NEWS

Digitally composed views of the Spa at the Amphitheatre, Carrickfergus, once refurbishment is completed. A £1 million refurbishment of the Spa at Carrickfergus Amphitheatre is now underway, marking a major investment in local leisure and wellbeing facilities and reinforcing the venue’s long-term role at the heart of the community. The Spa area has closed to the public to allow essential works to begin on what council officials have described as a “Spa-tacular” upgrade. Once c

(L-R) Samantha Peden, Cullybackey Community Partnership; Valerie Guthrie, Alzheimer’s UK; Daniel McCurdy, Libraries NI; Marjorie Hawkins, Chair MEA Loneliness Network; Debbie Chestnutt, Good Morning Ballymena; Sabrina Lynn, NHSCT. (Image: Bernie McAllister) Four individuals have been formally recognised for their commitment to tackling loneliness and social isolation across Mid and East Antrim, as the local Loneliness Network welcomed four new Loneliness Champions. Daniel McC

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has agreed to press ahead with the renaming of Prince Andrew Way in Carrickfergus, despite legal advice. A report to councillors indicated that the local authority does not currently have a street naming or renaming policy, and that the council’s legal team has advised a policy should be developed and approved before the renaming of Prince Andrew Way proceeds. In November, the borough council agreed to drop the street name following an Alli

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford pictured with Joan Burney Keatings MBE with cast and crew from Cinemagic Placement Insights Programme. Young filmmakers from across Mid and East Antrim have taken centre stage after seeing their work showcased on the big screen at a special short film screening held at the Ecos Hub. A group of 23 talented young people, aged between 17 and 24, attended the screening of The Friendship Garden, an original short film develo

Bryson Recycling has apologised to householders following widespread disruption to recycling collections, as councils across Mid and East Antrim and Antrim and Newtownabbey move to address growing public frustration. The waste contractor issued a statement online on Friday, 16 January , acknowledging recent service delays and outlining steps being taken to restore normal collections. “Disruptions to our collection services recently are a result of staff shortages, weather co

Inset: Braid Ulster Unionist Councillor Alan Barr Braid Ulster Unionist Councillor Alan Barr has strongly criticised ongoing failures in Bryson Recycling’s kerbside collection service, warning that residents across Mid and East Antrim are being left frustrated and short-changed despite paying for a service that is “simply not being delivered”. The councillor says he has been inundated with complaints from households reporting repeated missed collections, damaged bins and re

Staff from The Harbourview Hotel, Carnlough, who exhibited on the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council stand at the Balmoral Show 2025. Food and drink producers and visitor experience businesses across Mid and East Antrim are being offered the chance to showcase their products to tens of thousands of visitors at the Balmoral Show 2026. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has opened Expressions of Interest for local businesses to take part in the NI Food Pavilion at the Balmora

Murdered: Glenn Quinn Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Major Investigation Team have renewed their appeal for information into the murder of Carrickfergus man Glenn Quinn, marking six years since his death. The renewed appeal, issued yesterday, Friday 9 January, is backed by a reward of up to £40,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Mr Quinn’s murder. Mr Quinn was found dead inside his home in the Ashleigh P

Mid and East Antrim could ring in a new era for public telephones if a series of planning applications submitted to the borough council are given the go-ahead. Applications have been lodged by New World Payphones Limited for the installation of phone kiosks on public footpaths at: • 1A Glynn Road, Larne • 1A Victoria Road, Larne • 134A The Roddens in Larne • 70 Dunluskin Gardens, Carrickfergus • 1 Pattersons Row, Carrickfergus • 86 Cushendall Road, Ballymena • 12–14 Antrim Ro

Nominations for the prestigious Mid and East Antrim Sports Awards 2026 will open in early January, offering residents the chance to celebrate the Borough’s outstanding sporting stars, teams, coaches and volunteers. Organised by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, the annual awards shine a spotlight on those who have demonstrated exceptional achievement, dedication and service across the local sporting landscape — from grassroots participation to elite performance. The awards

