NEWS

Back row: Dr Conor O’Neill, Ward Sister Karen Devlin, Lead Nurse Paediatrics and Neonatology, Shirley Montgomery, Dr Lynne McFetridge, Dr Aiveen Higgins, middle row, physiotherapist, Lisa Rainey, TinyLife Family Support Worker, Charlene McKee, Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Kathie Dobbin, Bliss Chief Executive, Caroline Lee-Davey, Tinylife Chief Executive, Joanne Morgan, front row, Enhanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Suzie Forbes, Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner

Eddie O’Neill presenting Elizabeth McAllister with a trophy for Reserve Champion Show Flock. The Irish Beltex Sheep Breeders Club marked another successful year as members gathered for the annual Club Dinner at The Valley Hotel, Fivemiletown, on Saturday, 22 November. The evening saw the announcement of the 2025 Flock Competition results and recognition of outstanding achievements from breeders across the island. Members were awarded a range of cups, trophies and rosettes in

Ballymena’s young star Kain Stewart, presented with the WKO Grand Champion belt, alongside medals and certificates, which were presented by WKO UK President Jon Green Ballymena’s rising star Kain Stewart, aged 10 and from Foxton Wood Square, has capped off an extraordinary year by being crowned WKO Grand Champion at the WKO Grand Prix awards ceremony in Barnsley on Saturday evening, 29 November. Kain’s dominance throughout the season saw him rise to the top of the 10–11-year

Over the past few years, the store team has organised and taken part in a number of initiatives and fun days to help raise funds towards the milestone and become one of the top SPAR fundraisers in NI. A Ballymena store team is celebrating after helping SPAR NI surpass an extraordinary £1 million raised for Marie Curie, supporting vital community nursing services across Northern Ireland. SPAR NI has confirmed its retailers and shoppers have collectively raised £1,024,167 for t

Pictured are the latest cohort of students from the Supporting Communities Scholarship Scheme, Noah Hought, Michael Cushenan, Caoimhe Layland McGroggan and Jelisejs Sestakovs, alongside Stephanie McKilliop, far left and Sandra Ross, far right, from Supporting Communities. The Gallaher Trust has announced a further three-year extension to its scholarship schemes, securing £99,000 in funding to support disadvantaged young adults pursuing business or STEM-based studies in the B

John Ferris, Accelerator Leader, Ulster Bank; Kerri Anderson, Head of Fundraising, Air Ambulance Northern Ireland, and Terry Robb, Head of Personal Banking, Ulster Bank. Ulster Bank colleagues in Ballymena have helped raise more than £155,000 for Air Ambulance Northern Ireland (AANI) as part of this year’s major ‘One Week in September’ fundraising campaign — delivering a six-figure boost for the charity’s lifesaving work. Staff at the Ballymena branch organised a series of ev

Victoria Brown, Director of Marketing at Galgorm Collection and Tara Moore, Head of Spa Operations at Galgorm accept the award for Best Spa Weekend at the Condé Nast Johansens in London. Galgorm, Northern Ireland’s premier luxury resort, has secured a series of major international accolades at the World Luxury Awards and the Condé Nast Johansens Awards, reinforcing its status as one of the world’s leading spa and hospitality destinations. The global recognition comes as the

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

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

Ballymena Academy pupils Samantha Dunlop and Katie McNeilly who are through to the final stage of the ABP Angus Youth Challenge Ballymena Academy has secured a place in the final of the prestigious ABP Angus Youth Challenge, with two Year 11 pupils set to take on an innovative project aimed at advancing genetic literacy in beef production. The announcement was made today via YouTube , where pupils Samantha Dunlop and Katie McNeilly learned that their school had qualified for

Ballymena’s 7 Towers Burgers is rapidly becoming one of Northern Ireland’s most talked-about emerging food brands after securing two major accolades at the NI Food To Go Awards 2025 and continuing to build impressive momentum both online and in the local community. The smash-burger specialist, based in Ballee Community Square, was crowned Newcomer of the Year and received Highly Commended in the Best Burger To Go category. The wins follow their earlier success at the Ballym

