NEWS

Meat and other foodstuffs are among the items most frequently stolen from shops in Mid and East Antrim, according to crime prevention officer Paul Black. The PSNI officer told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that there has been “a big increase in shoplifting” in the borough since the pandemic. “There are two types – those who are desperate for food and those who are stealing to order,” he said. Speaking at a public meeting of the Mid and East Antrim Policing and Comm

A puffin makes history on the Isle of Muck Nature Reserve, off Islandmagee – the first to nest here in Ulster Wildlife’s 25 years of managing this seabird sanctuary. (Images & Video: Ronald Surgenor) For the first time in a quarter of a century, puffins have been recorded nesting on Ulster Wildlife’s Isle of Muck Nature Reserve, off Islandmagee in Co. Antrim — marking a significant milestone for seabird recovery in Northern Ireland. The discovery, made during routine surveys

Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s (PSNI) Organised Crime Branch have taken part in a major UK-wide crackdown on organised crime groups exploiting high street businesses, as part of the second phase of Operation Machinize. The National Crime Agency (NCA)-led initiative, supported by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), brought together police forces and partner agencies across the UK for a month-long intensified period of action throughout October

Northern Trust dietetic colleagues Kathryn Duff, Shelley Hannon, Michelle Graham Steele, Ursula Quinn, Katherine Hudson and Elizabeth Armstrong received the ‘Community Nutrition Professional of the Year’ award at the 2025 Complete Nutrition (CN) Awards in recognition of their innovative work around community nutrition care. A team of dietitians from the Northern Health and Social Care Trust has been named ‘Community Nutrition Professional of the Year’ at the 2025 Complete Nut

The famous pink brand of Dougies Goodies has officially arrived at Applegreen Lisburn Southbound, bringing a burst of colour — and a lot of sweetness — to one of Northern Ireland’s busiest service stations. The collaboration, launched on Friday 14 November, sees Dougies Goodies’ signature cakes and bakes now available at Applegreen’s Lisburn South services. The partnership pairs Applegreen’s convenient, on-the-go offering with Dougies’ fun, playful identity and the distinctiv

Santa arriving in Limavady. Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has announced a packed programme of festive celebrations set to bring Christmas magic to Ballymoney, Limavady, Ballycastle and Coleraine later this month. The Council says the events aim to “spread festive cheer this Christmas season” with a series of family-friendly activities, parades and Santa appearances designed to mark the start of the borough’s Christmas calendar. Four towns, four festive switch-ons

DUP North Antrim MLA Paul Frew, and Councillor Reuben Glover at the junction of Dans Road and Galgorm Road DUP MLA Paul Frew has urged authorities to act swiftly to address what he describes as the “much higher than would be expected” number of road traffic accidents on a key stretch of the Galgorm Road in Ballymena. Mr Frew and Alderman Reuben Glover have been approached by numerous concerned residents regarding safety issues on the section between Cambridge Avenue and the D

With the much-anticipated opening of Primark expected to draw significantly higher footfall, Fairhill Shopping Centre Management has announced the introduction of a new pay-on-arrival parking option to help ease congestion during the busy period. In a message to customers, management said they had been “reviewing the parking system and have added the option of paying on arrival when you park at the Centre”. The change, they explained, aims “ to help reduce queues at payment

Janet Devlin joins Tiarnán O’Neill, Chief Finance Officer at Galgorm Collection, to celebrate the launch of Christmas All Around, the luxury hotel group’s new festive film. Northern Ireland singer-songwriter Janet Devlin is the face – and voice – of Galgorm Collection’s new Christmas campaign, Christmas All Around, an emotive festive film celebrating the meaning of time, connection and togetherness during the holiday season. The Gortin-born artist, known for her distinctive v

Project Co-ordinator for Good Morning Ballymena, Debbie Chestnutt Good Morning Ballymena has been awarded the prestigious King’s Award for Voluntary Service — the highest honour given to volunteer groups across the United Kingdom — in recognition of its exceptional contribution to the wellbeing of older and vulnerable people in the local community. The organisation, which provides vital support, reassurance, and companionship to individuals across the Ballymena area, describe

