NEWS

Local woman Rebecca ‘Rebs’ Lightbody Lucy led the length of Ireland to raise money for Leukaemia & Lymphoma NI Co Antrim woman Rebecca ‘Rebs’ Lightbody had barely ridden a road bike when she decided to cycle more than 570 kilometres across Ireland alone. She wasn’t chasing a personal record or trying to prove she could do it. She was doing it for two of her best friends. Both women, friends since school, had been diagnosed with lymphoma within the space of just three years —

Rebecca Scott completed the Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Business at Northern Regional College’s Magherafelt campus before progressing to Ulster University in Belfast. A Magherafelt student has graduated with First-Class Honours in Accountancy and secured a training contract with professional services firm RSM UK, three years after completing a vocational Business qualification at Northern Regional College. Rebecca Scott completed the Level 3 National Extended Diploma

Victoria Craig pictured with her daughter Catherine A neonatal nurse whose daughter was born almost 12 weeks early has transformed her experience as a parent into a career supporting babies and families — and research that could help others cope with the trauma of neonatal care. Victoria Craig, Neonatal Clinical Educator at Antrim Area Hospital, graduated from Queen’s University earlier this year with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Her research examined practical techniques th

Taryn Simpson and Hannah Spence who received results today for Level 3 Health and Social Care from Northern Regional College in Ballymena. Taryn is heading off to study Adult Nursing at Queen’s University Belfast, while Hannah progresses to study Psychology at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh. Northern Ireland has recorded the best A-level results across the UK, with 86.9% of entries achieving a grade C or above, as thousands of young people receive their A-level, AS-le

Northern Regional College lecturer, Colin Wright, who has been shortlisted for a prestigious hospitality award. A Northern Regional College lecturer who is helping train the next generation of chefs has been shortlisted for one of Northern Ireland’s leading hospitality awards. Professional Cookery Lecturer Colin Wright has been named a finalist for Lecturer of the Year at the 2026 Institute of Hospitality Northern Ireland Awards, recognising his work developing students’ culi

Jo Bamford CBE flanked with the Ryze Power team - Head of Engineering Pratik Nayek, Head of Power at HydraB Steven Hardman and Ryze senior engineer Jay Acanthe. Ballymena bus manufacturer Wrightbus has played a supporting role in a remarkable feat of British engineering after a hydrogen-powered supercar smashed a world land speed record at more than 406mph. Wrightbus owner Jo Bamford CBE said expertise developed through almost a decade of hydrogen work helped provide the refu

Power NI’s Senior Marketing Manager Amy Bennington pictured with some of Antrim’s All-Ireland Junior Football Championship winning team. A £1,200 Helping Hands boost from Power NI helped Antrim’s ladies prepare for a day to remember at Croke Park — one that ended with the Saffrons lifting the All-Ireland Junior Football Championship trophy after a breathtaking last-gasp victory over Carlow. The funding, provided by Power NI, part of Energia Group, was used by the Antrim LGFA

(L-R): Paul Frew MLA, Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon, Paula Campbell of Fullan’s Food Hall Portglenone, RetailNI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts and Jon Burrows MLA. People across Ballymena and the wider Mid and East Antrim area are being encouraged to put their favourite shops, retail workers and high streets in the running for recognition on the Northern Ireland stage. The public vote is now open for the High Street Heroes Awards 2026, giving customers th

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons presents medals for the Men’s 90kg Boxing, including Bronze for Garyn McAllister, at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Northern Ireland’s athletes are returning home from the 2026 Commonwealth Games with 16 medals, three of them gold, after producing one of Team NI’s strongest performances on the international stage. Across the competition, Team NI competitors claimed three gold, four silver and nine bronze medals, while many others rec

Young gymnasts from Elite Gymnastics Academy in Toomebridge, Katie DeNiro and Emily Rose McGuckin Young gymnasts from a Co Antrim club will make up a significant part of the Northern Ireland team at this year’s National Gymnastics League National Finals after three more athletes secured selection. Anabel McMurray, Katie DeNiro and Emily Rose McGuckin, all from Elite Gymnastics Academy in Toomebridge, have been chosen to represent Northern Ireland at the British Gymnastics-bac

