NEWS

A group of musicians who took part in the previous Soundfest in Ballymena, as part of the Shared Island initiative between Waterford City & County Council and Mid & East Antrim Borough Council. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has secured around £128,000 in funding for a major new cross-border arts and culture programme that will focus on breathing new life into underused spaces in Larne and Carrickfergus while creating new opportunities for residents to take part in creat

The unmistakable sound, colour and character of one of Britain’s most iconic cars will return to the grounds of Glenarm Castle this weekend as hundreds of enthusiasts gather for the second annual Minis at the Castle. The good news for local families and motoring enthusiasts is that the event is completely free for the general public to attend. Following a hugely successful debut event in 2025, organisers are preparing to welcome another impressive turnout of classic Mini owne

Jailed: Twenty-nine-year-old Matthew Henry from Ballymena A man involved in serious disorder in Ballymena during the violent unrest of June last year has been sentenced to 32 months in prison, as police warned that further prosecutions connected to the disturbances are still to come. Twenty-nine-year-old Matthew Henry was sentenced at Antrim Crown Court on Thursday following his conviction for common law riot arising from disorder in Ballymena on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. Henry

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon launches the council’s part of the ‘Immersive Ancestral Cottage Trail’ with Robert Stewart at its President Arthur Homestead in Cullybackey. Mid and East Antrim is set to play a central role in a new international tourism initiative designed to strengthen historic links between Northern Ireland and the United States while attracting visitors from around the world to local heritage sites. A new immersive ancestral cottage tr

“Failure to effectively manage bonfire-related activity across the borough” has been identified as a potential risk for Mid and East Antrim Borough Council. The issue has now been added to the local authority’s corporate risk register, which is monitored by the senior management team on a quarterly basis. The proposed addition was presented for consideration by councillors, behind closed doors, at a meeting of the council’s Audit and Scrutiny Committee in May. Minutes of that

Mill House in Harryville; Councillor Lawrie Philpott attended the property. Residents in Harryville have been reassured that nobody is currently living in the long-vacant Mill House building on Henry Street in Ballymena following concerns circulating on social media about activity at the site. The former hostel, located close to Harryville Bridge, has remained vacant since closing in 2019 and has recently become the subject of online speculation regarding people allegedly ent

Cullybackey New Cemetery A local woman has spoken of her upset and frustration after sentimental items were damaged and removed from her brother’s grave in Cullybackey, marking the second reported act of vandalism at the site in just over six months. The incident happened at a grave in Cullybackey New Cemetery on Fenaghy Road and has prompted a police appeal for information. According to the woman, the latest damage occurred within days of her placing a handmade tribute on th

Sentenced: Kyle Anderson, 33, for involvement in Ballymens riots A Ballymena man has been jailed for his part in the serious disorder which erupted in the town in June last year, as police warned that further prosecutions and sentences will follow. Kyle Anderson, 33, was sentenced at Antrim Crown Court on Wednesday, 1 July, after being convicted of riot offences connected to the violence in Ballymena on Tuesday, 10 June 2025. The court heard that Anderson, from Ballymena, was

Ballymena United Girls Academy is giving aspiring young footballers across the area the opportunity to take their game to the next level with the launch of a free four-week open training programme this summer. The academy is inviting girls born in 2010 and 2011 to take part in a series of Under-16 open training sessions beginning this week at Ballymena Showgrounds. Designed for players who are serious about developing their abilities and progressing within the game, the initi

Entrance to Tullygarley Community Centre car park, and the local playing fields Residents living near Tullygarley playing fields are set to see overnight access restrictions introduced after concerns were raised about anti-social behaviour involving vehicles in the area. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has confirmed it will arrange for the entrance barrier at the popular Ballymena facility to be closed nightly between 8pm and 8am once repairs to the existing gate have bee

