NEWS

Veterans Support Group Ballymena Chairperson, Councillor Lawrie Philpott Wednesday 26 August 2026 A new dedicated Veterans Hub will open its doors in Ballymena tomorrow, creating a permanent local place where veterans and their families can access support, guidance and friendship. Veterans Support Group Ballymena (VSGB) will officially launch the new facility at 62a Church Street on Thursday 27 August, serving veterans and their families from across Ballymena and the wider Mi

Motorists in Ballymena and Larne are being warned to expect delays this Saturday as thousands of Royal Black Institution members and supporters take part in the annual Last Saturday demonstrations. Around 5,000 participants, 76 preceptories and 71 bands are expected at the main County Antrim demonstration in Larne on Saturday 29 August, with up to 10,000 spectators anticipated. For Ballymena residents, the impact will begin much closer to home. A number of feeder and return p

Former Mid and East Antrim Borough Council chief executive Anne Donaghy Former Mid and East Antrim Borough Council chief executive Anne Donaghy has been convicted of two charges connected to deleting or attempting to delete an email to prevent disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. Donaghy, 56, of Clonmore Road, Dungannon, was fined a total of £1,500 following a trial at Ballymena Magistrates’ Court. The charges on which she was convicted concerned an email sent to

Raymond Gormley, Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, Fiona Magee, Advice NI, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, Nicole Lappin, Chair NIHE and David Blevings, Northern Ireland Oil Federation Around 340,000 households across Northern Ireland could be eligible for a new £100 payment towards the cost of home heating oil, with applications opening next month. The Home Heating Oil Support Scheme will open on Wednesday 9 September 2026, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has confi

Sara Kyle, owner of Galgorm Parks Riding School A long-established Ballymena riding school which provides therapeutic riding for disabled children and young people could face an uncertain future if the proposed Irish FA National Football Centre is built nearby, its owner has warned. Sara Kyle, owner of Galgorm Parks Riding School, says she fears increased noise and activity associated with the major development could affect horses, vulnerable riders and ultimately the viabili

Ballymena Town Hall, and (inset) North Antrim MP Jim Allister Ballymena’s 400th anniversary has been marked at Westminster, with North Antrim MP Jim Allister tabling a House of Commons motion celebrating four centuries of the town and the generations of people who have helped shape it. The parliamentary recognition comes on a landmark day for Ballymena — exactly 400 years since King Charles I granted the charter on 25 August 1626 which established the foundations of the marke

GAME ON, Ballymena — Level Up Entertainment Centre has officially opened its doors, bringing a spectacular new place to play, eat, meet and make memories at Pennybridge. And while the neon-lit arcade is packed with games designed to bring out everyone’s competitive side, there is another big reason this new arrival could quickly become a favourite well beyond family days out. Wait until you see the Shake Bar. Level Up has paired its all-ages entertainment centre with a striki

Households across Northern Ireland are expected to receive more than £50 off their electricity bills this autumn, under plans to combine two cost-of-living measures into a single discount. Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has confirmed her department is working to finalise an agreement with the Treasury that would increase the support from the approximately £30 previously announced under the NIRO Domestic Electricity Discount Scheme. However, the original discount had be

Caroline McKeown with the sale topper, Ashvale Ironman I1504, who sold for 1,200gns. A Templepatrick sheep breeder has claimed the overall championship and the highest price of the day at the Northern Ireland Dorset Sheep Breeders Club’s fifth annual Swatragh Show and Sale. Caroline McKeown’s Ashvale flock enjoyed a standout showing at the event, with her ewe lamb taking the overall championship before selling for 700 guineas, while another Ashvale entry topped the entire sal

Dunloy teenager Adam Gault has been crowned world powerlifting champion A 17-year-old from Dunloy has become a world powerlifting champion, producing the performance of his young career to defeat some of the strongest teenage lifters on the planet in a title battle decided by just 2.5kg. Adam Gault has been crowned IPF U93kg Sub-Junior World Champion at the 2026 World Classic Powerlifting Championships in Sun City, South Africa — completing a remarkable rise from taking up co

