NEWS

Killane Road, Ahoghill, and (inset) TUV Alderman Stewart McDonald TUV Alderman Stewart McDonald has welcomed long-awaited resurfacing works on Killane Road, describing the project as “long overdue” and a “relief” for local residents. Major improvement works are set to get underway along Killane Road from Monday 20 October. The scheme includes resurfacing of both the main carriageway and footways from the Galgorm Road junction to the well-known Beehive Shed. The works are pla

Stena Connecta pictured during the naming ceremony in the CMI Shipyard in Weihai, China. Stena Line has officially named its newest vessel, Stena Connecta, at a ceremony held on 16 October at the CMI Shipyard in Weihai, China. The ferry will soon begin her maiden voyage to the Irish Sea, where she will operate alongside her sister ship, Stena Futura, to deliver a 40 percent boost in freight capacity on the Belfast–Heysham route. The event was attended by Stena Line CEO Niclas

As Northern Ireland prepares for another challenging winter, the Department of Health has published its 2025–26 Winter Preparedness Plan, setting out a comprehensive strategy to protect vital health and social care services and support staff across the system. The plan, described as “an overarching framework for regional and local action,” identifies ten priority areas designed to maintain patient safety, improve hospital flow, and strengthen workforce resilience through the

Police have arrested a man in connection with a breach of court bail conditions after he was found carrying alcohol on a train service between Belfast and Coleraine on Tuesday, 14 October. Officers from the Safe Transport Team were conducting patrols when they observed the man boarding the train at Ballymena Train Station carrying two large bottles of alcohol. A spokesperson for the Police Service of Northern Ireland said: “Officers spoke to the male on board and ascertained

Pupils of Ballykeel Primary School enjoying time in the Mayoral Parlour at The Braid, with Mayor of Mid & East Antrim, UUP Councillor Jackson Minford Pupils from Ballykeel Primary School enjoyed a lively morning at The Braid in Ballymena as they put local elected representatives on the spot with a series of challenging questions about life in local government. The Year 6 (P6) class met with Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Councillor Jackson Minford, and Independ

A damning new report by the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has revealed what it describes as a “worrying picture of systemic failure” in the management of the region’s school estate — with the cost of outstanding repairs and maintenance potentially reaching £800 million. The report, Managing the Schools’ Estate , follows an inquiry launched by PAC in May 2025 , which heard evidence from officials at the Department of Education, the Education Autho

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has hailed “real and meaningful change” across Northern Ireland’s health service, as new figures show major progress in cutting some of the longest waiting times for care under the Department of Health’s Reset Plan. Since April 2025, more than 100,000 red flag or time-critical patients have been seen, diagnosed, or treated across Health and Social Care Trusts (HSC), including through partnerships with the independent sector. The Department expect

the Asian hornet The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) has confirmed further sightings of the Asian hornet in the Dundonald area of Belfast, just days after the first confirmed identification of the invasive species in Northern Ireland. The latest reports, confirmed by NIEA officials, suggest that a nest may be present in the area, raising concerns over the potential establishment of the species, which poses a serious threat to native honeybees and pollinators. The i

Lidl Northern Ireland is helping families across the region enjoy a spooktacular Halloween this year — without haunting their household budgets — thanks to the launch of its frightfully fun and affordable range of costumes, decorations and trick-or-treat essentials now available in stores. With prices starting from as little as £0.99, Lidl’s latest Halloween collection promises to make the season more accessible and enjoyable for families everywhere, offering a wide variety o

(L-R) Rab McAuley, from Galgorm, who was crowned Ulster Supersport Cup Champion for 2025, GP Dr Louise Beck, of Victoria Surgery, who has been named GP of the Year 2025, and Slemish College student Emilee Leacock, who has been called up for the Northern Ireland Under-17 Women’s Football Squad Mid and East Antrim Mayor, Councillor Jackson Minford, has congratulated Larne-based GP Dr Louise Beck, of Victoria Surgery , who has been named GP of the Year 2025 by the Royal College

Detectives are appealing for information following a terrifying armed robbery in Antrim on Tuesday evening, during which a woman was threatened with a blade and had her purse stolen. The incident occurred at around 8.30pm on 14th October, as the woman, aged in her 40s, was walking along the Greystone path in the Rathmore Gardens area. Detective Sergeant Ash said: “At approximately 8.30pm a woman aged in her 40s, was approached from behind by an unknown man who was carrying a

L-R: Siobhan Martin, Clare Wilson, Charlene McLaughlin, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt, Eileen Dolan, Dr Mary McDaid, Sarah McElholm and Margaret Ferris Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has paid tribute to clinicians working within the Western Health and Social Care Trust’s specialist Autism Early Intervention Service (EIS) as part of World Allied Health Professionals (AHP) Day celebrations. World AHP Day is an annual event dedicated to recognising the vital contributions of Allied