Danske Bank has confirmed that its new Ballymoney branch will officially open its doors at 12 High Street on Monday 24 November 2025 at 9.30am . The announcement marks the latest stage in the bank’s investment in modernising local banking services in the town. To enable the transition, the current branch—located only a few doors away—will close permanently at 12.30pm on Friday 21 November 2025. The new premises will deliver the enhanced services first announced in September,

farmdrive co-founders - Gareth Gordon, CTO, and Gareth McDonald, CEO Northern Ireland agri-tech company farmdrive has raised £1 million in pre-seed investment to drive international growth of its pioneering livestock data and supply chain platform. The funding round was led by TechStart Ventures and Ascension Ventures, with participation from Angel Invest, and will support product development, team expansion, and entry into new markets across the UK and Europe. Founded in 202

From L-R: Jacinta McAtamney (BSO NIPACS+ Senior Project Manager), Dr. Anton Collins (Consultant Radiologist and SRO of NIPACS+ Programme), Eddie Ritson (DHCNI Director of Digital Transformation & Innovation), Mike Nesbitt (Minister of Health), Joanne Allison (BSO NIPACS+ Programme Manager), Melissa Cochrane (BSO Head of Programme Delivery) Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has hailed the success of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) project transforming X-ray diagnostics across North

Glengormley Cenotaph Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has unanimously condemned the recent desecration of the Glengormley Cenotaph, describing the incident as an attack on remembrance and community respect. The motion, proposed by Councillor Robert Foster (UUP) and seconded by Alderman Mark Cosgrove (UUP) , was passed at the Full Council meeting on Monday 27 October 2025. It stated: “That this chamber condemns the desecration of the Glengormley Cenotaph and calls upon

The new Generation 2 Electroliner built by Wrightbus in Ballymena. Ballymena-based manufacturer Wrightbus has launched its most efficient battery electric bus to date, marking another major step in the company’s drive to decarbonise public transport. The new Generation 2 Electroliner boasts significant improvements in range, charging speed, battery life and efficiency — the result of a multi-million-pound in-house battery development programme. The cutting-edge model is alrea

PSNI Chief Inspector Siobhan Watt, PCSP Vice Chair Sharon Maxwell, PCSP Chair Councillor Lauren Gray, District Electoral Area Manager Ballymena and Lead for PCSP Jane Dunlop, and NIFRS Station Commander Johnston Birrell. (Image: Steven McAuley / McAuley Multimedia) Mid and East Antrim Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) is joining forces with the PSNI and Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) to encourage everyone to play their part in improving road

Church Street, Ballymena Mid and East Antrim’s town centres are set to shine even brighter this Christmas thanks to a £150,000 investment in festive lighting announced by Communities Minister Gordon Lyons. The Department for Communities is providing £135,000, with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council contributing an additional £15,000 towards the new Festive Lighting Scheme. The funding will support the installation of new and enhanced seasonal lighting across Ballymena, Larne

Pictured at the opening of the Infinity Room are Noah’s parents Corrina and Johnny McAleese, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Leona Laverty, Bereavement Co-Ordinator, Northern Trust. A new bereavement support space, created in memory of a Dunloy toddler who tragically lost his life in a farming accident, has officially opened at Causeway Hospital. The Infinity Room, named in honour of two-year-old Noah McAleese and his love of Toy Story, was opened this week by Noah’s parents

Waterfoot Beach, County Antrim (Image: Angela McIlgorm) Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council members have voiced reservations about plans to install a dust path at Waterfoot Beach. At October’s Leisure and Development Committee meeting, councillors agreed to replace the damaged boardwalk on the beach, which has deteriorated significantly and poses safety and maintenance concerns, with a compacted dust path. The proposed path is designed to provide a durable, low-maintenan

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council is set to explore the possibility of using silent fireworks or drone shows during future celebrations in the borough. At November’s Environmental Services Committee meeting, members agreed that potential changes to council-organised firework displays should be discussed at a future meeting of the Leisure and Development Committee. TUV Councillor Jonathan McAuley said he had received correspondence from several constituents in the week