NEWS

The unmistakable sound, colour and character of one of Britain’s most iconic cars will return to the grounds of Glenarm Castle this weekend as hundreds of enthusiasts gather for the second annual Minis at the Castle. The good news for local families and motoring enthusiasts is that the event is completely free for the general public to attend. Following a hugely successful debut event in 2025, organisers are preparing to welcome another impressive turnout of classic Mini owne

People of all ages have helped the MEA Outdoors team with beach cleans at Ballygally A community beach clean at Ballygally brought local people together on Monday evening to help care for one of Mid and East Antrim’s most popular coastal beauty spots. The clean-up event, which took place on Monday 29 June, saw volunteers join forces with the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Outdoors team to collect litter from the shoreline and surrounding beach areas. With coastal locatio

L-R: Shannon Brown, Spa Manager, Salt Spa; Carl McGarrity, Director of The Salthouse Hotel; and Elizabeth Dillon, Guest Experience Manager, The Salthouse Hotel. A £5 million investment has transformed one of Northern Ireland’s most distinctive hospitality destinations into a fully realised luxury wellness retreat, with the opening of a major new spa creating 30 additional jobs and completing the final phase of development at The Salthouse near Ballycastle. The launch of the n

Louise Black, Market Senior Partner for PwC Belfast A Carnlough woman has been appointed to lead Northern Ireland’s largest professional services office outside London, as PwC unveiled one of its biggest leadership and promotion rounds in recent years. Louise Black has been named Market Senior Partner for PwC Belfast, taking responsibility for the strategic direction of the firm’s Belfast operation and its workforce of approximately 2,400 people. The appointment places the Co

Underwater seagrass meadow. A protected seagrass meadow off the County Antrim coast at Waterfoot has been found to contain more nitrogen than scientists consider healthy, after researchers discovered every seagrass meadow tested across Northern Ireland had exceeded an internationally recognised pollution warning threshold. The Queen’s University Belfast study examined the amount of nitrogen stored inside seagrass leaves — a natural record of the pollution the plants have been

Gracehill, Ballymena (Image: Gail Spiers) and the Giant’s Causeway from above (Image: Patryk Sadowski Photography) Northern Ireland’s internationally recognised UNESCO sites – including Gracehill’s newly inscribed World Heritage Site status – were celebrated at Stormont this week as political leaders, councillors and heritage representatives gathered to launch a new video series highlighting some of the region’s most significant cultural and natural landmarks. The event, held

Waterfoot beach and the illustrative designs of outdoor mobile saunas for locations across the Causeway Coast. Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Planning Department has received planning applications for outdoor saunas at four popular coastal locations across the borough. The proposals represent the next stage in plans to introduce dedicated wellness facilities at key seaside destinations, reflecting the growing popularity of sea swimming, cold-water immersion and ou

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir launches the Northern Ireland Seabird Conservation Strategy with partners at RSPB West Light Seabird Centre on Rathlin Island. (L-R) David Quinney Mee, Rathlin Development Community Association, Erin McKeown, LIFE Raft Programme Manager, Joanne Sherwood, Director of RSPB NI, Andrew Upton, Head of British Trust for Ornithology Northern Ireland, Dr Annika Clements, Queen’s University Belfast, Will Hawkins, National Trust and Dr Mathieu Lundy, Ulster

Cottage Wood just off Ballybrack Road, Cushendall A woodland on the edge of Cushendall known for its red squirrels, winding paths and sea views is set to become an immersive outdoor heritage attraction after councillors approved plans for a new art and storytelling trail at Cottage Wood. Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has backed proposals from Cushendall Development Group to transform parts of the 10-acre woodland into a family-focused heritage experience celebratin

(L-R) Judy Nelson (RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer), Ruby & Sam (RNLI Lifeguards), Ivor Paul (RNLI Launch Authority), Perry Walton (RNLI Coxswain), Garth Anderson (The Causeway Shantymen Engagement Officer and Event Lead), Chris Millar (The Causeway Shantymen Chairman and Musical Director) Northern Ireland’s coastline will ring with sea shanties, maritime storytelling and traditional music this summer as The Causeway Shantymen prepare to host a major cross-country Shanty Weekend