NI Dorset National Show judge Sam Driver, alongside Champion breeder Ellen McClure and Claire McConaghie from sponsor Connolly’s Red Mills. A standout ewe lamb from a Dundrod flock claimed the top honour at the Northern Ireland Dorset Horn and Polled Dorset Sheep Breeders’ Club National Show, capping a successful summer for one of the province’s leading breeders. Held during Limavady Show on Saturday, 18 July, the National Show saw Ellen McClure’s Mountdale flock crowned Cham

Farmers’ Choir NI performing at their Spring Concert in the Braid Arts Centre Music, friendship and support for rural communities have helped make it another memorable year for Farmers’ Choir NI, with the group raising more than £5,000 for charities and Young Farmers’ Clubswhile preparing for a new season of concerts this autumn. The registered charity, which brings together members from farming communities across Northern Ireland, says rehearsals will resume in September fol

Max Gray, from K9 Search and Rescue, is pictured with owner Ryan. Max was awarded Animal of the Year for gallantry in Public Service An award-winning search and rescue dog from Northern Ireland has been recognised by Queen’s University Belfast for his bravery and public service, with Max Gray receiving the University’s Animal of the Year award after helping locate missing people both at home and overseas. The specially trained search dog, who works alongside handler Ryan Gray

Tennis Talent: 10-year-old Emma Mezei from Ballymena A 10-year-old tennis player from Ballymena has secured a place among Ireland’s top young talents after qualifying for the prestigious AerCap Tennis Ireland Junior Kids Finals. Emma Mezei, who trains at Ballymena Lawn Tennis Club, will compete at Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin this August after finishing among the top eight junior players in Ireland through the national Road to Fitz qualifying series. The achievement

A growing partnership with Transport for Wales (TfW) has delivered another boost for Ballymena-based bus manufacturer Wrightbus, with a new fleet of buses now carrying passengers across Wales and further electric vehicles already on order. The latest milestone sees 14 new Wrightbus double-deck diesel buses enter service on the TrawsCymru network, while the company has also secured a contract to build six zero-emission single-deck electric buses for delivery in 2027. For Wrigh

Air Ambulance Northern Ireland is preparing to launch its first charity-owned helicopter later this summer, marking a major milestone as the life-saving service celebrates nine years of emergency medical care across the region. The aircraft, due to enter service in late summer 2026, will replace the current leased model and is expected to strengthen the long-term resilience of the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS), which is delivered in partnership with the Northern

RNIB’s Kirsty Campbell stands with Jeannie in her front garden as she presents a cheque for £100. People visiting a front garden in Ballygally this week were doing more than browsing handmade crafts — they were supporting a Larne woman who turned her own experience of sight loss into an act of kindness for others. Now in her 80s, Jeannie Hunter raised £100 for RNIB Northern Ireland by hosting an arts and crafts exhibition at her home in the picturesque coastal village, inviti

Jane Martin (centre) from Mencap presents the Employer of the Month award to Ann O’Neill (left) and Linda Saunders (right) from the Northern Health and Social Care Trust. A team at Causeway Hospital has been recognised with a national award after creating a workplace where people with learning disabilities are supported to build confidence, develop new skills and secure meaningful long-term employment. The hospital’s Corporate Support Services team has been named Mencap’s Emp

Ellen McClure’s group of ewe lambs One of Northern Ireland’s leading pedigree Dorset sheep flocks has been crowned overall champion in this year’s Northern Ireland Dorset Horn & Polled Sheep Breeders’ Club Flock Competition, with the prestigious awards setting the stage for the club’s annual premier show and sale in Ballymena later this month. The competition, judged by James and Craig Robson of the Ballyhamage Flock, recognised outstanding breeding, stock quality and flock

With another school year now at an end, ten teachers and school staff from across the Ballymena area have been recognised after hundreds of local pupils nominated the people who made the biggest difference to their lives in the classroom. The winners of Ballymena BID’s popular ‘Treat Your Teacher’ competition were announced following an overwhelming response from families, with children sharing heartfelt stories of kindness, encouragement, patience and support shown throughou