NEWS

Machinery moved in around midnight to demolish The Antrim Arms, a derelict listed building in the middle of Ballycastle, County Antrim. (Photos: McAuley Multimedia) The overnight demolition of the former Antrim Arms Hotel has marked the end of one of Ballycastle’s most recognisable historic buildings, as Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council investigates whether the work was legally carried out. Machinery moved in toward midnight on Wednesday night, July 8, with much of th

Alliance North Antrim MLA Sian Mulholland Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland has welcomed the announcement that Ballycastle will host the 2027 Ulster Fleadh, describing it as a landmark achievement that will deliver lasting cultural and economic benefits for the town and the wider Causeway Coast and Glens. The prestigious week-long festival is one of the largest celebrations of traditional Irish music, song, dance and language in the province and is expected to attract tens of thou

The scene at Ballycastle Golf Club where a car crashed and overturned before being destroyed by fire. (Photo: McAuley Multimedia) A vehicle was destroyed by fire after leaving the road and crashing into the grounds of Ballycastle Golf Club in the early hours of Sunday morning. The dramatic incident happened on the Cushendall Road in Ballycastle, where the vehicle came to rest on its side after ploughing through boundary structures before it was engulfed in flames. Photographs

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

Brian Willis hands over his painting to Radiographer Lesley Thompson at Causeway Hospital’s MRI Unit. A heartwarming artwork created by a 90-year-old North Coast artist is helping to bring comfort, colour and conversation to patients attending the MRI Unit at Causeway Hospital. The newly installed painting, titled The MRI Noisemakers, has quickly become a talking point among both staff and patients thanks to its imaginative and playful design — replacing people with teddy bea

L-R, Michael McKillop, MD of Glens of Antrim Group, Stephen Ferris, Chef & Glens of Antrim ambassador & Nigel Doherty, Produce Buying Manager, Tesco NI A major new Tesco contract has handed Glens of Antrim another significant boost, with the Ballycastle-based food producer launching a new convenience-focused potato range into stores across Northern Ireland after a three-year development programme and a £180,000 investment. The move expands the company’s presence in the fresh

Mayor, Councillor Dawn Huggins (left) and Deputy Mayor, Alderman Sandra Hunter. Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has made history after appointing two women simultaneously to its top civic positions for the first time since the authority was formed. DUP Councillor Dawn Huggins has officially been installed as the new Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, while UUP Alderman Sandra Hunter has taken on the role of Deputy Mayor for the year ahead. The appoin

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

Police have launched a malicious communications investigation after threatening emails sent to schools and businesses across County Antrim caused widespread disruption and alarm on Tuesday. The PSNI confirmed six schools were affected in areas including Randalstown, Ballycraigy and Antrim town, while multiple businesses also received the email — the majority in Antrim, with one business impacted in the Ballycastle area. Detectives are now examining whether the incident is lin

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

The haunting rasping call of one of Northern Ireland’s rarest birds is set to become the soundtrack to a unique summer outing on Rathlin Island next month, as visitors are invited to experience the elusive corncrake in its natural habitat during a guided picnic event hosted by the RSPB Northern Ireland. Taking place on Thursday, June 11, the ‘Rathlin Island Corncrake Picnic’ will give attendees the chance to explore the island’s spectacular landscape alongside the RSPB’s Rath

TV and radio presenter Dermot O’Leary filming in Ballycastle for the second series of ‘Dermot’s Taste of Ireland’. A major new television series showcasing Northern Ireland’s coastline is set to reach millions of viewers this weekend, as broadcaster Dermot O’Leary returns with a second series of his hit travel and food programme exploring the island of Ireland. The new series of ‘Dermot’s Taste of Ireland’ will begin airing on ITV1 and streaming platform ITVX on Saturday, 2 M

North Antrim Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland at the scene of the incident in The Diamond, Ballycastle Political representatives have warned that the deliberate fire at the derelict Antrim Arms building in Ballycastle must act as a turning point in how long-term vacant properties are managed, as concerns grow over safety, disruption and the future of the site. Mulholland: fire exposes dangers of long-term dereliction Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland said the arson attack had deeply

A major fire that tore through the derelict Antrim Arms building in Ballycastle on Sunday evening is now being treated as a deliberate act, police have confirmed. The blaze at the prominent Castle Street property was reported shortly after 8pm on Sunday 19 April, triggering a large-scale emergency response and leading to multiple road closures in the town centre. Police confirm fire was deliberate In an update issued on Monday 20 April, the Police Service of Northern Ireland

Image: McAuley Multimedia A major fire broke out in Ballycastle on Sunday evening, sending thick plumes of smoke across the town and prompting urgent safety warnings for residents as dozens of firefighters worked to bring the blaze under control. The incident unfolded at the derelict former Antrim Arms building in The Diamond area, with emergency services receiving the first call at 8:08pm on Sunday 19 April 2026. Firefighters battle blaze at prominent town centre site Witnes

Hugh McGill and members of Ballycastle Runners welcoming another year’s sponsorship by McAuley Freight Ltd, represented by Aaron McAuley (right), as Marconi’s 5 Mile Race returns in Ballycastle. Ballycastle is set for another major day on the local sporting calendar next month as the Marconi’s 5 Mile Race returns on Sunday, 24 May 2026, with organisers confirming that McAuley Freight Ltd has joined Ballycastle Runners for a third consecutive year as one of the event’s main sp

A major policing operation across the North Coast over the bank holiday period resulted in nine arrests, 21 vehicles seized for dangerous defects and 560 speeding detections, as police moved to tackle traffic disruption, anti-social behaviour and dangerous driving in one of Northern Ireland’s busiest visitor hotspots. The extensive operation, led by police in Causeway Coast and Glens District, ran throughout the holiday weekend amid heightened concerns around road safety, exc

The poster placed at two roadside junctions in Ballycastle, and inset, TUV MP Jim Allister and Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan Political placards which had become the focus of local concern in Ballycastle have been removed following intervention by the Department for Infrastructure, prompting a fresh political row over standards for public displays in the town. The signs, located at the junction of Mary Street and Cushendall Road, were taken down after North Antrim MP Jim Allis

(Photo Credit: Nathan Williams) Lifeguards will return to the sands of the North Coast this Good Friday, marking a significant double milestone for the RNLI as the charity enters a new season of coastal protection. From 3 April to 12 April , six of the region’s most popular beaches will be patrolled daily between 10am and 6pm . The seasonal rollout coincides with the 25th anniversary of the RNLI’s lifeguarding service across the UK, and a special 15-year anniversary for the s

Kintra ferry crossing the Rathlin Sound. (Image: Shauna Fannin) A new summer ferry timetable for Rathlin Island has been confirmed — with extra early weekend sailings designed to support workers and boost the island’s busy tourism season. Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins announced the updated schedule will run from Friday 3 April to Wednesday 30 September 2026, introducing an additional return crossing every Saturday and Sunday morning. The new sailings will depart Rathlin