NEWS

Randalstown ARCHES Association Directors at the 30th Anniversary Gala Dinner with presentation cheque. (L-R) William Allen (Treasurer); Martin Hackett; Liam Hurrel; Eileen Ingram (Secretary); Peter Boyle (Chairman); Leanne Murray; Eugene McKeever; Anne Delaney; Pete Burbidge; and Suzanne Lawrence. Randalstown ARCHES Association has celebrated three decades of community achievement with a glittering Gala Dinner and announced a significant £46,727 grant from The National Lotter

Seven Towers Leisure Centre, Ballymena A “significant” number of complaints received by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council during the last financial year related to the cleanliness and disrepair of its leisure centres, a committee report has revealed. The Annual Complaints Report 2024/25, presented to the council’s Corporate Resources, Policy and Governance Committee at The Braid in Ballymena on Monday evening, stated that maintenance work had been carried out at the spa f

Northern Regional College Staff and Level 3 Creative Media Practice students at the showcase of their short film Love Later Life. Northern Regional College’s Creative Media students have teamed up with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council to produce a moving short film that celebrates the power of positive ageing. The film, titled Love Later Life, was officially launched on Tuesday 30 September, showcasing the talents of the College’s Level 3 Creative Media Practice students.

Dogs Trust Ballymena Rehoming Centre Dog lovers are in for a treat this spooky season as Dogs Trust Ballymena hosts a special ‘Howl-oween Experience Day’ on Saturday 25th October. The event, running from 10am to 12pm, offers visitors a rare behind-the-scenes look at life inside the charity’s rehoming centre — home to around 70 dogs currently being cared for by the Ballymena team and its dedicated volunteer foster carers. Tickets are free and can be booked via Eventbrite , but

IGNITE participant, Jenna Louise Dowds from Slemish College, pictured with Paula Bittles, Business Support Executive at Belfast City Airport and Gerry Kelly, CEO of NICSSA Belfast City Airport has launched the sixth year of its acclaimed IGNITE youth leadership programme, reaffirming its dedication to inspiring and empowering young people from across Greater Belfast and Northern Ireland. Originally designed to support 100 students, the IGNITE initiative has now successfully e

Children dressed up for Halloween can enjoy a free meal at all 205 Asda Cafés nationwide on 31 October – with no adult spend required. This Halloween, families across the UK can look forward to a treat that won’t scare their wallets. On Friday 31 October, Asda is inviting children in fancy dress to eat for free in any of its 205 cafés nationwide, as part of its popular Kids Eat for £1 initiative. The offer coincides with half-term week, providing much-needed relief for parent

The bell ringing ceremony for the Larne RNLI Shannon class all-weather lifeboat Machiko Nancy 13-58 at the All-Weather Lifeboat Centre in Poole. The ceremony was attended by donor Michael Cameron and several crew members from Larne lifeboat station. (Images: Nathan Williams) A new Shannon class lifeboat is on its way to Larne RNLI, marking the beginning of a new era in lifesaving for the coastal community after 25 years of dedicated service from its outgoing Trent class lifeb

Ahoghill Loyal Sons of William Flute Band who were one of the locals bands to recieve funding Six local bands from across Mid & East Antrim are among 134 individuals and groups to receive funding from the Department for Communities’ £1.1 million Musical Instruments Programme for 2025/26. Communities Minister Gordon Lyons confirmed that the latest round of grants will help bands, performing groups and professional musicians across Northern Ireland to purchase or replace musica

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford is pictured with Isobel Kerr, ReStore Manager for Habitat for Humanity, launching the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council's Pre-Loved Toys Scheme. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is once again calling on local residents to donate their pre-loved toys this festive season as its much-loved Christmas Toy Scheme returns for the seventh year running. The initiative, which runs from Monday 27 October to Friday 12 December

Molly Piper with Max the dog A Dundonald dog that faced a court-ordered destruction ruling has been spared and is now settling into a new home in Antrim. ‘Max’ was ruled to be a Pit Bull-type banned breed by a Lisburn judge earlier this month, with only weeks to be rehomed or destroyed. Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) and animal welfare campaigners had been in dispute over the stray’s assessment for almost a year. Max was held in council kennels from December 2024

