NEWS

Josh Hall, Head of Category and Trading at Sysco Ireland, Bronagh McQuail, Moocha Kombucha, Pamela Martin, Category Manager at Sysco Ireland, Kyle Greer, Development Chef at Sysco Ireland, Ruchira Rangaprasad, FibreUp, Alastair Bell and Kathleen Bell, Irish Black Butter, John Sloan, Loada Balls, Claire O'Kane, Mussenden Sea Salt, Amy Stewart, Glens of Antrim Group, John Sloan and Curtis Sloan, Loada Balls A County Antrim food producer is among six Northern Ireland businesse

North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows pictured with Mid and East Antrim Agewell Partnership staff: Sarah McLaughlin Executive Director for Health (left) and Catriona Delargy, IMPACTAgewell Team Leader. The importance of tackling loneliness and helping older people remain active and connected has been highlighted following a visit to Mid & East Antrim Agewell Partnership by Ulster Unionist MLA Jon Burrows. The local charity works with older people across Ballymena, Larne and Carrickfer

Police are appealing for information after paving slabs were removed and goalposts damaged during vandalism at the grounds of Cullybackey College. Ballymena Neighbourhood officers attended the school grounds on Friday morning, 14 August, following reports of criminal damage. Police said paving slabs had been removed, while a number of sets of goalposts were damaged after being thrown into adjacent land. Police appeal to Cullybackey community Officers described incidents of th

Gone Before Goodbye by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben has taken the top spot at Waterstone’s Ballymena this week, heading an eclectic bestseller list spanning contemporary thrillers, literary classics, self-help and romance. Homer’s The Odyssey, in Emily Wilson’s acclaimed translation, and John Steinbeck’s East of Eden take second and third place respectively, while modern bestsellers from Mel Robbins, Shari Lapena, Alice Feeney and Kristin Hannah also feature prominently

Mrs Clover Bell is pictured with the century-old, beautifully framed portrait of the Dinsmore sisters, which she has generously donated to the council’s museum collection, in memory of her late husband Nelson. The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon, received the donation while former Ulster Museum curator of art, Mrs Anne Stewart, was delighted to see the painting once again – having last seen it as a child in the Dinsmore family home. A striking portrait p

Residents from Abbeyfield & Wesley’s Ballymena house kicks off festivities as the housing association, built on companionship and community, marks 70 years of ‘family-style’ living with celebrations across Northern Ireland. A pioneering approach to housing which has helped generations of older people remain independent while enjoying companionship and a sense of family is marking its 70th anniversary — with the celebrations beginning in Ballymena. More than 50 residents, rela

Thousands of people are expected to descend on Ballycastle later this month as the historic Ould Lammas Fair returns with four days of horse trading, street markets, live music, family entertainment, food and fireworks. Running from Saturday 22 to Tuesday 25 August, Ireland’s oldest fair will once again take over Ballycastle town centre and seafront, combining traditions stretching back centuries with a packed programme of modern entertainment. Among this year’s highlights ar

Design drawings showing the planned new IFA National Football Training Centre in Ballymena The Irish FA says it remains “steadfast” in its plans to create a National Football Centre at Galgorm after two residents threatened legal action over how the development’s potential environmental impact has been assessed. Responding to a pre-action letter concerning the major six-pitch development, the association said the project represents a “once-in-a-generation investment” in footb

Two men have been arrested after police discovered a suspected cannabis factory at a property in Larne. Officers attended an address in the Millbrook area at around 9.20am on Thursday, 13 August, following a report that cannabis plants could be inside the property. Property searched by police A subsequent search confirmed the presence of suspected cannabis plants, according to the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Two men, both aged in their 20s, were arrested on suspicion

(L-R): Kerry Anderson (Head of Fundraising Air Ambulance NI), Jean Penney, Tristan Penney (Jean’s Grandson). A Larne woman has marked her 90th birthday by helping to keep a vital emergency service in the air — asking family and friends to support Air Ambulance NI instead of buying her gifts. Jean Penney chose the charity because of her family’s farming connections and her understanding of how quickly a serious accident can happen in a rural setting. Farming-related incidents

