NEWS

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

Evelyn Harris from Ballymena achieved six Distinctions in her VetSkill VTEC Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Companion Animal) course which she studied at CAFRE. The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) has celebrated the achievements of its latest veterinary care and veterinary nursing graduates, with Ballymena among the towns represented by top-performing learners recognised at a major awards ceremony in Antrim. Held at Greenmount Campus on Friday

Garden enthusiasts from across the borough and beyond are being invited to Antrim Castle Gardens this month for a free spring event featuring thousands of plants, specialist growers and expert advice, as Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council launches the countdown to one of Northern Ireland’s best-known home and garden showcases. The Spring Plant Fair will take place on Saturday 11 April 2026, running from 10am to 5pm in the picturesque Parterre Gardens at Antrim Castle Gar

Cancer services in Northern Ireland remained under intense strain at the end of 2025, with the latest Department of Health figures showing that almost all key waiting time targets continued to be missed despite an increase in the number of patients beginning treatment and a sharp rise in breast cancer assessments. The newly published Accredited Official Statistics cover the quarter ending December 2025 and set out waiting times for patients accessing cancer services at hospit

Retired Irish League footballers Jeff Hughes Patients receiving care at Holywell Hospital are taking part in a new 12-week football coaching programme designed to support mental health recovery, build resilience and reduce social isolation. The initiative, launched by the Northern Health and Social Care Trust , is giving service users meaningful time away from the ward through structured coaching sessions led by former Irish League footballers and fully qualified coaches. The

Lilianna McKeown and Mollie McCrea (Cliftonville), Ava Upritchard and Alice Shaw (Crusaders), Maci Davidson and Megan McCabe (Linfield), and Aleah Neill and Sophia Currie (Glentoran) are pictured at Coronation Garden, Hazelbank Park, as the Budget Energy SuperCupNI confirms its 2026 Girls’ Sections line-up. Liverpool will make a landmark first appearance in the Girls’ Premier section of this summer’s Budget Energy SuperCupNI, in what is shaping up to be one of the tournament’

Antrim Area Hospital Emergency Department Emergency departments across the Northern Health and Social Care Trust remain under significant pressure, interim chief executive Suzanne Pullins told a board meeting last week. Ms Pullins said the Trust’s emergency departments “remain under pressure from the number of people coming through the system”. The Northern Trust has reported a 12 per cent increase in emergency department (ED) attendances by patients aged over 75 at Causeway

Blue household recycling bins replaced in Antrim could soon find a new home in Mid and East Antrim. Members of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Environment and Economy Committee were told at a meeting in March that a director would contact neighbouring Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council to make enquiries about the potential reuse of the wheelie bins. A triple-stack wheelie box system was rolled out to 25,000 households across the Antrim, Randalstown, Crumlin, Temple

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has today published the Northern Ireland’s first Aviation Policy for consultation. Pictured (L-R) are Katy Best, Chief Commercial Officer, Belfast City Airport, Dan Owens, CEO, Belfast International, Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald and Steve Frazer, Managing Director, City of Derry Airport. A major new aviation policy designed to strengthen Northern Ireland’s global connections and drive economic growth has been launched — with ambi

L-R: Declan McAleer MLA, Deputy Chair of the AERA Committee; Robbie Butler, MLA, Chair of the AERA Committee; Kathleen McBride, CEO of Lough Neagh Fishermen’s Co‑Operative Society; Michelle McIlveen MLA, AERA Committee member and Dr Janice Thompson, Committee Clerk. The scale of the crisis engulfing Lough Neagh was laid bare this week as Stormont committee members heard stark warnings from local fishers who say their industry is “dying” amid environmental decline, collapsing

An action plan is set to be implemented by the Northern Health and Social Care Trust at Whiteabbey Hospital by the end of next month in a bid to improve theatre efficiency. Trust board members were presented with a report on theatre performance at the end of February, which showed that performance in the Trust’s “peripheral” hospitals — Whiteabbey and Mid Ulster — is below target in terms of both operating and run times. Operating times refer to the time spent on each patient

Antrim Area Hospital Emergency Department (ED) Body-worn cameras will now become a permanent feature in the Emergency Department at Antrim Area Hospital, following what health officials have described as a “meaningful and constructive” pilot scheme. The decision, approved today (Thursday, March 26) by the Board of the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, also paves the way for the technology to be introduced at Causeway Hospital’s Emergency Department in the near future.

A newly refurbished luxury bathroom showroom has opened its doors in Antrim, offering homeowners and trade professionals a fresh wave of inspiration — and time-limited deals to match. Watershed, part of leading builders’ merchant MacBlair, has officially unveiled its upgraded showroom within the MacBlair Antrim branch, showcasing modern design trends and practical solutions for bathroom projects of all sizes. To mark the relaunch, customers can take advantage of exclusive in-

Inset: South Antrim UUP MP Robin Swann A move to reduce the impact of fireworks on communities and animals has been welcomed as a “step in the right direction” by South Antrim MP Robin Swann , following a positive response from Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council. The council has confirmed it will now consider using silent or low-noise fireworks at future public events, after adopting a motion on the issue and reviewing its approach to event planning. Council commits to r

The new Northern Quarter officially opens after a £1 million investment at Belfast International Airport A major transformation of the passenger experience at Belfast International Airport has been unveiled, with the official opening of the new Northern Quarter following a £1 million investment that has also created 40 new jobs. The new Northern Quarter Bar & Kitchen replaces the airport’s former food court with a modern, single 180-seat restaurant and bar, alongside a dedica