NEWS

As Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales gather momentum, the Trading Standards Service (TSS) is urging consumers across Northern Ireland to “shop smart” and stay alert to misleading deals, scams and counterfeit goods circulating during the busiest shopping weekend of the year. Damien Doherty, TSS Chief Inspector , warned that the seasonal rush can leave consumers vulnerable to deceptive sales tactics. He said: “While many retailers offer genuine discounts at this time of year,

Proudly brought to you by Ballymena BID (Business Improvement District) Ballymena Town Centre is gearing up for a magical festive season, unveiling a vibrant programme of family-friendly events, Christmas characters, charity activities and pop-up entertainment designed to bring joy and festive spirit to the heart of the town. With festive shopping, cosy cafés, vibrant bars and restaurants, and a full schedule of December activities, Ballymena is inviting visitors from near an

Crowned ‘Newcomer of the Year’ at the 2025 British Hairdressing Awards, Chloe Houston of Houston Hair, Ballymena Chloe Houston of Houston Hair has been crowned Newcomer of the Year at the 2025 British Hairdressing Awards, sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional — a remarkable achievement for the 21-year-old stylist in her first ever entry to the competition. Her win marks a significant milestone, placing her among the brightest rising stars in UK hairdressing. Known locally for

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is set to usher in the festive season with a series of much-loved Christmas Artisan Markets, celebrating local creativity and offering residents and visitors the chance to enjoy seasonal shopping in the heart of their town centres. The markets—now a staple of the borough’s Christmas calendar—will feature an array of local producers showcasing artisan foods, festive bakes, handcrafted decorations and unique gifts. Designed to bring communiti

The former Woolworths store on Bridge Street, Ballymena Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has deferred a decision on the sale of the former Woolworths premises in Ballymena town centre. The property at 12–16 Bridge Street was discussed in a closed session at a council meeting last month. Councillors had been asked to approve placing the building on the market. The former chain store, which closed in 2008, sits opposite council headquarters at The Braid. Last year, the counc

Principals Sandra Sheeran (Ballykeel Primary), Karen McMaster (Camphill Primary), and Neil McCullough (Harryville Primary), governors, counsellor and parent representatives, with Minister Gordon Lyons, DUP North Antrim MLA Paul Frew, and Indeoendent Ballymena Councillor Lawrie Philpott. The Minister for Communities, Gordon Lyons , visited North Antrim on Wednesday following intervention from DUP MLA Paul Frew that helped secure continued funding for a counselling and therap

Councils in Northern Ireland need to enforce a “zero tolerance” policy on vape sales to under-age children amid claims that parents “don’t know where to turn”. That is according to a Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) councillor, who highlighted concerns that children as young as 13 have been able to buy vapes in local shops. The council chamber was urged this week to promote a new campaign clarifying that local councils — and not the PSNI — are the primary authorit

Helen Gage lives with COPD and has lent her support to NICHS’s Hall of Hope at Antrim Area Hospital to inform and inspire other respiratory patients and their families. A Kells woman living with an incurable lung condition has urged others to seek help early, as new figures reveal the number of people in Northern Ireland diagnosed with COPD has risen by 56% in just 17 years. Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke (NICHS) is using COPD Awareness Month this November to shine a s

John Unsworth, EA Assistant Director; John Trueman, Director of Qualifications, CCEA; Angela Kane, Department of Education; and Sean Fearon, Education and Training Inspectorate; came together to host over 150 Early Career Teachers at Lagan Valley Island Conference Centre. More than 150 Early Career Teachers (ECTs) from across Northern Ireland gathered at Lagan Valley Island Conference Centre for a major professional development event jointly hosted by the Education Authority

Ryanair has announced it will add more than 4,900 extra seats to and from Belfast for Christmas week 2025, as the carrier prepares for a surge in festive travel demand. The airline – Europe’s largest by passenger numbers – confirmed on Tuesday (25 November) that it expects to carry over 26,000 passengers through Belfast Airport during the busy holiday period, helping people return home in time to celebrate with their families. The additional seats have been introduced in resp

The vacant premises on Church Street in Ballymena town centre Plans have been lodged with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council that could see a vacant retail unit on Church Street, Ballymena, transformed into a combined coffee shop and amusement arcade. The application, submitted by Broad Enterprises Ltd of Belmont Crescent, Londonderry, seeks permission for a change of use at 41–43 Church Street from its current retail designation to a mixed café and entertainment venue. Acco

Ballymena has become one of the latest towns in the UK to benefit from EE’s new 5G+ network, with upgraded coverage now live across the area in time for the busy Christmas period. The enhancement – rolled out at no extra cost – aims to provide faster speeds and significantly more reliable connectivity for residents, shoppers and visitors, particularly around high-footfall areas such as Fairhill Shopping Centre. The upgrade forms part of EE’s nationwide December rollout, which