Wrightbus CEO Jean-Marc Gales World-leading zero-emission bus manufacturer Wrightbus has capped its most successful year to date with another major international accolade — this time for innovation in mobility at the ADS Federal Conference in Germany. The Ballymena-based firm was recognised for its significant advances in hydrogen technology, including its record-breaking fleet currently operating across Germany. The latest honour joins a growing collection of awards presente

Isla McManus with her plaque in The Junction, Antrim. The Junction in Antrim rolled out a festive welcome for rising star Isla McManus, following her standout performance as a Junior Eurovision Ireland finalist. The young singer was joined by friends, family, and Santa Claus himself for a celebratory breakfast recognising her meteoric rise in the world of music. During the event, The Junction presented Isla with a commemorative plaque – soon to be displayed inside the shoppin

Pictured from left is Peter McCool, owner, The Phoenix Maxol in Ballymena with Brian Donaldson, CEO, The Maxol Group. Two Northern Ireland service stations have been recognised among the best in the Maxol network after standout performances at the Maxol Excellence Awards 2025, held during the company’s annual Retail Conference at The K Club. Phoenix Maxol Ballymena Named Store of the Year The Phoenix Maxol in Ballymena is celebrating a major achievement after being crowned S

The Silnavogie Sheepdog Trial organisers and committee presenting a cheque to Air Ambulance NI The annual Shilnavogie Sheep Dog Trial once again united competitors, families, and supporters on Saturday 13 September, raising an impressive £1,502.50 for Air Ambulance NI. Held at the farm of Mr John Davison in Shilnavogie, the friendly, strictly amateur event drew 25 competitors and their highly trained dogs for a day focused on skill, participation, and community spirit. Despit

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford, pictured with Galgorm Golf Club representatives and junior players. The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford , has hosted a special reception recognising the outstanding achievements of Galgorm Golf Club’s junior players following a record-breaking season for the club. Junior representatives from the Ballymena club were welcomed to The Braid after two Galgorm teams – the Junior Cup side and the Fred

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Councillor Jackson Minford pictured with Ballymena woman Caitriona Lennox FIH, Head of Springboard Northern Ireland The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Councillor Jackson Minford , has officially welcomed Ballymena woman Caitriona Lennox FIH , Head of Springboard Northern Ireland , to his parlour at The Braid to celebrate her receiving the Institute of Hospitality’s prestigious Fellows’ Outstanding Contribution Award

Cranmore’s James Galbraith pictured with Cranmore’s two awards for Young IT Professional of the Year and Mobile App of the Year. A software developer from Broughshane has secured one of Northern Ireland’s top technology honours after being named Young IT Professional of the Year during the 2025 Belfast Telegraph IT Awards. James Galbraith, aged 25, took home the coveted award at the high-profile ceremony held in The MAC, Belfast, on Friday 14 November. The Cranmore developer

Robert Scott from KCA Motors, winner of the Best Marketing Campaign (Independent Dealer) Award at the 2025 NI Motor Industry Awards, presented by Valerie Ludlow from award founders ASG . Ballymena-based KCA Motors has driven away with one of the top honours at this year’s Northern Ireland Motor Industry Awards, securing the coveted Best Marketing Campaign (Independent Dealer) title. The independent dealer was among dozens of businesses recognised at the prestigious ceremony,

Lapwing nest in the Antrim Hills The 2025 breeding season has delivered a significant boost for some of Northern Ireland’s most threatened wading birds, thanks to a close partnership between RSPB NI, local farmers and landowners across the Antrim Hills. RSPB NI staff and volunteers have spent recent months surveying, protecting and monitoring key species across a number of sites, working hand-in-hand with the agricultural community to improve habitat conditions and give vulne