Adrian Davis of Ballygally based consultancy firm AD Sustainability which is planning to double in size as it expands into the Republic of Ireland as demand for sustainability expertise continues to surge. The company received assistance from the Go Succeed business support service A County Antrim environmental consultancy is preparing to double the size of its business as growing pressure on companies to cut costs, reduce emissions and meet stricter sustainability expectatio

Ballycastle beach, County Antrim Northern Ireland’s bathing water system could face its biggest overhaul in years under new proposals that may change how swimming sites are identified, monitored and protected across the country. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has launched a 12-week public consultation examining whether current bathing water rules are still fit for purpose as outdoor swimming surges in popularity and more people use coasta

Portrush RNLI Inshore Lifeboat ‘The Ken Blair’ Two kayakers were rescued off the north coast on Wednesday afternoon after getting into difficulty in the water near Ramore Head in Portrush. Volunteer crew members from RNLI were called into action after reports that two people had ended up in the sea alongside their kayaks just off the popular coastal headland. The incident prompted the launch of the Portrush RNLI Inshore Lifeboat, with the rescue operation unfolding shortly af

A casualty with a suspected broken leg was rescued from a beach earlier today (Monday 25 May) after HM Coastguard Larne and the volunteer crew of Larne RNLI launched a joint emergency response. The incident unfolded in a difficult coastal location where access for ambulance crews was limited and changing tidal conditions created additional pressure for rescuers working on scene. Coastguard teams arrived quickly and worked alongside the RNLI crew to stabilise the casualty befo

Larne RNLI’s new Shannon class all-weather lifeboat Machiko Nancy Larne RNLI’s new Shannon class all-weather lifeboat Machiko Nancy was launched for the first time on Sunday afternoon after two crew members onboard a broken-down RIB got into difficulty off the County Antrim coast. The volunteer crew were requested to launch at 2.48pm on Monday 25 May following a call from HM Coastguard after a member of the crew onboard the vessel reported that they had suffered a breakdown w

The RNLI is urging people across Northern Ireland to remember a simple piece of advice that could save their life this summer as warmer weather and the Bank Holiday weekend are expected to bring large crowds to beaches and inland waterways. The charity has launched its annual ‘Float to Live’ campaign ahead of the busy summer season, warning that panic can quickly become deadly if someone gets into difficulty in the water. With thousands expected to head to the coast over the

Police are deploying extra officers to beaches, parks and town centres across Northern Ireland this bank holiday weekend as warm weather is expected to bring a major surge in visitors to coastal hotspots and tourist areas. The PSNI said additional patrols will be visible across the North Coast, North Down and South Down over the sunny holiday weekend, with officers focusing on anti-social behaviour, alcohol-related disorder, dangerous driving and public safety. The move comes

Site location of new social and affordable housing in Ballyvoy, County Antrim Plans for a new housing development within the Antrim Coast and Glens Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) are set to be considered by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Planning Committee next week. The outline application seeks permission for 14 social and affordable homes on lands west of St Patrick’s Culfeightrin Church on Cushendall Road in Ballyvoy. A planning officer’s report sai

A major new sports bar and restaurant promising live sport, late-night entertainment and a “true taste of the Causeway Coast” has officially opened inside The Portrush Atlantic Hotel. The venue, called Another Round, replaces the hotel’s former Atlantic Bar and forms part of a wider refurbishment programme at the landmark Portrush seafront hotel. Designed as a new social hub in the centre of the seaside town, the concept combines live sports coverage, food, drinks and enterta

Twenty-four year-old Declan McCook, founder of Niche Coastal A young entrepreneur from Ballycastle has been recognised among the top emerging businesses across Scotland and Northern Ireland after securing silver in the prestigious HSBC & FSB Start-Up Business Awards. At just 24 years old, Declan McCook, founder of Niche Coastal, was named runner-up in one of the competition’s most competitive categories — a significant achievement for a business launched little more than a ye