NEWS

Heavy showers and thunderstorms could cause travel disruption and flash flooding across Northern Ireland today after the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning. The warning takes effect at 12 noon today, Wednesday 19 August, and remains in place until 11.59pm tonight. Some areas could receive up to 20mm of rain in an hour or less, while a few places may see as much as 30mm within two hours. Heavy showers moving from west to east According to the Met Office, a band of heav

CGI of new multi-purpose berthing facility for cruise ships to the city at land on Airport Road West in the Harbour Estate. Belfast’s facilities for welcoming cruise passengers are set to be expanded after councillors approved amended plans for a multi-purpose berthing facility within the Harbour Estate. Belfast City Council’s Planning Committee gave the application from Belfast Harbour Commissioners the green light on Tuesday evening, 18 August. The development, on land at A

Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows Wednesday 19 August 2026 Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows has said this morning he expects to nominate a new Northern Ireland Health Minister soon, as he moved to reassure patients that Mike Nesbitt’s sudden resignation will not interrupt work to reduce waiting lists and reform services. Mr Burrows said he would discuss the health portfolio with party colleagues over the coming days, but did not identify who is being considered

Almost one in three victims of domestic abuse crimes recorded in Northern Ireland last year were male, according to figures released as part of a new campaign challenging the stigma that can prevent men from seeking help. The Police Service of Northern Ireland recorded 5,817 domestic abuse crimes against male victims between April 2025 and March 2026. Men represented 32% of all victims recorded during the 12-month period, while the crimes involving male victims had a sanction

Mike Nesbitt MLA Mike Nesbitt has resigned as Northern Ireland’s Health Minister following a major political dispute with Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows over emergency general surgery at Causeway Hospital. In a strongly worded resignation letter sent to Mr Burrows on Tuesday evening, Mr Nesbitt said the UUP leader had created “shock waves” across the health and social care system by publicly backing the retention of emergency surgery at the Coleraine hospital. The f

Pictured (L-R) is Deirdre Steele (Group Head of Maple and May), Chris McGrath (Head of Legal Services), Shona Burke (Head of Customer Service Operations), Ken Ryan (Head of Facilities Management) and Leeanne Magee (Regional Head of Tenant and Client Services). One of Northern Ireland’s largest social housing providers has expanded its senior leadership team from 13 to 18 people as it prepares for further growth in housing, tenant services and its private rental business. Choi

Changing facilities at the local Broughshane Community Centre Mould, leaking water, inadequate toilets and concerns about water close to electrical installations have prompted a renewed demand for Mid and East Antrim Borough Council to take urgent action at Broughshane Playing Fields. UUP Councillor Alan Barr and TUV Councillor Chrissy Jamieson say local clubs, players and volunteers have endured “plainly substandard” changing facilities for long enough and now need a firm pl

Police have confirmed they are at the scene of a sudden death in the Wakehurst Park area of Ballymena. The incident was reported shortly after 10am today, Tuesday 18 August. Air ambulance lands at King George’s Park Witnesses reported seeing a number of police vehicles responding to the incident, while the HEMS Air Ambulance Northern Ireland landed nearby at King George’s Park on Larne Street. A spokesperson for the Police Service of Northern Ireland said: “Police are at the

Aerial CGI visualisation of the approved redevelopment A largely vacant former BT headquarters in Belfast city centre is set for a major transformation after plans were approved for a 135,931 sq ft office and retail development. Capital House, prominently positioned at the corner of Wellington Place and Upper Queen Street, will be extended and completely reclad to create 97,393 sq ft of Grade A office accommodation alongside three ground-floor retail units. The Belfast City C

Motorists heading to Ballycastle for this weekend’s Ould Lammas Fair are being urged to plan ahead, with major road closures, limited parking and changes to bus stops expected as thousands of visitors arrive in the town. The PSNI has confirmed traffic restrictions across the four-day event, running from Saturday 22 to Tuesday 25 August, including extensive closures on Sunday evening and throughout Monday and Tuesday. Visitors are being strongly encouraged to consider public t

