NEWS

Residents across the Borough can pick up a free bag of peat-free compost this week as Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council launches a recycling reward initiative to mark International Compost Awareness Week 2026. From Monday 4 May until Saturday 9 May, households visiting any of the Council’s five Household Recycling Centres will be eligible to receive one complimentary bag of compost while stocks last. The offer is available to residents bringing recyclable items includin

A North Antrim MLA has highlighted the vital role of an early years service in Ballymena after seeing first-hand how it is supporting young children and families across the area. Visit shines light on frontline support for families Jon Burrows visited Ballymena and Little Steps Antrim SureStart on the Doury Road, where he met staff, parents and children and observed a range of programmes currently being delivered on the ground. The service, operated by Action for Children, wo

The Committee and Volunteers from Sensory Kids A volunteer-led organisation supporting children, adults and families in Co Antrim has received the highest honour of its kind in the UK, recognising years of life-changing work for people with disabilities. Sensory Kids has been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service, a prestigious national recognition celebrating the impact of its inclusive programmes and community support. Prestigious honour presented at special ceremo

An investigation into recurring blue-green algae in Lough Neagh is set to focus on the shoreline at Rea’s Wood in Antrim. A report due to be presented to the Operations Committee of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council at a meeting in Antrim Civic Centre on Tuesday evening (5 April) states that, following a preliminary site assessment, a company has identified Rea’s Wood as “a particularly suitable location for the deployment of its equipment during the summer months”. Th

Action for Children staff Rosie Moore, Lorna Ballard and Franci Simpson with Jon Burrows MLA A North Antrim MLA has praised the “real difference” being made by a local early years service after seeing its impact first-hand during a visit to Ballymena. Jon Burrows visited Ballymena and Little Steps Antrim Sure Start on Doury Road on Friday, 1 May, where he met staff, parents and young children benefiting from the programme. The service, which operates across three sites in the

Official opening and ribbon cutting with Kate Sherry, Chief Commercial Officer, Belfast International Airport; Patrick Ntareme, General Manager, Flax & Soda, SSP UK & Ireland; Alistair Caldwell, Operations Manager, SSP UK & Ireland; and Richard Attwood, Director of Business Development, SSP UK & Ireland Passengers travelling through Belfast International Airport are being offered a new all-day dining experience with the opening of Flax & Soda, a major new restaurant at the he

Martin Cleary (Rossnowlagh) and Cian Kirwan (Letterkenny) chatted to horticulture Lecturer, Caitriona McCrudden about pathways in horticulture. Prospective students were recently given a hands-on look at future career opportunities in horticulture and floristry as the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) opened its doors at Greenmount Campus in Antrim. The open day offered an in-depth insight into the wide range of study pathways available, with staff wel

A 29-year-old man has been charged to court following a fatal two-vehicle collision in the Nutts Corner area on Sunday 26 April, in which a teenage boy lost his life. The man, who had been arrested in the aftermath of the crash, has now been charged with causing death by dangerous driving along with a number of other offences. Court appearance scheduled He is due to appear before Limavady Magistrates’ Court today, Wednesday 29 April. The charges come as part of the ongoing in

Cregagh Wood, the location for Dance Encounters An immersive dance experience set deep within one of the Glens of Antrim’s most scenic woodland areas will see audiences step directly into a live performance this weekend, as Maiden Voyage Dance brings a unique guided tour to life during the Cushendun Big Arts Weekend. Taking place on Saturday 2nd May, “A Walk in the Woods with Dance Encounters” invites participants to explore Cregagh Wood not just as a landscape, but as a livi

A 16-year-old boy has died and a 10-year-old child remains in a critical condition following a serious two-vehicle collision near Nutts Corner on Sunday morning, with a driver now arrested and police appealing for witnesses. The fatal crash happened on the Belfast Road shortly before 8am on Sunday 26 April, involving a black Volkswagen Golf and a silver Volkswagen Passat. Emergency services were called to the scene, where a teenage male passenger in the Passat, aged 16 and fr