All photos: William Cherry/Presseye A royal visit to the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) has been hailed as “a proud and unforgettable day for our Service” by Chief Fire & Rescue Officer Aidan Jennings. The Prince and Princess of Wales visited the organisation’s new state-of-the-art Learning & Development College, located outside Cookstown in County Tyrone, where they met with firefighters, trainees, and staff to learn more about how the Service protects commu

Participants Imogene Jones, Siobhan Davidson, Libbie Barnett, Courtney Shields, Lorna Ramsey, Clare Moore, Kris Steele, and Simon Anderson, pictured with trainer Laura McAuley Ballymena BID has joined forces with local company Knockdene Healthcare to deliver vital defibrillator and first aid training to town centre businesses, reinforcing Ballymena’s commitment to safety and community wellbeing. Staff from Wallaces, Front Page Bar, Camerons , and Ballymena BID took part in t

Brendan and Charlotte Rodgers with some members of the Stoneyhill Committee, who oversee and administer the Maltina Park project . Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers and his wife Charlotte made a special visit to Maltina Park in Carnlough on Saturday (11 October) to view the impressive progress of a new cross community sports complex being developed on the Antrim coast. The facility — a collaboration between St John’s Camogie Club and Carnlough Swifts FC — has been named Maltina

Invasive species: The Asian hornet, otherwise known as a yellow-legged hornet was discovered for the first time in Northern Ireland. South Antrim MP Robin Swann has written to DAERA Minister Andrew Muir seeking urgent clarification on Northern Ireland’s response to the confirmed presence of an Asian hornet, warning that the invasive species poses a serious threat to local honeybees, pollinators, and biodiversity. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) confirmed last w

Fitzsimons Opticians’ senior optometrist and director, John Broderick, undertaking an eye examination A Ballymena optometry practice is marking World Menopause Day with the launch of a new dry eye service aimed at improving women’s eye health during menopause and perimenopause. Fitzsimons Opticians, based on William Street, has invested in state-of-the-art diagnostic technology to help identify and treat dry eye syndrome — a condition that experts say can affect more than hal

(L-R): Erhan Eren, Managing Director Europe at Wrightbus; Max Nastold, CEO of Kazenmaier Leasing GmbH; Tobias Fräde, Business Development Manager Trucks/Buses at Kazenmaier Leasing GmbH; Gregor Creslovnik, Sales at Wrightbus. World-leading bus manufacturer Wrightbus has strengthened its foothold in Germany by joining forces with renowned leasing firm Kazenmaier, in a move designed to accelerate the transition to zero-emission public transport across the country. The partnersh

CGI of the new Primark store at Fairhill Shopping Centre, Ballymena Primark has confirmed that its brand-new Ballymena store at Fairhill Shopping Centre will officially open on Friday 5th December at 10am. The eagerly awaited move marks an exciting new chapter for Primark Ballymena, which first opened its doors in the town in 1983. Relocating less than a mile from its long-standing home in the Tower Centre, the new store will double in size, covering 26,200 sq. ft of fashion,

Police in Ballymena have recovered suspected Class B drugs valued at approximately £3,000 following a search operation carried out on Saturday, 11th October 2025. Officers from the Ballymena District Support Team, who were on routine patrol in Ballymena town centre, observed a suspicious male. This led to a search and follow-up house search, during which quantities of suspected Class B drugs, along with a sum of cash and various electronic devices, were seized. A Police Servi

Police in Mid and East Antrim have confirmed that additional patrols were deployed on Sunday evening, 12 October, following reports of anti-social driving in the village. In a statement shared over the weekend, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said the move was prompted by ongoing concerns about dangerous and inconsiderate driving behaviour in the area. Officers from the local policing team referenced an “excellent post” originally shared by colleagues in PSNI N

A 40-year-old man arrested in connection with the death of a woman in Newtownabbey has been released on bail pending further enquiries, police have confirmed this evening, Monday, 13th October. Emergency services, including officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, were called to a property in the Old Mill Drive area on Sunday afternoon, 12th October. A woman was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Detective Chief

The Asian Hornet, also yellow-legged hornet The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) has confirmed the first-ever record of an Asian hornet in Northern Ireland, following the capture of the invasive insect in Dundonald, Belfast, on 10 October. The insect, also known as the yellow-legged hornet, was reported by a vigilant member of the public, triggering a swift response from NIEA officials. Originating from East Asia, the Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) was first recorded

AIB on Wellington Street, Ballymena AIB NI is set to visit Ballymena on Wednesday 12 November as part of its new ‘Let’s Talk Co-Ownership’ branch series – a fresh initiative designed to support homebuyers across Northern Ireland with practical, face-to-face guidance. Running throughout October and November, the series will see AIB’s local mortgage experts teaming up with Co-Ownership specialists to provide tailored advice and insight for anyone considering home ownership. The