NEWS

Police are investigating after a pipe bomb exploded outside an occupied home in Broughshane late on Wednesday night, causing extensive damage and leaving residents shaken but unharmed. The attack happened in the Rectory Gardens area at around 11pm on Wednesday, May 27, when a device was reportedly placed on the living room window ledge of the property while three people were inside. The explosion caused major damage to the home, blowing out windows and damaging the living roo

The Gallaher Trust has committed £100,000 to Mid and East Antrim Agewell Partnership’s Delivering Options through Tailored Solutions (Dots) social enterprise. Pictured are, from left, Chrissy Havelin, Finance and Systems Team Lead, Rebecca Rea, Dots Service Coordinator, Jenny Marshall, Executive Director of Community Programmes and James Perry MBE, a Trustee at The Gallaher Trust. More than 550 older adults across the Ballymena area are set to receive expanded practical supp

Unionist representatives Sam Patton and Councillor Alan Barr raised the ongoing issues of electric scooters following contact from local residents Police have confirmed privately owned e-scooters cannot legally be used on public roads, footpaths, cycle lanes or other public spaces in Northern Ireland, following concerns over their misuse in Kells and Broughshane. The clarification was issued by Sergeant Stevie Allen, from the Mid and East Antrim Local Policing Team, in respon

The Israeli flag at a car park on Knockan Road in Broughshane A complaint made to police over an Israeli flag being flown in a public area in Broughshane has resulted in no further action after the PSNI determined that no offence had been committed. Police confirmed officers attended the Knockan Road area on Saturday, 16th May, after receiving a report regarding the flag, which had been erected in the car park area. The incident has since prompted political reaction locally,

Braid Ulster Unionist representatives Sam Patton and Councillor Alan Barr Residents in Kells and Broughshane have warned that it is “only a matter of time” before someone is seriously injured amid growing concerns over the dangerous misuse of e-scooters by children and young people across the area. Braid Ulster Unionist representatives Sam Patton and Councillor Alan Barr say they have been contacted by multiple worried residents who claim e-scooters are being driven recklessl

Detectives in Ballymena are appealing for information after a house in the Broughshane area was reportedly targeted twice within 48 hours, with cash stolen during the latest break-in. Police said entry was gained to a property in the Rathkeel Road area at around 2am on Sunday morning, 17th May, before a sum of cash was taken from inside the home. The incident has sparked fresh concern among residents in the rural area, particularly after detectives revealed they believe the s

The Rathkeel Road in the Broughshane area of Ballymena A quiet rural stretch outside Ballymena was plunged into uncertainty on Thursday night after three men reportedly jumped from a trailer transporting animals and fled into the surrounding countryside, prompting a police search involving a helicopter. The incident unfolded between approximately 9pm and 10pm on 30 April in the Rathkeel Road area near Broughshane, with residents left shaken as officers moved quickly to track

Car enthusiasts, families and local residents are being invited to gather in Broughshane this weekend as Kirkinriola Primary School PTA launches a community fundraising event aimed at helping fund new play and sports facilities for pupils. The Coffee & Cars event will take place on Saturday 18 April at Broughshane Community Centre, 21 Knockan Road, Broughshane, BT42 4JY , with organisers hoping to attract a wide range of vehicles and strong public support to raise money fo

Winnie with her three daughters pictured outside Winnie’s 1975, in Broughshane. A much-loved Broughshane café and gift shop is entering a new chapter this week as the family behind Winnie’s 1975 prepares to hand over the keys after ten years at the heart of village life. In an emotional statement issued today, Wednesday 1 April, Winnie, owner of Winnie’s 1975 on Main Street, confirmed that the family has made the difficult decision to step away from the business, with new ow

Eight-year-old Daisy Doherty In a world that can often feel a little heavy, one young girl from Broughshane is bringing a powerful reminder of kindness, compassion and hope. Eight-year-old Daisy Doherty, a pupil at Broughshane Primary School , is preparing to take on a remarkable challenge this July as she donates her hair to help create a wig for a child who has lost theirs through illness. Inspired by the work of Little Princess Trust, the charity which provides real-hair w

