NEWS

A 13-year-old has been cautioned by police after officers seized an e-scooter in Ballymena amid ongoing concerns over the illegal use of the devices in public spaces. Neighbourhood Policing Team officers were conducting enquiries in the Dunvale area of the town on Thursday afternoon, June 4, when they observed a number of young people riding e-scooters. Police confirmed one teenager was cautioned for driving offences including having no licence and no insurance before the e-s

Well done girls: L-R: Jenna McErlain, Dayah Doherty. Willow Currie, Isabel McErlean, Rebekah Rice, Cassie Evans, Maisie Hamill, and Anna Rose Caskey. Eight young gymnasts from Toome are preparing to take centre stage on the national level after qualifying to represent Northern Ireland at the National Finals in London later this year. The athletes from Elite Gymnastics Academy secured their places following a series of strong performances throughout the British Gymnastics-back

Police have seized suspected Class A and Class B drugs, large sums of cash, fireworks and suspected fake cosmetic products following a major series of searches across Ballymena on Thursday. Officers from Ballymena’s District Support Team, alongside other policing colleagues, carried out coordinated searches at four properties, one business premises and three vehicles as part of an ongoing operation targeting the local drugs trade. A 41-year-old woman remains in police custody

Motoring enthusiasts, families and supporters of two vital mental health charities are set to descend on Ballymena Showgrounds this weekend as the Ballymena Charity Vehicle Show returns with one of its biggest events yet. The popular community event, taking place on Saturday 6 June from 11am to 3pm, will transform the Showgrounds into a huge celebration of vehicles of every kind — from classic cars and modern performance machines to tractors, motorcycles, HGVs and vans — whil

Maeve Owens while studying at MSU took the opportunity to travel to Chicago A student from Magherafelt has described her four-month study experience in the United States as “the best thing I’ve ever done” after returning home from a life-changing exchange programme at one of America’s biggest universities. Maeve Owens, who studies BSc (Hons) Food Business Management at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), recently completed a semester abroad at Michi

CAFRE staff, Lori Hartman and James Crawford, welcome visitors to Greenmount Campus, Antrim, for Open Farm Weekend. Enjoy exploring the campus and browse a wide selection of plants available to purchase throughout the event. Families, food lovers, aspiring students and farming enthusiasts are set to get rare behind-the-scenes access to one of Northern Ireland’s leading agricultural campuses later this month as CAFRE Greenmount opens its gates for Bank of Ireland Open Farm Wee

Caroline Martin, Dale Farm pictured with Sixth Form pupils from Cullybackey College One of Northern Ireland’s best-known food producers has been strengthening its connection with young people in Ballymena through a year-long partnership designed to give pupils real insight into careers beyond the classroom. Through the ‘Adopt a School’ initiative run alongside Dale Farm and Business in the Community Northern Ireland, students at Cullybackey College have been given hands-on ex

Sue Ellen McAuley (right) pictured with Grainne Whyte and Leon Whyte. More than 100 children with disabilities across Northern Ireland are currently waiting to be matched with a short breaks foster carer, as one County Antrim woman urges others to consider what she describes as “the most rewarding thing that you’ll ever do.” With growing pressure on families caring for children with complex needs, foster carers are being asked to provide vital short breaks that give parents a

Hundreds of thousands of extra appointments, scans and operations have been delivered across Northern Ireland’s health service in a major drive to tackle some of the country’s worst waiting lists, with ministers claiming significant progress for patients left waiting years for care. New year-end figures released by the Department of Health show more than 385,000 additional assessments, diagnostics and treatments were carried out during 2025/26 as part of an intensive elective

Ballymena United supporters will begin the new season with a completely new way to buy tickets after the club announced a fresh three-year partnership with ticketing platform TicketCo ahead of the 2026/27 campaign. The deal will see the Championship side introduce a new integrated ticketing system designed to simplify how fans purchase season tickets and matchday admission, with the platform going live immediately as season ticket sales open this week. The move marks one of t

