NEWS

Motorists across Northern Ireland faced widespread disruption on Tuesday after a series of protests involving slow-moving vehicles affected several of the region’s key transport routes, with police issuing Fixed Penalty Notices and public order cautions during a coordinated response operation. The protests took place on Tuesday 14 April, impacting major arterial roads including the Sydenham Bypass, Westlink, M2, A1, A4 and A5, while the A6 at Toome was also blocked for a peri

Barr’s grave in Connor New Cemetery. Alan with his father Roy and children, James and Maria Eighty-five years after one of the darkest nights in Northern Ireland’s wartime history, Braid Ulster Unionist Councillor Alan Barr has paid a deeply personal tribute to members of his own family and to a young Ballymena police officer whose lives were lost during the Belfast Blitz. As communities across Northern Ireland pause this week to mark the anniversary of the devastating Luftw

Belfast’s landmark Odyssey complex is to be renamed The O2 Belfast under a new long-term partnership announced today, in a major rebrand that will reshape one of Northern Ireland’s best-known entertainment destinations from this summer. The 10-year naming rights agreement, confirmed on Tuesday 14 April 2026, will see O2 become the official naming rights partner of the entire site, with the new name taking effect from 1 July 2026. The move marks one of the most significant com

Queen’s University Belfast Queen’s marks 175 years of opening education beyond campus with new spring programme Queen’s University Belfast is celebrating a remarkable 175 years of extramural education, continuing a long-standing tradition of making university-level learning accessible to the wider public through its latest Open Learning spring programme. The milestone marks nearly two centuries since the University first began offering classes “outside the walls” of the inst

Artist’s impression of the new Staycity aparthotel in Belfast city centre Construction work has officially begun on the first Staycity aparthotel in Northern Ireland, with the £20 million development set to bring 98 new guest units to the heart of Belfast city centre by May 2027. The project marks a significant investment in Belfast’s growing visitor economy and will also serve as the launch site for Staycity Group’s new brand concept, making the city the first location to s

The Bedford Hotel, set within the historic Scottish Mutual Building in Belfast city centre A landmark piece of Belfast’s architectural heritage has been brought back to life as The Bedford Hotel officially opened its doors to the public today, Wednesday, April 8, following a multi-million-pound restoration that has transformed the iconic Grade B1 listed Scottish Mutual Building into an 82-bedroom luxury boutique destination. The opening marks a major new addition to Belfast’s

Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Hatter (Hannah and Arthur Nelson) as they help launch this year’s Spring Fair at Malone House. Belfast’s popular Spring Fair is set to return later this month, with families invited to step “down the rabbit hole” for a free Alice in Wonderland-themed celebration at Malone House and Barnett Demesne. The much-loved annual event, organised by Belfast City Council, will take place on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 April 2026, running from 1.30pm until 5

Researchers at Queen’s University Belfast are calling on the public across Northern Ireland to help track mosquito populations after launching the region’s first dedicated mosquito reporting system. The new initiative, MosquitoNI, marks the first time people in Northern Ireland have been invited to directly submit mosquito sightings online as part of a major scientific study examining what species are present here, where they are concentrated, and whether they may pose future

950 drones were used to ‘recreate’ the RMS Titanic in Belfast harbour, beside the Titanic Slipways in reference to the BBC series Titanic Sinks Tonight Belfast harbour was transformed into a striking tribute to the city’s most famous ship this week as the BBC launched its Made Of Here campaign in Northern Ireland with a dramatic 950-drone recreation of RMS Titanic. The large-scale aerial display, staged on Monday 30 March using what the BBC described as a “flotilla” of almos

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

Belfast city (Pic: K. Mitch Hodge) Visitors heading to Belfast for St Patrick’s Day celebrations are being urged to plan ahead, with police warning that several major events will bring traffic disruption across the city centre. A packed schedule of festivities on Monday will see thousands gather for the popular SPAR Craic 10K and the annual carnival parade, prompting road management measures and diversions throughout the day. Police say motorists should expect delays and foll

