NEWS

Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) MLA Jon Burrows (right) and Independent Councillor Rodney Quigley . Streetlights in a residential area of Ballymena have been restored following local action by Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) MLA Jon Burrows and Independent Councillor Rodney Quigley. Mr Burrows took joint action with Ballymena Independent councillor, Rodney Quigley, after becoming aware of the removal of street lighting in several communities across Northern Ireland, often with no imm

Remembering Maggie The Coast Road Darts Team in Glenarm have once again shown their community spirit by raising an impressive £5,100 for Air Ambulance NI, in memory of Maggie Black, who tragically passed away almost four years ago from undiagnosed Addison’s Disease. The team gathered at the Coast Road Inn, which kindly hosted the fundraising event, for the official cheque presentation. Representatives from Air Ambulance NI, including charity staff member Kerry Anderson, atten

A Ballymena homeowner has urged residents in the Fisherwick and Broughshane Road areas to stay vigilant after confronting an intruder who entered their home through an unlocked door on Wednesday evening. The incident occurred shortly after 9pm when the homeowner discovered a man had entered the property through the open front door. Issuing a warning to neighbours, the resident said: “Last night we had an intruder in the house after 9pm, our front door was open and he came ri

Killane Road, Ahoghill, and (inset) TUV Alderman Stewart McDonald TUV Alderman Stewart McDonald has welcomed long-awaited resurfacing works on Killane Road, describing the project as “long overdue” and a “relief” for local residents. Major improvement works are set to get underway along Killane Road from Monday 20 October. The scheme includes resurfacing of both the main carriageway and footways from the Galgorm Road junction to the well-known Beehive Shed. The works are pla

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

Pupils of Ballykeel Primary School enjoying time in the Mayoral Parlour at The Braid, with Mayor of Mid & East Antrim, UUP Councillor Jackson Minford Pupils from Ballykeel Primary School enjoyed a lively morning at The Braid in Ballymena as they put local elected representatives on the spot with a series of challenging questions about life in local government. The Year 6 (P6) class met with Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Councillor Jackson Minford, and Independ

(L-R) Rab McAuley, from Galgorm, who was crowned Ulster Supersport Cup Champion for 2025, GP Dr Louise Beck, of Victoria Surgery, who has been named GP of the Year 2025, and Slemish College student Emilee Leacock, who has been called up for the Northern Ireland Under-17 Women’s Football Squad Mid and East Antrim Mayor, Councillor Jackson Minford, has congratulated Larne-based GP Dr Louise Beck, of Victoria Surgery , who has been named GP of the Year 2025 by the Royal College

Participants Imogene Jones, Siobhan Davidson, Libbie Barnett, Courtney Shields, Lorna Ramsey, Clare Moore, Kris Steele, and Simon Anderson, pictured with trainer Laura McAuley Ballymena BID has joined forces with local company Knockdene Healthcare to deliver vital defibrillator and first aid training to town centre businesses, reinforcing Ballymena’s commitment to safety and community wellbeing. Staff from Wallaces, Front Page Bar, Camerons , and Ballymena BID took part in t

Brendan and Charlotte Rodgers with some members of the Stoneyhill Committee, who oversee and administer the Maltina Park project . Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers and his wife Charlotte made a special visit to Maltina Park in Carnlough on Saturday (11 October) to view the impressive progress of a new cross community sports complex being developed on the Antrim coast. The facility — a collaboration between St John’s Camogie Club and Carnlough Swifts FC — has been named Maltina

Fitzsimons Opticians’ senior optometrist and director, John Broderick, undertaking an eye examination A Ballymena optometry practice is marking World Menopause Day with the launch of a new dry eye service aimed at improving women’s eye health during menopause and perimenopause. Fitzsimons Opticians, based on William Street, has invested in state-of-the-art diagnostic technology to help identify and treat dry eye syndrome — a condition that experts say can affect more than hal

(L-R): Erhan Eren, Managing Director Europe at Wrightbus; Max Nastold, CEO of Kazenmaier Leasing GmbH; Tobias Fräde, Business Development Manager Trucks/Buses at Kazenmaier Leasing GmbH; Gregor Creslovnik, Sales at Wrightbus. World-leading bus manufacturer Wrightbus has strengthened its foothold in Germany by joining forces with renowned leasing firm Kazenmaier, in a move designed to accelerate the transition to zero-emission public transport across the country. The partnersh

CGI of the new Primark store at Fairhill Shopping Centre, Ballymena Primark has confirmed that its brand-new Ballymena store at Fairhill Shopping Centre will officially open on Friday 5th December at 10am. The eagerly awaited move marks an exciting new chapter for Primark Ballymena, which first opened its doors in the town in 1983. Relocating less than a mile from its long-standing home in the Tower Centre, the new store will double in size, covering 26,200 sq. ft of fashion,

Police in Ballymena have recovered suspected Class B drugs valued at approximately £3,000 following a search operation carried out on Saturday, 11th October 2025. Officers from the Ballymena District Support Team, who were on routine patrol in Ballymena town centre, observed a suspicious male. This led to a search and follow-up house search, during which quantities of suspected Class B drugs, along with a sum of cash and various electronic devices, were seized. A Police Servi

Police in Mid and East Antrim have confirmed that additional patrols were deployed on Sunday evening, 12 October, following reports of anti-social driving in the village. In a statement shared over the weekend, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said the move was prompted by ongoing concerns about dangerous and inconsiderate driving behaviour in the area. Officers from the local policing team referenced an “excellent post” originally shared by colleagues in PSNI N

AIB on Wellington Street, Ballymena AIB NI is set to visit Ballymena on Wednesday 12 November as part of its new ‘Let’s Talk Co-Ownership’ branch series – a fresh initiative designed to support homebuyers across Northern Ireland with practical, face-to-face guidance. Running throughout October and November, the series will see AIB’s local mortgage experts teaming up with Co-Ownership specialists to provide tailored advice and insight for anyone considering home ownership. The

Emily, aged 11, from Ahoghill, was one of eight young artists selected from over 1,000 entries across Northern Ireland for Translink’s Climate Action ‘Brand A Bus’ competition. A young artist from Ahoghill has seen her creative vision come to life in spectacular fashion — on the side of a Translink double-decker bus. 11-year-old Emily is one of eight talented young artists from across Northern Ireland whose artwork was selected from more than 1,000 entries in Translink’s inau

Stephen Walker and Declan Lawn will be in the Braid Theatre, Ballymena on Tuesday 14 October at 7:30pm  Two Ballymena-born writers are set to explore the remarkable life and political legacy of Nobel Laureate David Trimble at a special evening event in the town’s Braid Theatre on Tuesday 14 October. The event will feature acclaimed author Stephen Walker, whose new biography David Trimble: Peacemaker has been described by The Irish Times as a “political page turner,” in conve

Pictured: High-risk missing person Jamie Devlin Police are becoming increasingly concerned for the welfare of high-risk missing person...

It's an all-in-one self-saucing Sticky Toffee Pudding (STP) recipe that's so easy to make and it's unreal. I think of myself as a bit of...

From Charlie Mackesy’s moving new illustrated tale to Bob Mortimer’s latest comic mystery, Waterstone’s Ballymena has revealed its weekly...