The Kells, Connor and Glenwherry Angling Club has expressed “deep disappointment and frustration” after the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) once again refused to grant permits needed to reopen their river hatchery — a conservation project aimed at restoring dwindling salmon and Dollaghan trout populations in the Kellswater River system. The group said the hatchery could have played a vital role in protecting native fish and educating local sc

Mid and East Antrim is gearing up for a spine-tingling celebration as Halloween approaches, with a packed programme of eerie entertainment and family-friendly fun across Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Larne . From haunted houses and ghost tours to pumpkin patches and spooky storytelling, the borough is promising something for everyone – whether you’re chasing chills or simply after a night of frightful fun. “Mid and East Antrim is your one-stop-shop for all things Halloween,”

A Ballymena-based mental health charity that has supported nearly 1,500 people in crisis in recent years has warned that it may be forced to close within months unless sustainable government funding is secured. Turning Point NI, a community crisis intervention and mental health hub founded in 2015 within the Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NHSCT), plays a critical role in supporting individuals experiencing mental health crises across Mid and East Antrim. Its mission i

Deputy Mayor of Mid & East Antrim, DUP Councillor Tyler Hoey The Deputy Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, DUP Councillor Tyler Hoey, has publicly offered his support to a Portglenone man who has been issued a Noise Abatement Notice by council officers for practising the Lambeg drum. Councillor Hoey explained that the constituent, Gary, had been contacted him at the start of September regarding the noise complaint. “At the start of September, I was contacted by a constituent of mi

Overall winner of the Mid and East Antrim heat of Go Succeed: The Ultimate Pitch William Mawhinney, centre, pictured with, from left, judge Noel Mullholland and Councillor Jackson Minford, Mayor, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council A Carrickfergus entrepreneur has sailed to success after making The Ultimate Pitch to win investment for his innovative new business that carries out vessel hull inspections. William Mawhinney wowed judges at the Mid and East Antrim heat of Go Succ

As the clocks prepare to go back and daylight hours shorten, the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has launched a new road safety campaign urging everyone to make themselves more visible on Northern Ireland’s roads. The ‘Be Bold. Be Seen’ initiative was unveiled by Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins, who highlighted the dangers faced by pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users during the darker winter months. The campaign encourages people to wear bright, bo

Asda Ballyclare colleagues join celebrations as retailer marks 20th year anniversary in NI. Steven Henry, GSM, Trevor Wilson, Community Champion, and Helen Gault, Long Service Colleague Asda marks milestone anniversary with major price cuts, £1m community funding, and a £500m annual boost to local suppliers. Colleagues from Asda Ballyclare joined in celebrations marking 20 years of Asda in Northern Ireland, as the retailer reflected on two decades of investment in local suppl

Is this the most classic bake of all time!? It's the easiest bake there is and an absolute staple at childhood birthday parties so T had to be for top hats . I've been making them with my two-year-old nephew lots recently (he's a big fan) and when you make them with good quality chocolate, they are actually so good. The big question is... do you choose a white or pink marshmallow one? Has to be white for me!! Jill Stewart ( @jillbakes_ ) INGREDIENTS… Makes 12 110g share bar

North Antrim TUV MLA Timothy Gaston speaking in the Northern Ireland Assembly on Tuesday. North Antrim TUV MLA Timothy Gaston has called for urgent departmental funding to support a Ballymena-based crisis intervention charity, warning that the collapse of Extern’s community crisis intervention service in the north-west could soon be repeated elsewhere. Speaking during Assembly proceedings on Tuesday (October 14), Mr Gaston said the closure of Extern’s service “will leave a g

DUP representatives (L-R) East Londonderry MLA Maurice Bradley, North Antrim MLA Paul Frew, and Councillor for Bann, Michelle Knight-McQuillan during a visit to Kilrea Bridge DUP MLAs Paul Frew and Maurice Bradley , joined by Cllr Michelle Knight-McQuillan , have visited the site of the Kilrea Bridge over the River Bann to meet residents and discuss the latest update from DfI Roads amid continuing disruption caused by the closure. The representatives met with local people fr