontractor died when a large stone fell from height at a County Antrim site. FP McCann Limited was sentenced at Antrim Crown Court on Friday (13 March) after pleading guilty to a single health and safety offence following the death of subcontractor William Houston. The prosecution followed an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive f

Shoppers in Belfast will now find a splash of pink – and plenty of cake – waiting for them at CastleCourt after popular bakery brand Dougies Goodies officially opened a new pop-up store in the shopping centre today (13 March 2026). Located in the busy CastleCourt food court, the vibrant new space offers customers a chance to grab the bakery’s much-loved cakes, bakes and sweet treats while taking a break from browsing the shops. The pop-up is stocked with a range of Dougies Go

Police have issued a stark warning after victims across Northern Ireland lost more than £5 million to investment scams, with some people losing their entire life savings to sophisticated online criminals. The alert from the Police Service of Northern Ireland comes after investigators linked a growing number of cases to fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes, where scammers build relationships with victims before persuading them to invest increasing amounts of money. Des

Angela, John and Jim, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons pictured with (L-R) Angela Mulholland, West Bann Development, Jim McIlroy, Harryville Men’s Shed and John Hunter, Community Sports Network, Shankill at a!ln event in Ballymena. Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has praised the “anything but small” impact of community investment across Northern Ireland during a visit to Ballymena, where local organisations shared how government funding is helping transform services, creat

Police have arrested 36 people during a coordinated 12-hour operation targeting suspects linked to domestic abuse, serious assault and a range of other offences across several districts in Northern Ireland. The large-scale operation, carried out by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) on Thursday, 12 March, focused on the areas of Lisburn and Castlereagh, Ards and North Down, Causeway Coast and Glens, Mid and East Antrim, and Antrim and Newtownabbey. Officers targete

Competitors demonstrating traditional horse ploughing during the Ballycastle & District Horse Ploughing Society’s annual St Patrick’s Day match — the only all-horse ploughing event still held in Ireland. One of Ireland’s most remarkable farming traditions is set to return this St Patrick’s Day as the Ballycastle and District Horse Ploughing Society prepares to stage what is believed to be the last remaining all-horse ploughing match in Ireland. The annual event, expected to t