NEWS

Doagh Primary School is helping protect local wildlife with the installation of three new swift nest boxes and a caller system. L–R: Cllr Archibald‑Brown, Edward McKee, Esther McKee, Cllr Stewart, the Outgoing Deputy Mayor Cllr Gilmour, Kate McAlister, George Acheson and school principal Mrs Brown. Front row: P5 pupils from Doagh Primary School. Seven new Swift nesting boxes have been installed at sites in Doagh and Ballyclare as part of a growing effort to protect one of the

New Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Sinn Féin Councillor Henry Cushinan A political milestone has been marked in Antrim and Newtownabbey after Councillor Henry Cushinan was officially appointed as the borough’s first Sinn Féin Mayor. The historic appointment was confirmed during the council’s Annual Meeting on Monday evening, June 1, marking the first time Sinn Féin has held the mayoral chain in the borough since local government reorganisation created Antrim and Newtownabb

Design image for the proposed new £5.3 million filling station and retail development in Ballyclare Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has received a planning application for a proposed new £5.3 million filling station and retail development in Ballyclare, prompting dozens of objections from nearby residents. The proposal is for the construction of a petrol filling station with a forecourt featuring three pump islands, alongside two retail units and a hot food unit, bulk

Children across the borough will once again be able to take part in a packed summer of sports, games, creative activities and outdoor adventures as Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council officially launches its 2026 Summer Schemes programme. Running throughout July and August, the annual schemes are set to return to leisure centres, community venues and the grounds of Antrim Castle Gardens, with families already being encouraged to plan ahead amid expectations of high demand

School leaders listening to presentations from staff and students Ballyclare Secondary School has opened its doors to school leaders from across Northern Ireland to demonstrate what life looks like without mobile phones during the school day — and staff say the results have been “remarkable”. The County Antrim school has been operating a phone-free system since August 2025 using lockable Yondr pouches, becoming one of the first schools in the area to adopt the approach amid g

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

Dunsilly Ulster Unionist councillor Stewart Wilson Dunsilly Ulster Unionist councillor Stewart Wilson has welcomed a decision by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council to approve the installation of CCTV at Neillsbrook Community Centre in Randalstown. Cllr Wilson confirmed the decision on social media after the issue was discussed behind closed doors at a meeting at Mossley Mill on Monday evening. Commenting online, he said: “This is a positive step, but it’s important to re

A new charitable Trust Fund has been established in memory of Lynda Bentham, aiming to support families navigating the realities of Multiple Sclerosis by helping them access practical support and create meaningful shared experiences. Lynda, who passed away in 2024 due to complications from Multiple Sclerosis, is remembered for her deep love of life, people, music, sport and travel. Sunshine holidays held a special place in her life, but as her condition progressed, finding su

Members of the Newtownabbey Softball Club, Robert Robinson, Steven Rovertson, Kieran Grimley, Oonagh O’Flaherty and Alexandra Kelly Ballyclare is preparing to host one of Northern Ireland’s most historic and wide-ranging community festivals next month, as the Ballyclare May Fair returns for its 270th year with a packed eight-day programme of events, road closures, and town-wide celebrations from 16–23 May 2026. Organised by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and sponsore

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’

Motorists travelling through Ballyclare tonight are being urged to plan ahead, with a key road set to close for several hours as investigators carry out further testing linked to a fatal collision. Ballyeaston Road will be closed from 9.30pm tonight (Wednesday) until 1am on Thursday, 2 April, to facilitate scene testing as part of an ongoing investigation into a fatal collision which occurred in the area on Friday, 15 August, 2025. The closure will affect the stretch of road

It was a packed hall with 1000 guests attending EA’s Music Spring Gala hosted in partnership with Ulster University in the Diamond Hall at its Coleraine Campus. More than 500 young musicians from across north Antrim and mid Ulster have taken to the stage in a powerful celebration of music, community, and collaboration — marking a major milestone for youth music in the region. The EA Music Spring Gala 2026, held on Thursday 26 March at Ulster University’s Coleraine campus, bro

From Ballycastle to Carryduff, communities across Northern Ireland are being urged to step forward as Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) launches a major On-Call Firefighter recruitment campaign. Branded ‘Your Town, Your Team, Your NIFRS’ , the three-week drive is seeking enthusiastic and committed individuals who live or work within five minutes of their local On-Call Fire Station — people willing to carry a pager, respond at short notice and help protect their c

In an industry where long hours and solitary work are often the norm, a simple invitation to sit down, share a meal and talk can carry real weight. The Northern Health and Social Care Trust joined forces with the UFU Ballyclare Group to host a ‘Breakfast and a Blether’ event at the Five Corners Guest Inn in Ballyclare, bringing farm families together for a morning focused on connection, conversation and community. Also attended by local industry leaders, the event offered far

William Sayers A powerful first-hand account of the dangers faced on Northern Ireland’s farms will be shared in Ballyeaston tomorrow night, as William Sayers addresses a Farm Health and Safety talk hosted by the Ballyeaston Vintage Tractor Club. The free event takes place on Friday 6 February at 7.30pm, at 19 Trenchill Road, Ballyeaston, BT39 9SJ , with tea and refreshments served and everyone welcome. Organisers say the evening is aimed at farmers, families and the wider r

Monira Zahan (Delta Air Lines), Natalie, Fiona Oseibaffour (Delta Air Lines) A young woman from Ballyclare has been recognised for her resilience and determination after winning a prestigious award at the Northern Ireland final of The King’s Trust and TK Maxx Awards, held at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens. Natalie, 22, scooped the Delta Air Lines Breakthrough Award at the ceremony on Friday 30 January, an accolade which recognises a young person who has overcome personal bar

Sixmile Leisure Centre, Ballyclare Energy cost-cutting measures have reduced Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s bills by £220,000, according to a report to councillors. The report, due to be presented to a meeting of the borough council’s Operations Committee at Antrim Civic Centre on Monday evening, January 26, also indicates a nine per cent decrease in energy consumption during the first three quarters of the 2025/26 financial year compared with the same period in 20

A special meeting of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council was held at Mossley Mill on Tuesday 20 January as elected members intensified pressure on Bryson Recycling over ongoing waste and recycling collection problems affecting residents across the borough. The meeting was convened at the request of councillors to allow members to formally raise residents’ concerns in advance of a scheduled Full Council Meeting on Monday 26 January , which will be attended by the Chief Exe

(L-R) Tina McMullan, Business and Improvement Advisor ETTNI, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick and Jessica Smyth, Business Development Project Officer LMP Fully funded programme offers local electrical professionals qualifications in solar PV, battery storage, and EV charging installation Fifteen qualified electricians from the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough are set to benefit from a groundbreaking new training initiative designed to prepare the l

A recovery plan has been agreed between Bryson Recycling and Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council in a bid to address missed bin collections across the borough. Bryson Recycling reported a “positive meeting” with the council’s chief executive, Richard Baker, earlier this week to discuss ongoing problems with the collection service. A spokesperson for Bryson Recycling said: “We discussed the issues being raised and also the actions required to get our service back to a st