NEWS

Sinn Féin political banner opposite Ballycastle Presbyterian Church, and the banner subsequently removed. A political banner placed opposite a church in Ballycastle ahead of St Patrick’s Day has been swiftly removed after concerns were raised by North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows , who said the move helped protect the town’s tradition of positive cross-community relations. The Ulster Unionist Party leader said the large Sinn Féin banner had appeared opposite Ballycastle Presbyteria

Sean and Fiona McAllister celebrate their recent wins! A long-established pedigree sheep flock from County Antrim has celebrated a major run of success after securing multiple top honours at the annual Kerryhill Society prize giving. Crookmuir Pedigree Kerryhills, owned by Sean and Fiona McAllister from Ballycastle, achieved a series of impressive results at the annual Kerryhill Prize Giving Dinner, including the prestigious title of Overall Champion Irish Flock. The couple a

Police have arrested 36 people during a coordinated 12-hour operation targeting suspects linked to domestic abuse, serious assault and a range of other offences across several districts in Northern Ireland. The large-scale operation, carried out by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) on Thursday, 12 March, focused on the areas of Lisburn and Castlereagh, Ards and North Down, Causeway Coast and Glens, Mid and East Antrim, and Antrim and Newtownabbey. Officers targete

Competitors demonstrating traditional horse ploughing during the Ballycastle & District Horse Ploughing Society’s annual St Patrick’s Day match — the only all-horse ploughing event still held in Ireland. One of Ireland’s most remarkable farming traditions is set to return this St Patrick’s Day as the Ballycastle and District Horse Ploughing Society prepares to stage what is believed to be the last remaining all-horse ploughing match in Ireland. The annual event, expected to t

Missing man: Andrew Christie Police have issued an urgent appeal for information to help locate Andrew Christie, who was last seen in the Ballycastle area on Wednesday afternoon. Officers say they are growing increasingly concerned for his whereabouts and are asking the public to come forward with any information that could assist in tracing him. Andrew was last seen at around 2.30pm on Wednesday, 11 March 2026, in the Ballycastle area. Description of clothing When he was las

Pictured launching a new initiative aimed at stamping out smoking on hospital sites are Northern Trust Medical Director, Dr George Gardiner; Round Tower Integrated Primary School and Nursery Unit Principal, Mrs Monica Turner with pupils from P2 and P5 Local schoolchildren are being invited to lend their voices to a new campaign aimed at discouraging smoking outside hospital entrances — with the hope that hearing a child’s message could make smokers pause, reflect, and even co

Front and side elevation of the proposed tourist accommodation facility at a former rectory in Armoy Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has received plans for tourist accommodation at a former rectory in Armoy. The council recently received a planning application seeking permission to convert and reuse existing stables, including the addition of an extra floor, to create two two-bedroom tourist accommodation units near Ballinlea Road in the village. According to an acco

Police have arrested a 25-year-old man following a report of a male with a gun at a shopping centre in Antrim — while also confirming a completely separate misconduct investigation involving an off-duty probationer police officer. The developments, both linked to incidents on Sunday 1 March, prompted commentary online suggesting a connection between the two matters. However, the PSNI has moved to firmly dispel that claim. Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton confirmed the

Four pupils, Demi Timperley and Aimee Dillon from Cross and Passion College, accompanied by Mrs Anna McKay, and Carragh Rafferty and Jenna Brennan from Ballycastle High School, accompanied by Mrs Heather Dalzell, are pictured with the Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Oliver McMullan, outside Cloonavin as part of the ‘Mayor for a Day’ initiative marking International Women’s Day. Four Co Antrim schoolgirls were given a rare behind-the-scenes look at civic leadership this wee

North Antrim MP Jim Allister with Ballymoney man James McVicker A Ballymoney man is travelling thousands of miles to the Falkland Islands to help transform the daily life of the islands’ only deaf child — by teaching sign language not just to him, but to his classmates and community. James McVicker , an accomplished British Sign Language interpreter, is visiting the Falklands to assist young resident Thomas, who is currently the only deaf child living on the islands. During h