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has entered into a debate over which household recycling system works best, after the issue was raised at a meeting of a neighbouring council. Speaking in the council chamber at Mossley Mill on Monday evening, Antrim DUP councillor Paul Dunlop highlighted the differing approaches taken by local authorities. Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has recently completed the roll-out of a triple-stacked wheelie box system to 25,000 house

Castle Tower School in Ballymena has been confirmed among successful applicants for the Department of Education’s RAISE Programme. Ballymena projects have been placed firmly in the spotlight after Education Minister Paul Givan announced more than £3.7 million in funding to support Locality Led Projects under the RAISE Programme across Northern Ireland. A total of 61 projects have been selected to move forward to the next stage of the programme, which aims to raise educational

(L-R) Northern Trust Day Opportunitues volunteers Lee, Kerry, Shop Manager Shirley Kearney, Chris, Annette and Sandra. A group of dedicated volunteers from the Northern Health and Social Care Trust’s Day Opportunities service are being celebrated for their commitment to supporting a local charity shop in the heart of Carrickfergus. Lee, Kerry, Chris, Annette and Sandra – described as the “fab five” – give up their time each week to volunteer at the Action Cancer store, where

Pictured (L-R) Wholetime Firefighters from Antrim area, Emma Hutchinson from Carrickfergus, Daniel Richey from Ballyclare and Emer McLernon from Ballymena. Ballymena’s own Emer McLernon is among 18 new Wholetime Firefighters who graduated today from the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) Learning & Development College (LDC), marking the completion of an intensive 18-week training programme and the beginning of their operational careers serving communities across N

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive has detailed more than £62 million of investment across Mid and East Antrim during 2024/25, as councillors were briefed on extensive works to improve homes, support vulnerable residents and maintain community cohesion. Chief Executive Grainia Long delivered the update at the annual Housing Investment Plan presentation on Tuesday 2 December 2025, outlining progress in both the organisation’s Strategic Housing Authority functions and its r

Significant variations have emerged in Mid and East Antrim Borough councillors’ expenses claims for 2024–2025, prompting renewed scrutiny of public spending at a time when elected members have also accepted a rise in their basic allowance. The publication of the latest travel and subsistence figures shows that 15 councillors claimed nothing at all, while others recorded expenses totalling more than £1,900 for the year. It comes just weeks after councillors accepted a 3.2% inc

An “extra-large” American flag that could be seen from Belfast Lough is set to be flown at a Carrickfergus visitor attraction to mark a landmark anniversary next year. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Neighbourhoods and Communities Committee has approved a proposal to fly the flag at the Andrew Jackson Cottage in Boneybefore, subject to additional funding being secured, as part of the ‘America 250’ commemorations. It was suggested that an “extra-large” US flag be install

Aerial view of Ballee Cemetery Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has agreed to shelve a proposal that would have ended Sunday burials. The recommendation to restrict weekend burials to Saturdays only was presented to councillors at a meeting of the council’s Environment and Economy Committee last month. The discussion took place in a closed session, according to the minutes. Officers had advised limiting weekend burials, but councillors were told that rural Sunday funerals

Mid and East Antrim councillors have accepted an increase to their basic allowance from the Department for Communities, which will take their annual payment to £18,916. The 3.2 per cent rise, up from £18,329, will be backdated to 1 April and will apply until 31 March 2026, in line with payments to councillors across Northern Ireland. Councillors’ basic allowance includes an element for incidentals and consumable costs incurred in the course of their duties, which will now amo

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is set to bring new festive magic to the borough this December with the launch of the first-ever Carrickfergus Christmas Twinkle Trail. The free family-friendly attraction will run at Shaftesbury Park from Sunday 7 to Thursday 11 December, offering visitors a gentle, glowing Christmas walk filled with illuminated features. Designed especially for young families, the Twinkle Trail will transform the park into a sparkling seasonal experience,