Young anglers are being offered a free evening of fishing at Kilgad Lakes near Ballymena as a local club brings its summer programme to a close. Kells, Connor and Glenwherry Angling Club has exclusively booked the lakes from 5pm to 9pm, on Wednesday 19 August, allowing its junior members to fish free of charge. Equipment available for beginners All junior anglers are welcome, and anyone who is not already a member can apply to join the club by tapping the button below. Fishin

(L-R) Laura McMinn, Tesco Northern Ireland Buying Manager, Alvin Donaghy, Commercial Manager at K&G McAtamney, Kenneth Herron, Tesco Northern Ireland Lead Fresh Buying Manager - Northern Ireland Product, Gordon McAtamney, Managing Director at K&G McAtamney, and Clare McCormack, Tesco Northern Ireland Assistant Buyer. Two long-established Ballymena meat businesses are supplying 12 products for Tesco Northern Ireland’s summer barbecue range, bringing decades of local butchery e

Petrol stations in Ballymena were among 87 Northern Ireland premises subjected to unannounced inspections as Trading Standards tested whether motorists were receiving the amount of fuel they paid for. Twelve of the 371 pieces of equipment examined between April and July were found to be outside the permitted margin of error. Any equipment presenting an issue was immediately withdrawn for repair, recalibration or adjustment. The Trading Standards Service has not disclosed whic

Staff from Pilgrim’s Europe announcing the opening of the company’s new Legacy Fund Charities, schools and community organisations in Ballymena can now apply for £5,000 to support projects intended to make a lasting difference locally. Food company Pilgrim’s Europe has opened applications to its new Legacy Fund, which will support initiatives in communities surrounding its sites across the island of Ireland. Who can apply? The fund is open to a broad range of applicants, incl

Galgorm Collection has announced a new three-year sponsorship partnership with Cullybackey Blues FC. Georgie Briota, Business Development Manager at Galgorm Collection is pictured alongside Joel Barr and the team from Cullybackey Blues FC. A new three-year partnership with Galgorm Collection will help Cullybackey Blues FC invest in player development, training and facilities as the club begins life in the second division of the Kinecx Energy Ballymena Saturday Morning League

Dobbies has confirmed that its Antrim garden centre will close at the end of October after its new landlord, Frasers Group, decided to redevelop the site for new retail and leisure uses. The retailer said its immediate priority is supporting colleagues affected by the closure, although the number of jobs involved has not been disclosed. Redeployment opportunities and individual support options will be explored. The store opened at The Junction Retail and Leisure Park in 2023

Ballymena BID is bringing businesses, families and visitors together for two major days of town-centre celebrations as Ballymena prepares to mark its 400th birthday. An End of Summer and Ballymena 400 Street Party will take over Greenvale Street on Saturday 22 August, before businesses across the town join the official birthday celebrations on Tuesday 25 August. The programme, with support from Department for Communities (DfC), will run alongside a number of anniversary event

Local woman Rebecca ‘Rebs’ Lightbody Lucy led the length of Ireland to raise money for Leukaemia & Lymphoma NI Co Antrim woman Rebecca ‘Rebs’ Lightbody had barely ridden a road bike when she decided to cycle more than 570 kilometres across Ireland alone. She wasn’t chasing a personal record or trying to prove she could do it. She was doing it for two of her best friends. Both women, friends since school, had been diagnosed with lymphoma within the space of just three years —

Adrian and Nicci Stewart, foster carers with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust More foster families are urgently needed across the Northern Trust area as growing numbers of children require somewhere safe and supportive to call home — whether for a single night or for several years. For Adrian and Nicci Stewart, answering that need has meant welcoming more than 22 children through their front door in just six years. The couple have cared for newborn babies, toddlers a

A pensioner was reportedly left requiring hospital treatment after an assault in Ballymena on Saturday night, with police appealing for witnesses and footage from the area. The PSNI said the assault was reported in the vicinity of Barra Drive at approximately 10.25pm on Saturday 15 August. Police have not released details about the age of the man or the extent of his injuries. However, Ballykeel 1 Moving Forward Community Group said a pensioner had been attacked close to the