NEWS

Local people will develop their IT skills due to a series of computer classes currently being delivered by Inspire Wellbeing, following a £9,200 funding injection from The Gallaher Trust. Danielle Sheridan, Inspire Wellbeing, is pictured alongside James Perry MBE, a Trustee at The Gallaher Trust. Tuesday 06 October 2026 Almost 50 people in the Ballymena area are being given the opportunity to build essential digital skills through a new training programme backed by £9,200 fro

Pictured seated are, Denver McMeekin, Chairman of Harryville Mens Shed and Stephen Reynolds, a Trustee at The Gallaher Trust, alongside members of Harryville Mens Shed. Monday 05 October 2026 Harryville Men’s Shed has seen its membership more than double in three years, with local men describing how friendship, new skills and a sense of belonging have transformed their confidence and wellbeing. The Ballymena organisation now has 44 members after recording 144% growth, alongs

Alex O’Hara, centre, from The Castle Kitchen and Bar, Galgorm Collection, was crowned Cocktail Bartender of the Year at the inaugural Northern Ireland Hospitality School Cocktail Competition. Alex is pictured alongside judges, from left, Ashley Douglas, Director of Operations at the Northern Ireland Hospitality School, Paula McIntyre, celebrity chef, Paul Flynn, MCM Spirits and Giffards and Ryan Brown, Edward Dillon. Monday 05 October 2026 A Galgorm bartender has been crowne

Warren Smyth, Helen Lowry, Lowry Construction, Michael Bacon, Mountfern Adult Centre; Paul Davison, NI Water, Barbara Smyth and Henry Smyth pictured at the recent 50th anniversary celebrations for Mountfern where a new outdoor facility was officially unveiled. Monday 05 October 2026 A father who chose to give something back rather than receive a traditional retirement present has helped transform an outdoor space at Mountfern Adult Centre in Coleraine, as the service celebrat

Disney magic creates unforgettable memories for 20 Northern Ireland children, including Karen Farrell and daughter Anna (4) from Ballymena. Monday 05 October 2026 Children from Ballymena, Antrim, Ballyclare, and Toome were among 20 young people from across Northern Ireland given the chance to experience the magic of Disneyland Paris during a special trip for families living with serious health conditions. The children, who are living with life-limiting or life-threatening con

The newly launched Women’s Aid shop in Ballymena Monday 05 October 2026 Women’s Aid has officially opened a new shop in Ballymena, giving local people another way to support its work with women and children experiencing domestic abuse. The new store at 23–25 Henry Street will sell new and nearly new women’s clothing and accessories alongside books, furniture and other donated items, with proceeds helping support the charity’s services. New town centre shop Mayor of Mid and Ea

Five-year-old Maggie Black Monday 05 October 2026 Five-year-old Maggie Black’s name will be carried on Air Ambulance NI’s new aircraft after a Glenarm darts team raised another £3,740 in her memory. The Coast Road Dart Team’s third annual fundraiser has taken its total support for the charity to £13,400 — an amount Air Ambulance NI says is enough to help provide pre-hospital care at the scene for at least three patients attended by the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HE

Portrush RNLI’s inshore lifeboat, The Ken Blair Sunday 04 October 2026 Portrush RNLI volunteers have assisted two kayakers who were struggling to return to shore after an offshore wind carried them away from White Rocks towards Dunluce Castle. The alarm was raised by friends watching from shore who became concerned when the pair, who were using an inflatable kayak, were unable to make progress back towards the beach. Friends alert Coastguard Portrush RNLI’s inshore lifeboat,

Councillor Aaron Skinner, Chairman of the Mid and East Antrim Disability Lived Experience Group is pictured with the volunteer members and council officers at the inaugural meeting of the group. Sunday 04 October 2026 Twelve residents with lived experience of disability are to help shape how Mid and East Antrim Borough Council designs its services, facilities, policies and projects. A direct voice in Council decisions The new Disability Lived Experience Group (DLEG) held its

Northern Trust dietitian Erin Turner Sunday 04 October 2026 People eligible for a free flu vaccine can attend walk-in clinics across the Northern Health and Social Care Trust area from Monday 5 October, including a weekly clinic at Braid Valley Hospital in Ballymena. The Trust is encouraging those eligible to take up the vaccine as winter approaches, warning that while flu is a common infection, it can spread easily and leave some people seriously unwell. Vaccination remains