Liam Wilson (left) with David Mitchell at the company’s premises in Ahoghill A long-established Ballymena financial advisory firm is entering a new chapter after appointing a new Director with ambitions to expand its reach across Northern Ireland while keeping its strong family-focused approach at the centre of the business. Mitchell & Wilson Financial Planning has confirmed that Liam Wilson has become Director of the Ballymena-based firm, taking over leadership as the compan

Anne Campbell, Kevin Cassidy and Paddy Graffin pictured at an event celebrating 25 years of Causeway Hospital. Causeway Hospital has marked 25 years since opening its doors, with health leaders using the milestone to underline renewed commitments to the future of acute services on the north coast. Staff, former colleagues, patients, volunteers and members of the Causeway Hospital Partnership Forum gathered on Monday for a special anniversary event celebrating the hospital’s q

Ailbhe McCusker, Community Champion at Share Energy, and participants at the Ballymoney Show launch. Agricultural shows across Northern Ireland are facing growing financial pressure, but organisers behind this week’s Ballymoney Show say the events remain vital lifelines for rural communities, small businesses and the local economy. The Ballymoney Show returns on June 5 and 6 at Ballymoney Showgrounds, bringing together farmers, traders, families and rural organisations at a t

Local woman, Ann Lamont, happy volunteering at Dogs Trust Ballymena A County Antrim woman who promised herself she would one day help rescue dogs after losing her beloved pet has now given more than 1,000 hours of service to homeless hounds at Dogs Trust Ballymena. Ann Lamont, from near Kells, has become one of the rehoming centre’s most recognisable faces after spending the past two years volunteering in its laundry room — affectionately known by staff and volunteers as “Ann

Mid & East Antrim Pride has announced details of its 2026 programme, with a series of events planned across Ballymena on Saturday June 20. The annual event will include a morning community programme at The Braid Arts Centre, a parade through Ballymena town centre and an evening after-party event. Organisers say this year’s theme will be “Louder, Prouder, Stronger”, with community groups, local organisations, businesses and individuals expected to take part throughout the day.

Female scientists will step out of laboratories and into the heart of Ballymena later this month as a major public STEM event lands in the town for the first time. Soapbox Science, a free live science event designed to make research accessible, engaging and visible, is coming to the People’s Park on Friday 12 June from 11am to 2pm. The event — the first of its kind to be hosted in Mid and East Antrim — will see female researchers take to literal soapboxes to explain their wor

A call has been made to end what has been described as the Housing Executive “turfing out” family members following the death of tenants. Sinn Féin has submitted a notice of motion at Belfast City Council regarding the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s tenancy succession policy, which is due to be considered by a council committee later this month. The motion, proposed by Court District Electoral Area Councillor Claire Canavan, highlights concerns that the current Northern

Teams from PHA and the Health Trusts have been engaging with the public at the 'This is our health' roadshows. People across Northern Ireland are being urged to speak up about the future of the health service this summer as a major public engagement campaign rolls out to more than 120 events and community venues. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt says the new “This is our health” initiative is about more than hospital waiting lists or GP appointments — it is an attempt to redefine

Ethel Blair, centre, with Gail Caldwell, Asda Larne Community Champion, McGee's butcher Conor O'Cleary, Serena Quigley, front right and Serena's dad Jim Steele, who also works on the McGee's counter at Asda Larne A Larne woman who has spent more than a century watching the world change around her has marked her 100th birthday with a royal letter from the King, a hand-delivered gift from the Lord-Lieutenant’s office — and flowers from the supermarket team who have become part

The Public Health Agency (PHA) and the Republic of Ireland’s Health Service Executive (HSE) have issued a major cross-border warning over dangerous drugs circulating ahead of the busy summer festival and concert season, with officials raising serious concerns about high-strength MDMA, ketamine-related harms and the spread of so-called “pink cocaine” across the island of Ireland. Thousands of people are expected to travel north and south for concerts, festivals and nightlife e