NEWS

Images: Jason Bain / Larne RNLI Larne RNLI volunteers came to the aid of three crew members onboard a broken-down fishing boat on Monday afternoon (29 December), after the vessel became at risk of being pushed onto rocks off the County Antrim coast. The volunteer lifeboat crew were tasked at 12.03pm following a call from HM Coastguard, after one of the fishermen reported that their vessel had suffered a breakdown near the Maidens Lighthouse, placing them in danger. Larne RNLI

L-R: Jan McCrudden, her son Portrush RNLI lifeboat volunteer Roo McCrudden and Roo’s granny Pat Torbitt As the RNLI launches its annual Christmas fundraising appeal, volunteers across the UK and Ireland are preparing to spend the festive season on call — including Portrush RNLI crewmember Richard “Roo” McCrudden , for whom lifesaving is very much a family tradition. Roo will remain on standby throughout the Christmas period, while his mother Jan and 92-year-old grandmother

Drains Bay on the Antrim coast A report on bathing water quality at Mid and East Antrim beaches during the summer was presented to the Borough Council’s Neighbourhoods and Communities Committee at a meeting in The Braid, Ballymena, on Tuesday evening. Findings showed that following water quality testing on July 29, swimming was temporarily advised against at Portmuck, Islandmagee, due to faecal pollution. Committee members were told this can arise from sewage outfalls, combin

The Giant’s Causeway is set to be seen by travellers across the world as it takes pride of place in the newly redesigned British passport, officially issued from today, Monday 1 December. The landmark basalt columns join three other UNESCO-protected natural landscapes in a major visual update to the UK passport’s pages. The new design also marks the first appearance of His Majesty King Charles III’s Coat of Arms in a British passport, symbolising a new chapter in the document

Giants Causeway, part of the Antrim Lava Group. (Image: Professor Stuart Gilfillan from our School of GeoSciences at the University of Edinburgh) Ancient volcanic rocks beneath County Antrim – the same basalt that forms the iconic columns of the Giant’s Causeway – could become a cornerstone of future climate action, with scientists revealing they could permanently store more carbon dioxide than any other site in the UK. A new study led by the University of Edinburgh has ident

(L-R) David Jackson, CEO of Causeway Coast and Glens District Council, Ellvena Graham, Chair of Tourism NI, Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Chief Championships Officer at The R&A, David McMullan, deputy chair of the championships committee at Royal Portrush Golf Club and Aine Kearney, Director of Events at Tourism NI announce that £280 million in economic benefit was provided to Northern Ireland by The 153 rd Open at Royal Portrush. The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush has generated an ex

A puffin makes history on the Isle of Muck Nature Reserve, off Islandmagee – the first to nest here in Ulster Wildlife’s 25 years of managing this seabird sanctuary. (Images & Video: Ronald Surgenor) For the first time in a quarter of a century, puffins have been recorded nesting on Ulster Wildlife’s Isle of Muck Nature Reserve, off Islandmagee in Co. Antrim — marking a significant milestone for seabird recovery in Northern Ireland. The discovery, made during routine surveys

Waterfoot Beach, County Antrim (Image: Angela McIlgorm) Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council members have voiced reservations about plans to install a dust path at Waterfoot Beach. At October’s Leisure and Development Committee meeting, councillors agreed to replace the damaged boardwalk on the beach, which has deteriorated significantly and poses safety and maintenance concerns, with a compacted dust path. The proposed path is designed to provide a durable, low-maintenan

Photos: Jason Bain / RNLI Larne Larne RNLI launched its all-weather lifeboat on Saturday afternoon (9 November) to assist four divers stranded after their rib suffered engine failure off the County Antrim coast. The volunteer crew launched the Dr John McSparran lifeboat at 1.47pm at the request of HM Coastguard, after one of the divers onboard the rib raised the alarm. Coxswain Barry Kirkpatrick, Mechanic Scott Leitch, and crew members Jordan McIlhinney, Catherine Lee, Ross

North Antrim MLA Sian Mulholland has praised Ballycastle bathing waters as they have once again achieved the highest possible rating for water quality.  Environment Minister Andrew Muir has announced the 2025 bathing water classification results, revealing that Ballycastle Beach has once again achieved the highest possible rating for water quality. The annual assessment, published by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), confirms that Ballycast

Larne Lifeboat Dr John McSparran (Image: Jason Bain/RNLI Larne) The volunteer crew of Larne RNLI launched their all-weather lifeboat Dr John McSparran on Friday afternoon (7 November) following reports of a yacht in difficulty off the County Antrim coast. At 1.26pm, HM Coastguard requested the launch after a crew member onboard the yacht raised the alarm. Conditions at the time were described as fine, with light winds and calm seas. Among those responding was volunteer crew m

Glenarm, County Antrim Mid and East Antrim councillors have voted against introducing additional car park barriers along the Antrim Coast, opting instead to retain the current arrangements. At Monday evening’s meeting of the council’s Environment and Economy Committee, held at The Braid in Ballymena, members agreed to keep the existing barriers in place, with none to be removed. The committee was told that access to some council-owned car parks had previously been restricted

Waterfoot Beach, County Antrim (Image: Angela McIlgorm) Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has endorsed plans to replace the damaged boardwalk at Waterfoot Beach with a compacted dust path. At October’s Leisure and Development Committee meeting, councillors were told that the existing boardwalk, installed in 2015, had deteriorated significantly and now poses safety and maintenance concerns. Members were presented with two replacement options: Option 1: A compacted dust

The Rathlin Ferry. (Image: Nicole McGinn) The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has announced its intention to increase fares on the ferry services to Rathlin Island and across Strangford Lough, with a statutory 30-day notice period to commence on today, Monday 27 October 2025. Background & Context Rathlin Island is Northern Ireland’s only inhabited offshore island and falls under the wider Rathlin Island Policy, a Northern Ireland Executive policy aimed at ensuring “conti

Alliance East Antrim MLA Danny Donnelly on the Antrim coast Alliance East Antrim MLA Danny Donnelly has welcomed confirmation that long-awaited action will finally be taken to replace the dangerous and rusted railings along the Coast Road in Larne. The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has confirmed that an external contractor has been instructed to assess seven sections of railings identified as being in a poor and unsafe condition, and to begin the process of replacing th

Image: Ken Cox The adrenaline-fuelled Knock Club Beach Race is making a triumphant return to Portrush’s East Strand in October 2025, promising an unforgettable weekend of high-speed motorsport on Northern Ireland’s stunning North Coast. Taking place on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th October 2025 , the Knock Ramore Beach Race Portrush will feature two action-packed days of competition, with racing scheduled from 11:00 to 15:00 each day. Spectators are invited to attend free of

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

Brendan and Charlotte Rodgers with some members of the Stoneyhill Committee, who oversee and administer the Maltina Park project . Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers and his wife Charlotte made a special visit to Maltina Park in Carnlough on Saturday (11 October) to view the impressive progress of a new cross community sports complex being developed on the Antrim coast. The facility — a collaboration between St John’s Camogie Club and Carnlough Swifts FC — has been named Maltina

Old Church Centre, Cushendun There’s magic in the air in Cushendun this November as the Old Church Centre prepares to host its first-ever...

Browns Bay, County Antrim Planning permission has been granted for a new toilet block at Brown’s Bay, Islandmagee — eight years after an...