NEWS

Daniel Hunter at work with Stena Line The journey towards a job you love is not always smooth sailing – but with the right direction and support, it’s possible to reach your destination. That’s exactly what happened for Daniel Hunter from Carrickfergus, who has proudly worked with Stena Line since 2022 after years of determination and perseverance. Daniel’s story began over a decade ago when he was first referred to the Northern Health and Social Care Trust’s Day Opportuniti

Mayor and Mayoress of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford and Allison Minford, pictured with Margaret Cowie Carrickfergus Museum came alive with colour and creativity as it hosted Margaret’s Later Life Hobby Exhibition and a special Paint with Numbers Workshop on Saturday 25 October, celebrating wellbeing, connection, and lifelong learning as part of Positive Ageing Month. The exhibition showcased a stunning collection of paintings by Margaret Cowie , whose passio

Ballymena woman Caitriona Lennox FIH, Head of Springboard Northern Ireland with her award Ballymena woman Caitriona Lennox FIH, Head of Springboard Northern Ireland, has been named winner of the Institute of Hospitality’s prestigious Fellows’ Outstanding Contribution Award 2025 — the first time this esteemed recognition has been bestowed on anyone from Ballymena. The award, presented at the annual Institute of Hospitality (IoH) Fellows’ Dinner held on 27 October at The Waldo

Ballymena’s own Jack Mitchell has quite literally taken fundraising to new heights after completing a daring aeroplane wing walk to raise money for Air Ambulance Northern Ireland (NI). On October 4th, Jack travelled to Bristol to take on the bucket-list challenge with AeroSuperBatics Wingwalkers, experiencing the thrill of being strapped to the top of a flying aircraft for a breathtaking ten-minute flight. Despite stormy weather and challenging winds, Jack’s adventure went ah

Mid and East Antrim In Bloom Community Awards Winners and Runners-Up Mid and East Antrim’s green-fingered residents, schools, and community groups have been recognised for their outstanding contributions to the Borough’s beauty and biodiversity at this year’s In Bloom Community Awards. The special awards ceremony, hosted by the Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford , took place at Larne Market Yard and celebrated 19 winners and runners-up for their creativi

Ballymena’s business community turned out in record numbers on Thursday night for the 2025 Ballymena Business Excellence Awards, marking a landmark year for the prestigious event. More than 480 guests packed into the Tullyglass House Hotel for the 22nd annual gala, which saw a record number of entries — including 37 businesses entering for the first time. Organised by the Ballymena Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry , the awards were once again sponsored by Mid and East An

McDonnell Shields for Head Boy and Head Girl presented to students Ruairi Hendron and Aleena Shiji St Patrick’s College, Ballymena has celebrated the achievements of its pupils during the 2024–25 academic year at its annual prizegiving ceremony, which featured an inspiring address by past pupil and businesswoman Mrs Johanna Montgomery . Mrs Montgomery, who trained as a kitchen designer before expanding into wider areas of home design, shared insights from her career journey a

Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Oliver McMullan, has hosted a reception for local Junior Drum Major champion Lydia Todd. Included in the photo are members of the McNeillstown Pipe Band . The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Oliver McMullan, has hosted a special reception to honour local talent Lydia Todd, who recently claimed three major Drum Major titles on the international stage. The 14-year-old Dalriada School pupil secured the 2025 Scottish, E

The photo accompanying this release features participants who have successfully completed this latest academy, alongside key individuals from the project: Hayley Barr and Rhonda Lynn from Mid & East Antrim Labour Market Partnership (MEALMP), and Hannah Wilson and Naomi Hutchinson from Northern GP Federation Support Unit. The Northern GP Federation Support Unit (NFSU) has marked the successful completion of another Medical Administration Academy, delivered in partnership wi

Sport Certificate in Horse Care Management learners received their qualifications at the Equine Awards Ceremony at Enniskillen Campus. Pictured are Abbie Thompson from Antrim , Aine Sweeney from Burtonport, Co Donegal, Alisha Cooper from Kells and Maria Elliott from Ballinamallard along with CAFRE Equine Lecturer, Dr Rachel Annan. The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) hosted its annual Awards Ceremony on Friday 17 October 2025, celebrating the outstan

Randalstown ARCHES Association Directors at the 30th Anniversary Gala Dinner with presentation cheque. (L-R) William Allen (Treasurer); Martin Hackett; Liam Hurrel; Eileen Ingram (Secretary); Peter Boyle (Chairman); Leanne Murray; Eugene McKeever; Anne Delaney; Pete Burbidge; and Suzanne Lawrence. Randalstown ARCHES Association has celebrated three decades of community achievement with a glittering Gala Dinner and announced a significant £46,727 grant from The National Lotter

IGNITE participant, Jenna Louise Dowds from Slemish College, pictured with Paula Bittles, Business Support Executive at Belfast City Airport and Gerry Kelly, CEO of NICSSA Belfast City Airport has launched the sixth year of its acclaimed IGNITE youth leadership programme, reaffirming its dedication to inspiring and empowering young people from across Greater Belfast and Northern Ireland. Originally designed to support 100 students, the IGNITE initiative has now successfully e

Rachel Calvin with a judge from the IBMS after winning the poster competition in the cellular pathology category. The laboratory team at the Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NHSCT) has celebrated a remarkable achievement at the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) Congress in Birmingham, widely regarded as the UK’s leading forum for pathology innovation. The event, which attracts the country’s top biomedical scientists and laboratory staff, is the largest of its kind

Overall winner of the Mid and East Antrim heat of Go Succeed: The Ultimate Pitch William Mawhinney, centre, pictured with, from left, judge Noel Mullholland and Councillor Jackson Minford, Mayor, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council A Carrickfergus entrepreneur has sailed to success after making The Ultimate Pitch to win investment for his innovative new business that carries out vessel hull inspections. William Mawhinney wowed judges at the Mid and East Antrim heat of Go Succ

Chamber President Mark Wiggins with Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Councillor Jackson Minford with representatives of local businesses sponsoring the 2025 Ballymena Business Excellence Awards The names of the finalists for the 2025 Ballymena Business Excellence Awards have been announced, celebrating the innovation, resilience, and community spirit of local businesses across the Ballymena area. Organised annually by the Ballymena Area Chamber of Commerce and Ind

Remembering Maggie The Coast Road Darts Team in Glenarm have once again shown their community spirit by raising an impressive £5,100 for Air Ambulance NI, in memory of Maggie Black, who tragically passed away almost four years ago from undiagnosed Addison’s Disease. The team gathered at the Coast Road Inn, which kindly hosted the fundraising event, for the official cheque presentation. Representatives from Air Ambulance NI, including charity staff member Kerry Anderson, atten

Julie Patterson, Assistant Director for Corporate Parenting in the Northern Trust, Nikki Gregg, Assistant Director of The Fostering Network NI, Shauna and Christopher Rocks, winners of the excellence in kinship care award, and Julie Bell, Head of Service for Fostering in the Northern Trust. Foster carers from across Northern Ireland have been celebrated at the Northern Ireland Foster Care Awards, hosted by The Fostering Network in partnership with HSC NI Foster Care. Now in t

(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

Emily, aged 11, from Ahoghill, was one of eight young artists selected from over 1,000 entries across Northern Ireland for Translink’s Climate Action ‘Brand A Bus’ competition. A young artist from Ahoghill has seen her creative vision come to life in spectacular fashion — on the side of a Translink double-decker bus. 11-year-old Emily is one of eight talented young artists from across Northern Ireland whose artwork was selected from more than 1,000 entries in Translink’s inau

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Ulster...