Paul Savage (left) with Christian Reynolds in front of the 80th anniversary mural. Wrightbus is asking generations of workers, passengers and bus enthusiasts to help recover eight decades of its history after significant archive material was lost before the Ballymena manufacturer was rescued from administration in 2019. As the company marks its 80th anniversary, it has launched a public appeal for photographs, stories and personal memories that can help rebuild a record stret

Detectives are appealing for witnesses and footage after a house in Templepatrick was broken into, damaged and ransacked on Monday afternoon. Police received a report at around 4.50pm on Monday 24 August following the burglary in the Old Coach Road area. Entry forced into house Detectives believe entry was forced into the property shortly after 4pm, causing damage to a door and windows. A number of rooms and cupboards inside the house had also been ransacked. Detective Sergea

Dog owners across Antrim and Newtownabbey are being urged to check the rules before exercising their pets in council-managed parks and open spaces, as new colour-coded signage is installed across the borough. Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council is carrying out the work in phases, with priority locations being targeted first. The signs are designed to make it clearer where dogs can be exercised freely, where they must be kept on a lead and where they are prohibited — with

CGI of the approved new DHL distribution centre in Co Antrim. Tuesday 25 August 2026 Plans for a new £15 million DHL distribution centre in Newtownabbey have been approved, paving the way for an overall £18 million investment in the local economy and the creation of 80 new full-time jobs. Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Planning Committee has given the go-ahead for the development at Ballyearl Business Park, which will provide a substantial new storage and distribut

CGI of the proposed new Irish FA National Football Centre at Galgorm One of Ballymena’s biggest employers has thrown its weight behind plans for a major Irish FA National Football Centre at Galgorm, as the planning file shows around 110 representations supporting the development compared with 64 opposing it. Wrightbus has formally backed the proposed centre at Fenaghy Road, arguing that an investment of this scale could increase visitor numbers, support businesses across hosp

Ballymena’s Brandon McCaughan Ballymena racing talent Brandon McCaughan has returned to the top step of the Ligier European Series podium after a superb weekend at Spa-Francorchamps — taking pole position, two podium finishes and his third career victory in the championship. The 22-year-old produced one of his strongest weekends of the season at the world-famous Belgian circuit from 21–23 August, helping the #1 Team Virage Ligier JS P4 to its first victory of 2026 and putting

Jon Burrows MLA pictured with Good Morning Ballymena volunteers at their office on Queen Street A Ballymena service is making more than 700 telephone calls every week, providing companionship, reassurance and a vital point of contact for people who may be living alone, experiencing poor health or feeling isolated. Around 40 volunteers are behind the calls from Good Morning Ballymena, offering members a friendly voice and listening ear while also helping connect people with ac

Northern Regional College student Valentin Timuc has secured place in prestigious WorldSkills UK National Finals A Ballymena student will compete against some of the UK’s most talented young people after securing a coveted place in the WorldSkills UK National Finals. Northern Regional College student Valentin Timuc has qualified for the Digital Support and Security final following a highly competitive series of national qualifiers, earning the opportunity to represent the col

Ballymena BID is bringing businesses across the town centre together for a major birthday celebration tomorrow as Ballymena marks its historic 400th anniversary. Shops, cafés, restaurants and other businesses will roll out special offers, £400 giveaways, discounts, competitions, parties and treats on Tuesday 25 August, while the Ballymena BID team will be out on the streets handing out nostalgic party bags — with some containing extra surprises. The “Birthday Bonanza” is desi

Young Ballymena tennis star, 10-year-old Emma Maria Mezei who finished runner-up in the William Fry All Ireland U10 Junior Championship Ten-year-old Ballymena tennis player Emma Maria Mezei has been congratulated by North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows after finishing runner-up in the William Fry All Ireland U10 Junior Championships. Emma’s achievement saw her progress from a competition involving around 1,700 young players in regional match plays across Ireland over the past 12 mont