Louise Black, Market Senior Partner for PwC Belfast A Carnlough woman has been appointed to lead Northern Ireland’s largest professional services office outside London, as PwC unveiled one of its biggest leadership and promotion rounds in recent years. Louise Black has been named Market Senior Partner for PwC Belfast, taking responsibility for the strategic direction of the firm’s Belfast operation and its workforce of approximately 2,400 people. The appointment places the Co

Ballymena Rail & Bus Centre Thousands of public transport users across Northern Ireland, including commuters and families travelling from the Ballymena area, are being urged to check their journeys in advance after Translink confirmed revised bus and rail timetables for the July holiday period. The changes will affect rail passengers, Ulsterbus users, Goldliner services and Metro routes over the Twelfth celebrations, with additional disruption expected in Belfast due to road

Pictured at the Northern Area Mental Health Collaborative Board (NAMHCB) workshop are, back row, Dr Alan Lewis and Dr Jeevan Jayaprakash, middle row William Gould (Rehability), Dr Petra Corr (Northern Trust Director of Mental Health, Learning Disability and Community Wellbeing Services), Helen McNally (Public Health Agency), Jackie McCaughey (MindWise), Sharon McVicker (Northern GP Federation Mental Health Manager), Sharon Bingham (Northern Trust Service Improvement Manager)

Motorists and residents across Northern Ireland are being urged to prepare for potentially disruptive weather this afternoon after the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms covering all six counties. The warning comes into effect from 12pm today (Tuesday, June 30) and remains in place until 6pm, with forecasters warning that slow-moving thunderstorms could bring localised flooding, hazardous driving conditions and disruption to travel. The alert covers

The chair of the Northern Ireland Housing Council has underlined the importance of resolving Northern Ireland’s housing crisis in a bid to build stronger communities. Knockagh Alliance councillor Aaron Skinner, who is also a member of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Planning Committee, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service there are approximately 50,000 applicants on the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s waiting list across Northern Ireland. At the end of March

The refurbished Greenvale Street, a key pedestrianised thoroughfare in Ballymena that enhances accessibility for pedestrians and visitors. Ballymena is celebrating 400 years of history this year, marking four centuries of growth, industry and community spirit in one of Northern Ireland’s best-known market towns. The milestone comes at a time of significant change for town centres across the UK, with traditional retail facing increasing pressure from online shopping, changing

Victoria Craig from Broughshane, graduated on Monday, receiving her PhD in Nursing at Queen's When Catherine Craig was born 12 weeks early at Antrim Area Hospital in 2006, her mother Victoria had no idea that the frightening weeks which followed would shape the rest of her life. The tiny baby arrived at just 28 weeks and one day gestation following an emergency caesarean section and would spend the next 10 weeks in the hospital’s Neonatal Unit fighting through the earliest da

Trade union Unison has voiced concern over healthcare workers undertaking additional hours through staffing “bank arrangements”. Speaking at a meeting of the Northern Health and Social Care Trust Board at Antrim Hospital on Thursday, Unison official James Large acknowledged the financial pressures facing health and social care trusts across Northern Ireland. “We increasingly hear concerns that staff are being expected and encouraged to undertake additional hours through bank

Sentenced: Jamie Kinley for involvement in riots in Ballymena A man has been jailed for his role in the race-motivated disorder that brought scenes of violence and destruction to Ballymena last year. Jamie Kinley, from Antrim, was sentenced at Antrim Crown Court on Monday, June 29, to 30 months imprisonment after being convicted of riotous behaviour connected to the disturbances. The sentence will see Kinley serve 15 months in custody followed by a further 15 months on licenc

Hayley Barr LMP, Denise Mayo LMP, Paul Truscott GM Harbourview Hotel, Kelli McRoberts, Annie McSparron, and Jacqueline Dickson A hospitality programme delivered in Mid and East Antrim has helped local residents secure jobs, gain recognised qualifications and take their first steps towards launching businesses of their own. The latest Hospitality Taster Programme, delivered by Carrickfergus Enterprise in partnership with Mid and East Antrim Labour Market Partnership and Clanmi