Police have launched an urgent appeal for information after a man in his 20s was left in a critical condition following a hit and run collision in Craigavon on Monday, 24 November. The incident occurred shortly after 7.20pm in the Enniskeen area, where police say a man and a van were involved in a collision. The vehicle did not stop at the scene. Inspector Campbell said: “Shortly after 7.20pm, it was reported that a man and a van had been involved in a collision in the Ennisk

Free dementia support clinics are returning to branches of Nationwide Building Society in Ballymena, Derry, Newry and Bangor this December, with Dementia UK urging people to be aware of the early signs and symptoms of the condition. Hosted by the charity’s specialist Admiral Nurses, the face-to-face clinics will offer confidential, tailored advice to anyone concerned about dementia—whether for themselves or a loved one. Appointments can be booked online via the Dementia UK w

Barr’s Butchers, one of Ballymena’s longest-established family businesses, has officially opened a major new store on Ballymoney Street, marking a significant milestone in its 147-year history. The fifth-generation butchers, founded in 1878 by George Barr, unveiled the expanded premises on Tuesday 25 November, signalling a substantial investment both in the future of the business and in Ballymena town centre. Now led by Managing Director Trevor Barr , great-great grandson of

Tesco customers across Northern Ireland are being urged to help families facing hunger this winter by donating long-life essentials as part of the supermarket’s 13th annual Winter Food Collection. Running from 24–29 November in Tesco Express stores and 27–29 November in larger stores , the UK’s biggest seasonal food drive will support FareShare and the Trussell community of food banks, both of which are preparing for unprecedented levels of demand. Last year alone, generous

The managing director of M&S Food has warned the Chancellor that a recent change to inheritance tax treatment of family farms risks destroying generational businesses and imperilling the UK’s food security. In a direct appeal ahead of next week’s Budget, Alex Freudmann said ministers should “think again on inheritance tax” and adopt practical safeguards to protect genuine working farms. Farming under pressure — and inheritance tax adds to the burden Farmers are already grap

Police officers across Northern Ireland seized 58 uninsured vehicles in a week-long enforcement operation targeting illegal drivers, as part of the UK-wide Op Drive Insured campaign. The initiative, which ran from 10 to 16 November and is supported by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB), aimed to remove uninsured drivers from the roads and highlight the financial and safety risks associated with motoring without appropriate cover. Superintendent Jonathan Wilson said the operatio

The Housing Executive’s Ballymena office is opening its doors to the local community this December for a special coffee morning and donation drive in support of Homelessness Awareness Week. Locals are invited to Twickenham House on Monday 1st December, from 10am to 2pm , for a warm drink, a slice of cake, and an opportunity to show support for individuals experiencing homelessness. As part of the initiative, staff will also be collecting non-perishable food items, toiletries,

Some very important guests from local charity partner Mencap NI, helped Father Christmas illuminate the building during its annual Christmas Lights Switch-On. Andrej Nelepcu (2), Mencap Ambassador Dr James Martin MBE, Finn Holland (14) and Charlie Thompson (1) along with their families and the Chief Toymaker, helped Father Christmas press the button to light up the spectacular chandelier and festive lights around the building! TITANIC Belfast launched its festive season in st

South Antrim MP Robin Swann Ahead of Wednesday’s Autumn Budget, Robin Swann MP has issued a stark warning over the proposed Family Farm Tax, describing it as a “deeply damaging and utterly unacceptable threat” to family-run farms across Northern Ireland. The Ulster Unionist MP stressed the importance of protecting these farms, which he described as integral to both rural communities and local economies. “As I have made clear time and time again, the Family Farm Tax is a dire

TUV North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston Speaking in the Assembly on Monday (November 24), TUV North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston emphasised the importance of maintaining the Christian foundation of Religious Education (RE) in Northern Ireland’s schools, following a recent Supreme Court judgment. Describing the ruling as “the final stage in a calculated assault on the foundations of the controlled sector,” Mr Gaston highlighted the historical roots of the education system. “It is of

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has reiterated her commitment to strengthening workplace protections for victims and survivors of domestic abuse, confirming that legislation to implement the Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) Act (NI) 2022 will be introduced before the end of the current Assembly mandate. The Act, passed in 2022, requires the Department for the Economy to create regulations enabling workers affected by domestic abuse to access at least 10 days of paid “safe l

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt pictured with staff at the Paediatric Unit at Altnagelvin Area Hospital. As winter pressures begin to intensify across Northern Ireland’s health service, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has issued a clear message to parents and carers: use the right service at the right time to help ensure children receive timely, appropriate care. During a visit to the Paediatric Unit at Altnagelvin Area Hospital, the Minister met staff and young patients to observe