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Asda brings back £1 ‘Winter Warmer’ café initiative for over 60s
Asda has announced the return of its popular £1 ‘Winter Warmer’ café meal deal, designed to support people aged 60 and over through the colder months as many continue to face financial pressures. From 1st November until the end of February, anyone aged 60 or above can enjoy a bowl of soup, a bread roll, and unlimited tea or coffee for just £1 at any of Asda’s 212 cafés across the UK. Diners can choose between two soup flavours — Tomato or Chicken — offering a comforting and a
Oct 29


Robin Swann welcomes police crackdown on dangerous driving in Crumlin and Nutts Corner
Robin Swann MP during his Crumlin constituency surgery South Antrim MP Robin Swann has welcomed decisive action by local police to tackle dangerous driving across Crumlin and Nutts Corner. Concerns about reckless driving in the area were raised with Mr Swann by a local resident who attended his recent constituency surgery in Crumlin. The MP said he was encouraged by the prompt response from the police following these reports. Mr Swann stated: “I want to thank the Antrim and
Oct 26


Hospital at Home: New service aims to ease winter strain on Northern Trust hospitals
Antrim Area Hospital Emergency Department The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has warned that it may be “difficult to provide all services whilst managing the expected increase in demand for unscheduled or critical care” as it launches its 2025/26 Winter Plan. Outlining the plan to board members during a meeting at Antrim Hospital on Thursday, Gillian Traub, Director of Operations , acknowledged that staff are “very anxious” about the coming months. She said planning
Oct 26


Funding urgency: Mike Nesbitt pressed to back new £143m Birch Hill mental health facility in Antrim
CGI: Aerial overview of proposed new Birch Hill mental health facility at Antrim Area Hospital Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has been urged to come up with the finance needed for the new £143 million Birch Hill mental health facility at Bush Road in Antrim. The planned development has reached a standstill without confirmation of capital funding. The Northern Health and Social Care Trust had been due to receive the building for commissioning on 31 December 2029, which already r
Oct 25


Community projects in County Antrim receive boost from Bairds of Antrim Funeral Directors
Beneficiary Ballycraigy Primary School PTA Community groups across County Antrim have received a welcome funding boost from a long-established local business dedicated to supporting good causes. Bairds of Antrim Funeral Directors, which has proudly served the community since 1870, has announced the latest round of grants from its Community Assistance Programme, providing funding to four local organisations. The latest beneficiaries include: Friends of Antrim Castle Gardens ‘C
Oct 23


CAFRE celebrates student success at annual Equine Awards Ceremony
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
Oct 23


Acclaimed author Stephen Walker to launch David Trimble: Peacemaker at Old Courthouse Theatre in Antrim
Stephen Walker’s latest book David Trimble: Peacemaker, and pictured are Stephen Walker (right) and former BBC colleague Mark Devenport Acclaimed Ballymena author Stephen Walker is set to launch his highly praised new biography, David Trimble: Peacemaker , at the Old Courthouse Theatre in Antrim on Thursday 30 October at 7.30pm. The event will see Walker joined on stage by his former BBC colleague Mark Devenport , as the pair discuss the life and political legacy of Norther
Oct 21


No tricks, just treats: Asda offers free meals for kids in fancy dress this Halloween
Children dressed up for Halloween can enjoy a free meal at all 205 Asda Cafés nationwide on 31 October – with no adult spend required. This Halloween, families across the UK can look forward to a treat that won’t scare their wallets. On Friday 31 October, Asda is inviting children in fancy dress to eat for free in any of its 205 cafés nationwide, as part of its popular Kids Eat for £1 initiative. The offer coincides with half-term week, providing much-needed relief for parent
Oct 21


Max the dog spared destruction order finds new home in Antrim
Molly Piper with Max the dog A Dundonald dog that faced a court-ordered destruction ruling has been spared and is now settling into a new home in Antrim. ‘Max’ was ruled to be a Pit Bull-type banned breed by a Lisburn judge earlier this month, with only weeks to be rehomed or destroyed. Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) and animal welfare campaigners had been in dispute over the stray’s assessment for almost a year. Max was held in council kennels from December 2024
Oct 21


Concerns over fake references for agency health workers in Northern Trust as disciplinary cases double
Concerns about fake references being submitted for agency healthcare workers were brought before the Northern Health and Social Care Trust board following an alert earlier this year. During the most recent Trust board meeting, Paul Turley, a non-executive director , told members that fraudulent references had been submitted for agency posts, with a “small number specific to the Northern Trust”. According to the meeting minutes, the Procurement and Logistics Service (PaLS) — w
Oct 20


‘Unprecedented’ success for Northern Trust laboratory team at UK biomedical science congress
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
Oct 20


‘Prolific offender’ arrested after PSNI transport patrol in Ballymena
Police have arrested a man in connection with a breach of court bail conditions after he was found carrying alcohol on a train service between Belfast and Coleraine on Tuesday, 14 October. Officers from the Safe Transport Team were conducting patrols when they observed the man boarding the train at Ballymena Train Station carrying two large bottles of alcohol. A spokesperson for the Police Service of Northern Ireland said: “Officers spoke to the male on board and ascertained
Oct 16


Detectives appeal after woman threatened with blade in Antrim robbery
Detectives are appealing for information following a terrifying armed robbery in Antrim on Tuesday evening, during which a woman was threatened with a blade and had her purse stolen. The incident occurred at around 8.30pm on 14th October, as the woman, aged in her 40s, was walking along the Greystone path in the Rathmore Gardens area. Detective Sergeant Ash said: “At approximately 8.30pm a woman aged in her 40s, was approached from behind by an unknown man who was carrying a
Oct 15


Police appeal for information as concern grows for vulnerable missing person
Pictured: High-risk missing person Jamie Devlin Police are becoming increasingly concerned for the welfare of high-risk missing person...
Oct 13


“Be the change”: Mayor Leah Kirkpatrick shares powerful message on motherhood and politics
Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Ulster...
Oct 11


Dobbies’ Antrim and Lisburn stores unveil magical Christmas shops with nearly 600 new products
Dobbies Garden Centres has officially opened its highly anticipated Christmas shops in Lisburn and Antrim, inviting customers to...
Oct 11


Council responds to FSA consultation on ‘non-compliant’ food sales like American candy
Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has responded to a Food Standards Agency (FSA) consultation on how to deal with the sale of ...
Oct 10


Northern Trust’s healthy eating revolution: Fresher options in cafes and vending machines
Staff from Braid Valley canteen are among those supporting newly revised nutritional standards within health and social care settings. In...
Oct 10


Locals rally to honour ‘Billy Bog Roll’ with memorial fundraiser for beloved Antrim legend
Brendan Flanagan, affectionately known to generations of locals as “Billy Bog Roll.” The people of Antrim are rallying to remember one of...
Oct 9


Antrim nurses go the extra mile for young renal patients at national Kidney Care event
Hazelle Ongcoy and Caillee McHugh represented the Northern Health and Social Care Trust Two dedicated nurses from Antrim Area Hospital’s...
Oct 8
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