Ulster Unionist Party Leader & North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows (centre), pictured with UUP Ballymoney representative Gary Simpson (left), and (right) Scott Brown, director of CAN outside ‘The Hen House’, on Lislagan Farm Sunday 04 October 2026 A former family farm near Ballymoney has officially begun a new chapter as an inclusive community hub offering accessible accommodation, therapeutic outdoor spaces and opportunities for people to learn new skills. The 11-acre Lislagan Farm

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons pictured with (left to right) veteran Danny Shanahan; Chief Executive of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council David Burns; Lagan Valley MP Sorcha Eastwood; Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner David Johnstone; Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh Brian Higginson; veteran Jonny Ball; Lisburn and Castlreagh councillor James Tinsley; and veteran Stuart Ball. Saturday 03 October 2026 Northern Ireland competitors preparing to take part in the Invict

Saturday 03 October 2026 Farmers’ Choir NI has been crowned Making Music UK Group of the Year 2026 after winning a public vote, bringing national recognition to a choir which has become an important source of friendship and connection for farming and rural communities. The cross-community choir, whose members travel to weekly rehearsals at Ballymena Academy, was selected from five groups shortlisted by a Making Music panel before receiving the most votes from the public. Maki

A fantastic effort by the Ballymena Academy teams. Saturday 03 October 2026 Ballymena Academy made a perfect start to their Netball Northern Ireland League campaign, with all four teams securing victories away to Belfast Royal Academy on Friday. Four wins on opening day The Minor 1 and Minor 2 sides delivered particularly commanding performances, recording 22–1 and 28–1 victories respectively. Minor 3 also began their campaign on a winning note with a 4–1 result, before Junio

Saturday 03 October 2026 People looking for love online are being warned never to send money to someone they have only met through the internet, after romance scams resulted in reported losses of more than £814,000 in Northern Ireland last year. In 2025, 61 dating scams were reported in Northern Ireland, with victims reporting combined losses of £814,400 — an average of more than £13,000 per report. Police believe the true scale of the crime could be higher because some victi

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has congratulated our further education colleges and students after they delivered a world-class performance on the global stage, bringing home a gold medal, bronze medal and five medals for excellence from WorldSkills in Shanghai. The Minister met some of the competitors and college representatives at Parliament Buildings before they headed to Shanghai for the ‘Skills Olympics’. Friday 02 October 2026 Ballymena’s Joe Wilton has been reco

Hannah McDowell, Centra, Phoenix Antrim Road, Ballymena, with Lauren Stewart, Green Field Marketing Friday 02 October 2026 Two Ballymena convenience stores have won prizes worth a combined £1,200 through a drinks supplier’s retailer incentive scheme. Centra on Antrim Road secured one of AG Barr’s top £1,000 prizes, while Centra on Frosses Road received £200. MACE in Cloughmills also picked up a £100 prize. The stores are among 12 Northern Ireland retailers to have shared £5,2

Minister for Northern Ireland Sarah Owen is pictured with representatives of Connect Fund partner organisations Bbeyond and Belfast School of Art during a visit to Bbeyond's Belfast headquarters. L-R: Artist Programme Manager at Bbeyond Bronagh Lawson; Lecturer at Belfast School of Art Dr Sandra Johnston, Minister for Northern Ireland Sarah Owen and Artist Administrator at Bbeyond Zara Lyness. Friday 02 October 2026 Community and voluntary groups in Northern Ireland and Great

Members of the Society of St Vincent de Paul Regional Board were joined by Volunteer Ambassador for the North Region, Malachi Cush, at the St Vincent de Paul Feast Day Mass. Thursday 01 October 2026 The quiet work of volunteers helping individuals and families through hardship was recognised at a special Mass in Ballymena, where St Vincent de Paul members gathered from across the charity’s North Region. A large congregation attended All Saints’ Church to mark the Feast Day of

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon is pictured at the launch of the Connexus project funded by PEACEPLUS with Gobhnait Swift, Libraries Development and Community Policy at Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht; Gina McIntyre, Chief Executive at SEUPB; Karalynn McCutcheon, Head of Investment Branch at Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and Ryan Black, Director of Growth & Major Projects at Mid & East Antrim Borough Council.