NEWS

Families across Northern Ireland who have experienced the loss of a baby before 24 weeks of pregnancy can now apply for an official Baby Loss Certificate, marking a significant change in how early pregnancy loss is formally recognised. The new scheme, which has now gone live following the passing of the Baby Loss Certificate Regulations in the Northern Ireland Assembly, allows parents to obtain official recognition of a loss that, for many, has previously gone unacknowledged

Men in Northern Ireland diagnosed with prostate cancer could soon benefit from faster access to advanced diagnostic imaging closer to home, following confirmation that progress is being made towards establishing a local PSMA PET-CT scanning service. North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows has welcomed confirmation from the Minister of Health that work is advancing to deliver the specialist service in Northern Ireland, a move that could spare some patients the need to travel elsewhere in

Football, family entertainment and the chance to meet Ballymena United’s newest signings will all be on offer when the club hosts a free community fun day at the Ballymena Showgrounds next month. With free admission for everyone, the event on Saturday 4 July is designed to bring supporters, families and local residents together for an afternoon packed with activities both on and off the pitch as excitement builds ahead of the new season. Visitors can look forward to face pain

Thousands of music fans heading to see Zach Bryan in Belfast this week are being urged to plan their journeys carefully, with significant road closures and traffic restrictions expected around Boucher Playing Fields on both concert nights. The American country music star will perform at Boucher Playing Fields on Tuesday 23 June and Wednesday 24 June, with traffic disruption anticipated across the surrounding area between 5pm and midnight on both evenings. Motorists, concertgo

Ballymena dad and daughter duo Trevor and Georgia Steele work together at the Asda Antrim store. A father and daughter who work side by side at Asda Antrim have become well known among colleagues for an affectionate nickname that has spread throughout the store – with dad Trevor Steele now better known to many as “Sugar Bear”. The Ballymena family’s story is one of shared shifts, shared friendships and plenty of workplace banter, with Trevor and daughter Georgia Steele disco

Some of the members of Carrick Pool League Pool clubs across Carrickfergus are being recognised as more than just places to compete and socialise, with a local league using the game’s strong community spirit to encourage men to open up about their mental health and seek support when they need it. Recently, during Men’s Health Week, the Carrick and District Pool League (CDPL) joined forces with the Public Health Agency (PHA) to promote the message that talking about mental hea

Stock photo A Ballymena dog owner has appealed for witnesses to come forward after his 10-year-old Border Collie was left fighting for her life following a violent attack by two loose Bully-type dogs in the town’s Demesne estate. The incident happened at around 8.15pm on Thursday, June 18, on a green area at Glenshesk Drive near Demesne Avenue. The owner says his dog, who was being walked on a lead at the time, suffered multiple puncture wounds to her face, legs and stomach a

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly met members of the armed forces in Coleraine, including Seamus, the regimental mascot of the Irish Guards. Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has used Armed Forces Day celebrations in Coleraine to encourage veterans, serving personnel and their families to access Northern Ireland’s first dedicated government support line for the armed forces community. The call comes just weeks after the launch of

Dr Nevan Joyce, Stroke Consultant at Antrim Area Hospital, and Stroke Liaison Nurse, Emma McAllister. A stroke can happen without warning, and every minute counts when it does. Health professionals across the Northern Health and Social Care Trust are urging people to recognise the signs of a stroke and seek emergency medical help immediately, warning that delays in treatment can have life-changing consequences. A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is int

Asda Community Champions paid a visit to Ram's Island A team of Asda Community Champions from across Northern Ireland has swapped the shop floor for the shoreline to help safeguard one of Lough Neagh’s most unique and historic locations. Seven Community Champions travelled to Ram’s Island, a community-managed conservation and heritage site on Lough Neagh, where they joined volunteers in a hands-on effort to tackle invasive plant species and support the island’s ongoing preser

Passengers across Northern Ireland are being urged to check before they travel as summer bus timetables come into effect from Tuesday, July 1, bringing changes to services during the school holiday period. The timetable changes will affect a wide range of services operated by Translink, including Ulsterbus, Goldliner, Metro, Glider and Foyle Metro routes, as well as Park and Ride services. The annual summer timetable adjustments coincide with schools breaking for the summer h

Children enjoy one of the many events at Ballymoney Museum Ballymoney Museum has been shortlisted for one of the UK’s most respected heritage awards after being recognised by families as one of the country’s most welcoming places to visit. The museum, located in Ballymoney Town Hall, has secured a place on the shortlist for the 2026 Kids in Museums Family Friendly Museum Award and is the only museum in Northern Ireland to make the final selection. The annual award, which has

Thousands of people packed the streets, parks and riverside of Coleraine on Saturday as Armed Forces Day 2026 transformed the town into a celebration of military service, community pride and national remembrance. From solemn acts of reflection at the War Memorial to dramatic parachute displays above the town and a packed programme of entertainment throughout the day, residents and visitors turned out in huge numbers to honour serving personnel, veterans, reservists, cadets an

Maggie O’Farrell’s Land remains at the top of the bestseller chart at Waterstone’s Ballymena this week, as readers continue to gravitate towards a mix of literary fiction, romance, mystery and crime. The latest weekly update from the Ballymena bookshop also highlights upcoming book clubs, family storytime sessions and a host of acclaimed new titles, including several books shortlisted for this year’s Women’s Prize. Top 10 this week A varied selection of bestselling fiction do

Thousands of people lined the streets of Coleraine on Saturday morning as more than 500 military personnel took part in a major Armed Forces Day parade under clear blue skies. The town centre was awash with spectators as service personnel, veterans, civic leaders and military representatives gathered to honour the contribution of the UK’s Armed Forces in what is one of the largest events of its kind ever hosted in the borough. The celebration, which continues throughout the d

Waterfoot beach and the illustrative designs of outdoor mobile saunas for locations across the Causeway Coast. Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Planning Department has received planning applications for outdoor saunas at four popular coastal locations across the borough. The proposals represent the next stage in plans to introduce dedicated wellness facilities at key seaside destinations, reflecting the growing popularity of sea swimming, cold-water immersion and ou

Motorists and shoppers in Ballymena are being advised to plan ahead today as Mid and East Antrim Pride takes place in the town, bringing temporary road closures, traffic disruption and an increased police presence. The Pride parade is expected to draw participants and supporters into the town centre on Saturday afternoon, June 20, while separate protest activity is also anticipated in parts of Ballymena. Police have said they will have additional officers on duty to help ensu

Thousands of people are expected to descend on Coleraine this Saturday as Armed Forces Day 2026 transforms the town into one of Northern Ireland’s largest civic celebrations, featuring military displays, flypasts, live performances and a packed programme of family entertainment. Around 25,000 visitors are anticipated to attend the event on Saturday 20 June, with organisers describing it as a major opportunity to recognise the service and sacrifice of serving personnel, vetera

Northern Regional College, Ballymena campus Northern Regional College is celebrating a major achievement after being shortlisted in four categories at the 2026 OCN NI Learning Endeavour Awards, recognising both the success of individual learners and the College’s wider contribution to education and skills development across Northern Ireland. The College has been named as a finalist for the coveted Provider of the Year award, while three learners have also secured places on th

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Róis-Máire Donnelly joins Kohen McLaughlin and Eadie McErlean to launch the return of the Summer Rose Fair at Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park. Thousands of roses will burst into bloom as one of Belfast’s most colourful summer events returns next month, bringing three days of live entertainment, family activities, food, music and floral displays to one of the city’s best-loved parks. The annual Summer Rose Fair will take place at Sir Thomas and