The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Oliver McMullan, pictured with Corrina and Johnny McAleese at a special reception in Cloonavin honouring the work of Noah’s Story, the charity founded in memory of their two-year-old son, Noah. A family’s heartbreak has become a force for change across the north coast — and this week that compassion was formally recognised at Cloonavin. The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Oliver McMullan, hosted a special recepti

Colleagues from the Northern Trust’s Eating Disorder Service. For two decades, the Northern Health and Social Care Trust has quietly supported some of the most complex and misunderstood mental health conditions in our community. Now, as it marks 20 years of its Eating Disorder Service, the Trust is calling for greater understanding to reduce stigma and help more people reach recovery sooner. The milestone coincided with Eating Disorders Week, which ran February 23 to March 1

A violent incident in Bushmills on Monday night left two occupants shaken and a woman injured after masked men armed with weapons forced their way into a home. The attackers ransacked the property before fleeing on foot. Detectives have launched an investigation following what police have described as an aggravated burglary in the Mount Pleasant area. Detective Inspector Hanbidge said: “Police received a report on Monday, 2nd March at approximately 9.30pm that a number of mas

One motorist returned a roadside breath test result of over twice the legal drink-drive limit. A targeted police operation in Ballycastle has led to a drink-driving charge, two uninsured vehicles being seized and a motorist detected at 108mph in wet conditions — as Northern Ireland’s road death toll rises to 15 before the end of February. Officers from the Maydown Road Policing Interceptors carried out a morning of focused patrols in the town on Friday, February 27. Multiple

A €7.5 million cross-border initiative designed to tackle isolation, inactivity and poor wellbeing in rural communities has been officially launched — with Mid & East Antrim and Causeway Coast & Glens set to play a key role. Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust has welcomed the introduction of the new ‘Walking for All’ programme, supported by PEACEPLUS and managed by Special EU Programmes Body , and led by Outscape . The programme was launched on Friday, 27 February 2026 at

Specialist Nurse Julie Donnelly and Dr Beckett from the Northern Trust’s Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) Paediatric Clinic, which provides a specialist service for children newly diagnosed with FH. A new specialist clinic in Northern Ireland is changing the outlook for children born with a hidden but potentially life-threatening genetic condition — offering families earlier answers, expert support and a clearer path forward. The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has l

Education Minister Paul Givan at Ballymoney HS, announcing the full rollout of defibrillators to all schools across Northern Ireland. From l to r: Michael Allen (NIAS), Education Minister Paul Givan, Ballymoney HS Principal Jonny Bingham and Head of British Heart Foundation Fearghal McKinney. Every school in Northern Ireland now has a life-saving defibrillator on site — a milestone described as “hugely significant” for the safety of pupils, staff and the wider community. Educ

The former Antrim Arms Hotel in Ballycastle town centre Seventeen months on, a closed street and an unresolved building safety issue are now threatening the future of a £2million investment designed to rejuvenate Ballycastle town centre. Sinn Féin MLA for North Antrim, Philip McGuigan , has called for urgent collaboration between the owner of the Antrim Arms and statutory organisations to address structural safety and planning concerns that have left Fairhill Street closed —

(L-R) Paula Marshall, Volunteer Service Manager, Northern Health and Social Care Trust; Ita McErlean, Secretary, Causeway Hospital Radio; Vinny Hurrell, BBC NI Radio Presenter; Rodney Magee, Chairman, Causeway Hospital Radio; Louise Gillespie, Volunteering Programme Delivery Officer, Northern Health and Social Care Trust. The power of a friendly voice can mean everything to someone in a hospital bed — and this week, volunteers behind Northern Trust’s hospital radio service we

Ireland’s Highest Bar and Restaurant has stepped into the global spotlight. The Ponderosa, perched high in the Sperrin Mountains, has appeared in Lisa McGee’s new Netflix drama How To Get To Heaven From Belfast — placing one of Northern Ireland’s most recognisable rural landmarks centre stage in a major television production. Eagle-eyed viewers tuning into the new series may have spotted the local pub in the penultimate episode. In episode seven, as the dark comedy’s storylin