Shoppers in Belfast will now find a splash of pink – and plenty of cake – waiting for them at CastleCourt after popular bakery brand Dougies Goodies officially opened a new pop-up store in the shopping centre today (13 March 2026). Located in the busy CastleCourt food court, the vibrant new space offers customers a chance to grab the bakery’s much-loved cakes, bakes and sweet treats while taking a break from browsing the shops. The pop-up is stocked with a range of Dougies Go

Eimear Kearney, Commercial Director of Titanic Belfast is pictured as the world-leading visitor attraction welcomes an original lifejacket worn by a female survivor which will be on public display for a limited time. (Pics: William Cherry/Press Eye) A rare lifejacket worn during the sinking of the Titanic will go on public display in Belfast, offering visitors a powerful and personal connection to one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history. The artefact, worn by T

Mason Keilhauer, from the Shankill area A community in Belfast is mourning the loss of an 11-year-old boy who has died following a road traffic collision on the Shankill Road on Saturday evening. The child has been named by police as Mason Keilhauer, from the Shankill area. He died after being struck by a vehicle shortly after 7pm. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said officers received a report of a collision involving a grey BMW X5 and a male pedestrian near th

A special event at Stormont will bring together survivors and families affected by terrorism to mark European Day for Victims of Terrorism, with powerful personal testimonies set to highlight the lasting human cost of violence. The annual commemoration, organised by Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), will take place in the Senate Chamber at Parliament Buildings at 11am on Monday 9 March, with refreshments available from 10:30am. Announcing the event, TUV MLA Timothy Gaston sa

An 11-year-old boy remains in a critical condition in hospital after a serious road traffic collision on Belfast’s Shankill Road on Saturday evening. Police are appealing for witnesses and information following the incident, which involved a grey BMW X5 and the young pedestrian. The collision happened close to the junction with Boundary Street at approximately 7.25pm on Saturday, 7 March. Emergency services attended the scene and the boy was taken to hospital for treatment. P

The DUP has voiced opposition to calls for a Basic Income for Artists scheme to be introduced in Northern Ireland. At Belfast City Council this week, DUP Group Leader Councillor Sarah Bunting spoke out against the proposal as the rest of the council voted to lobby Stormont to introduce the scheme. The Republic of Ireland is establishing a permanent Basic Income for the Arts scheme, which will pay 2,000 eligible artists €325 per week for three years. The scheme follows a long

Pictured at Ulster Farmers' Union headquarters following the stakeholder meeting (L-R) Sergeant Ross Hakin, Inspector Sorcha Irwin, Brian Megahey (UFU), Deputy President Glenn Cuddy, Policy Officer Daniel Toft, Dr Lizzy Pinkerton (Belfast Hills Partnership) Illegal scramblers, broken gates, frightened livestock and farmers left feeling intimidated on their own land — that is the stark reality behind renewed calls for action in the Belfast Hills. The Ulster Farmers’ Union  (UF

Managing Director of The Bedford Hotel Ciaran O'Neill (middle) alongside The Bedford's General Manager Mike Gatt and Bishop's Gate General Manager JP McCafferty One of Northern Ireland’s most respected hoteliers is stepping into a landmark new role in the heart of Belfast. Ciaran O’Neill , the driving force behind the acclaimed Bishop’s Gate Hotel in Derry~Londonderry, has been appointed Managing Director of The Bedford Hotel Belfast as it prepares to open for bookings in May

The former banking centre in Belfast approved for change of use to a Transitional Care Centre A former banking call centre in Belfast is to be transformed into a Transitional Care Unit following a decision at City Hall. Elected representatives on Belfast City Council’s Planning Committee unanimously approved an application on Tuesday (February 17) for the proposed change of use from offices to a short-term Transitional Care Unit at Santander House, 1 Mays Meadow, Belfast, clo