Steam engines, vintage tractors, classic lorries and historic vehicles will gather at Raceview Mill this St Patrick’s Day as enthusiasts recreate a working display of “yesterday’s machines” in one of County Antrim’s most historic settings. Organised by the Traction Engine Club of Ulster, the special vintage showcase will take place on Tuesday 17 March 2026 from 11.00am until around 3.00pm , bringing together collectors and the public for a celebration of engineering heritage

Sandra Currie (left), Store Manager, and Andrew Thompson (right) Assistant Manager at McNeill’s ViVOXTRA, Broughshane celebrate 70 years of their business with James and Margaret McNeill (centre), alongside shoppers and the local community. A Broughshane family grocery business that began with a delivery van in the mid-1950s is celebrating an extraordinary 70 years serving local households — a milestone that reflects not just business success, but deep roots in community life

Community pharmacy teams serving Portglenone and Broughshane are in the spotlight after securing major nominations in the Pharmacy In Focus Awards 2026 — a recognition that places their work at the heart of modern healthcare delivery. Bannside Pharmacy has been shortlisted in the Commitment to Health & Wellbeing category, while Medicare Pharmacy Broughshane is in contention for Community Pharmacy of the Year . Adding to the celebrations, Shania O’Boyle of Bannside Pharmacy

Hillwalkers and visitors to Slemish Mountain for St Patrick’s Day in 2025, with large crowds expected again in 2026. A centuries-old tradition will once again bring hundreds of people to the slopes of Slemish Mountain this St Patrick’s Day, as families from across County Antrim prepare to take part in the annual uphill climb. Held on Tuesday 17 March, the popular St Patrick’s Day ascent blends local legend, shared history and outdoor adventure in one of the borough’s most rec

Broughshane woman Norma Craig who has raised a phenomenal donation from her latest efforts for Air Ambulance NI by hosting a series of raffles at her workplace, Ballygally Castle Hotel. A Broughshane woman’s determination to make a difference has raised more than £14,000 for Northern Ireland’s air ambulance service — and she’s not slowing down. Since 2020, Norma Craig has raised an impressive £14,530 for Air Ambulance NI , supporting its vital role in responding to traumatic

Knockan Road Play Park in Broughshane on Tuesday, January 27, when Storm Chandra brought heavy rainfall leading to the River Braid bursting its banks. Four weeks after floodwater tore through Broughshane, families are still waiting for their local play park to reopen — and questions are now being asked at Stormont level. North Antrim DUP MLA Paul Frew has raised concerns over the continued closure of Broughshane Play Park on Knockan Road following severe storm damage last mo

Jane Rea on the family farm in Shilnavogy in the Antrim hills. (All Images: BBC NI / Below The Radar TV) Jane Rea’s Bloomin’ Wild, a new four-part farming series set on a family farm in Shilnavogy, County Antrim, begins this week on BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer. The series follows the changing seasons in the Antrim Hills, exploring food, craft and Ulster-Scots culture woven into everyday rural life. Filmed on Jane Rea’s family farm in the small townland of Shilnav

Broughshane retail legend, James McNeill At a time when independent retailers across Northern Ireland are under intense pressure — facing rising operating costs, staffing challenges and competition from national chains — one family-run business in Co Antrim is marking a milestone that speaks to resilience, community and quiet determination. This weekend, Broughshane shopkeeper James McNeill will celebrate an extraordinary 70 years in business, a rare achievement in modern re

Lisnamurrican YFC members Stuart, Claire, Alexis, Ruth and Rachel visited Air Ambulance NI headquarters to present the cheque for an incredible £15,000 Members of Lisnamurrican Young Farmers’ Club (YFC) have proudly presented a cheque for £15,000 to Air Ambulance Northern Ireland, marking a major fundraising achievement during the club’s 85th anniversary year. A group of club members — Stuart, Claire, Alexis, Ruth and Rachel — travelled to the charity’s headquarters in Lisbur

The home in Broughshane boarded up following the incident, and (inset) Braid UUP councillor Alan Barr An attack on the home of two Indian men living in Broughshane is being investigated as a racially motivated hate crime, prompting condemnation from political representatives and concern across the local community. Police were called to a property on Main Street in the village after all front windows were smashed and the front door was broken during an incident at around 11.45