South Antrim MP Robin Swann with Nico the police dog at the PSNI’s Steeple Training Campus in Antrim South Antrim MP Robin Swann has praised the PSNI Dog Section as a “vital and evolving force in modern policing” after witnessing first-hand how specially trained dogs are now being deployed to locate hidden digital devices as well as track suspects and search property. The visit to the PSNI’s Steeple Training Campus in Antrim offered a rare behind-the-scenes look at the scale,

Northern Ireland’s emergency departments have recorded their worst waiting times ever, with senior clinicians warning that lives are at risk unless urgent action is taken to address a deepening crisis across the health system. New figures covering January to March 2026 reveal a dramatic deterioration in performance, with patients facing unprecedented delays for treatment, admission, or discharge. The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) has issued a stark warning to the

Emergency departments across Northern Ireland are facing escalating strain, with new Department of Health figures confirming rising demand, worsening waiting time performance, and a sharp increase in the number of patients enduring extreme delays — with the Northern Trust area, including Antrim Area Hospital and Causeway Hospital, firmly at the centre of the pressure. The latest statistics, covering January to March 2026, show only 40.2% of patients were treated, discharged o

Marks & Spencer has begun work on a significant transformation of its Aldergrove store, with plans to double the size of its Foodhall, introduce thousands of new product lines and create up to 25 new local jobs. The redevelopment, which is now underway, will see the existing store expand into the adjoining service station, delivering a larger, modernised retail space designed to meet changing customer demand and enhance convenience for shoppers in the area. Store expansion un

19-year-old Jamie Matthews from Antrim has been selected to represent the UK at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 A 19-year-old apprentice from Antrim is set to compete on one of the world’s biggest stages for vocational talent after being selected to represent the UK at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 — a global contest where elite young professionals go head-to-head in high-pressure, precision-based challenges. Jamie Matthews, who is training with Mivan and studying a Level 3 Apprentice

Antrim Police Station A man in his 20s has been taken to hospital with severe facial injuries following a serious suspected assault in Antrim on Wednesday night, with a 27-year-old man arrested as police continue enquiries into the incident. Detectives have issued an appeal for witnesses and footage after the injured man was found in the Dublin Road area at around 10pm on Wednesday, 15 April. The incident is now the subject of an active police investigation, with officers par

Kelli McRoberts, Chief Executive at Carrickfergus Enterprise, Elain Harkin, Strategic Revenue Manager from McKeever Hotels and Christine Barnhiill, Economic Development Officer at Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, pictured with the ladies who attended this year’s Enterprising Women Residential. Female entrepreneurs from across Mid and East Antrim have come together for the fourth annual Enterprising Women Residential, as the fast-growing network continues to expand its sup

A man in his 20s has been arrested after a shop in Antrim was extensively damaged in an arson attack in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Police were called to the incident in the Greystone Road area of the town at approximately 3.35am on Tuesday 14 April, following reports that a business premises was on fire. Officers attended the scene alongside crews from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, who worked to extinguish the blaze. While no injuries were reported, t

Asda Antrim raises funds for Dementia NI Asda Antrim has strengthened its support for the local community with backing for two separate initiatives — helping bring generations together in Randalstown through a community sports event and raising more than £6,000 for Dementia NI. The supermarket’s latest community efforts have seen Randalstown Ulster-Scots Society awarded a £600 grant through the Asda Foundation, while colleagues at the Antrim store have also completed a major

Northern Ireland Ambulance Servi ce staff Estelle Smyth, Michael Patterson , and Derek Hamilton supporting Northern Trust colleagues on tree planting initiative Holywell Hospital in Antrim is set to undergo a major environmental transformation under a new Northern Health and Social Care Trust scheme that will see 7,000 native trees planted across the site over the next seven years. The large-scale planting programme, announced as part of the Trust’s wider sustainability strat