Motorists travelling through Belfast are being warned to allow extra time over the next three weekends as major maintenance work on the M3 Lagan Bridge brings slip-road closures, lane restrictions and lengthy diversions. The first restrictions begin at 9pm tomorrow, Friday 14 August, and remain in place until 6am on Monday 17 August, with drivers heading from the Sydenham Bypass towards the Westlink, north Belfast and west Belfast among those affected. Further weekend closure

Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir The Ulster Farmers’ Union has declared that Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir and DAERA’s two most senior officials have lost the confidence of farmers—and demanded all three resign immediately. In a major escalation of the fallout from the Fivemiletown cattle operation, Northern Ireland’s largest farming organisation extended its vote of no confidence beyond the Department to Mr Muir, Permanent Secretary Katrina Godfrey and Chief Veterinary Of

Victoria Craig pictured with her daughter Catherine A neonatal nurse whose daughter was born almost 12 weeks early has transformed her experience as a parent into a career supporting babies and families — and research that could help others cope with the trauma of neonatal care. Victoria Craig, Neonatal Clinical Educator at Antrim Area Hospital, graduated from Queen’s University earlier this year with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Her research examined practical techniques th

(Left – right) Dr Martin Lester (acoustics / noise expert), Ryan Colton (architect), Sarah Herbison (local resident and key figure in the Right Facility, Wrong Location campaign), Liam Vallely (legal expert), Una Somerville (planning consultant), John Herbison (local resident), Andrew Ryan (partner TLT solicitors). The group was pictured at a public meeting held by the campaign group on Thursday evening in Ballymena. The meeting provided an update on the work of the campaign

Detectives are investigating an arson attack with intent to endanger life after a fire at a house in Ballymena spread to a neighbouring property in the early hours of Thursday morning. Police and firefighters were called to the Castle Gardens area at around 12.25am on Thursday 13 August, with the blaze subsequently extinguished and no injuries reported. Investigators believe the fire was started deliberately and are now appealing for witnesses and anyone with CCTV or other fo

Taryn Simpson and Hannah Spence who received results today for Level 3 Health and Social Care from Northern Regional College in Ballymena. Taryn is heading off to study Adult Nursing at Queen’s University Belfast, while Hannah progresses to study Psychology at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh. Northern Ireland has recorded the best A-level results across the UK, with 86.9% of entries achieving a grade C or above, as thousands of young people receive their A-level, AS-le

A yellow weather warning is in force across Northern Ireland today as forecasters warn that intense thunderstorms could bring torrential downpours, lightning, hail and gusty winds. The Met Office warning covers all six counties and is in place from 11am today, Thursday 13 August, until 6am on Friday. While many places could escape the worst of the weather altogether, thunderstorms that do develop could produce 10–20mm of rain in less than an hour, with a chance of isolated lo

A recently damaged slide at a local play park Vandalism at local play parks and community facilities has left play equipment damaged, forced areas to close to families and disrupted activities supporting vulnerable children, prompting calls for tougher action against persistent offenders. Braid Ulster Unionist representatives Councillor Alan Barr and Samantha Patton say recent incidents have included broken glass in play areas, destroyed slides and vandalised trampolines, lea

Northern Regional College lecturer, Colin Wright, who has been shortlisted for a prestigious hospitality award. A Northern Regional College lecturer who is helping train the next generation of chefs has been shortlisted for one of Northern Ireland’s leading hospitality awards. Professional Cookery Lecturer Colin Wright has been named a finalist for Lecturer of the Year at the 2026 Institute of Hospitality Northern Ireland Awards, recognising his work developing students’ culi

Jo Bamford CBE flanked with the Ryze Power team - Head of Engineering Pratik Nayek, Head of Power at HydraB Steven Hardman and Ryze senior engineer Jay Acanthe. Ballymena bus manufacturer Wrightbus has played a supporting role in a remarkable feat of British engineering after a hydrogen-powered supercar smashed a world land speed record at more than 406mph. Wrightbus owner Jo Bamford CBE said expertise developed through almost a decade of hydrogen work helped provide the refu