NEWS

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is seeking legal advice over its decision to rename Prince Andrew Way in Carrickfergus, following intervention from a solicitor acting for another local authority. In January, the council agreed to engage with the Royal Household before pressing ahead with the proposed renaming of the road, despite previous legal advice and before a formal street naming policy had been drafted. A report presented to councillors at the time stated that Mid a

Co Antrim woman Aisling Gallagher shares her personal story of bowel cancer A County Antrim woman has shared her deeply personal experience of bowel cancer in the hope it encourages others to seek help early and potentially save lives. As April marks Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, the Northern Health and Social Care Trust has teamed up with social media influencer Aisling Gallagher from Crumlin to raise awareness of the symptoms people should never ignore and the importance o

A milestone year for one of Randalstown’s best-loved community organisations has turned into a powerful act of generosity, with Randalstown ARCHES Association raising £5,500 for two cancer charities during its 30th anniversary celebrations. The funds, raised through a series of events across the anniversary year, have been shared equally between Marie Curie and Charis Cancer Care, with each organisation receiving £2,750. The charities were chosen for deeply personal reasons —

Winnie with her three daughters pictured outside Winnie’s 1975, in Broughshane. A much-loved Broughshane café and gift shop is entering a new chapter this week as the family behind Winnie’s 1975 prepares to hand over the keys after ten years at the heart of village life. In an emotional statement issued today, Wednesday 1 April, Winnie, owner of Winnie’s 1975 on Main Street, confirmed that the family has made the difficult decision to step away from the business, with new ow

The Police Service of Northern Ireland has issued a strong public safety appeal ahead of what is expected to be a busy Easter weekend on the North Coast, with large visitor numbers set to descend on Portrush and Portstewart. Police say officers will be deployed across key locations including transport hubs, beaches, hospitality venues and residential areas as part of a major effort to keep residents and visitors safe during one of the busiest holiday weekends of the year. Cau

Samuel and Elaine Caldwell (right) with Thomas and Sam Wright (left) and Ballymaconnelly Iceman who was the top price at the Dorset Diamonds Sale making 4,600gns. The 11th annual Dorset Diamonds Spring Sale delivered another standout day for Northern Ireland’s sheep breeding community, with local flocks commanding impressive prices and Ballymena once again at the heart of the action. Held at Ballymena Livestock Mart on Saturday, 28 March 2026, the prestigious sale saw a strin

Motorists travelling through Ballyclare tonight are being urged to plan ahead, with a key road set to close for several hours as investigators carry out further testing linked to a fatal collision. Ballyeaston Road will be closed from 9.30pm tonight (Wednesday) until 1am on Thursday, 2 April, to facilitate scene testing as part of an ongoing investigation into a fatal collision which occurred in the area on Friday, 15 August, 2025. The closure will affect the stretch of road

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford pictured with DEA Officer Karen Brownlow for the launch of World Autism Acceptance Month. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is marking World Autism Acceptance Month this April by reaffirming its commitment to building a more inclusive and accessible community for autistic people and their families. In partnership with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, the council says it will continue to expand support throug

Church Street in Ballymena Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has backed a motion calling for a town centre taskforce to be established across the borough. The motion was proposed by Coast Road DUP Councillor Andrew Clarke at a council meeting in The Braid, Ballymena, on Monday evening, and seconded by party colleague Larne Lough Cllr Gregg McKeen . Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Clarke said: “I feel passionate about our town centres and that we should be giving it everythi

Holiday plans across Northern Ireland face possible significant disruption this Easter weekend as the Met Office warns of a rapidly deepening low-pressure system bringing "very strong winds" to the region. The yellow weather warning, which covers all of Northern Ireland including Ballymena and surrounding areas, is set to take effect from 18:00 on Saturday, 4 April , lasting through until midday on Easter Sunday . Meteorologists are tracking an intense weather front moving no

(Photo Credit: Nathan Williams) Lifeguards will return to the sands of the North Coast this Good Friday, marking a significant double milestone for the RNLI as the charity enters a new season of coastal protection. From 3 April to 12 April , six of the region’s most popular beaches will be patrolled daily between 10am and 6pm . The seasonal rollout coincides with the 25th anniversary of the RNLI’s lifeguarding service across the UK, and a special 15-year anniversary for the s

Antrim Area Hospital Emergency Department Emergency departments across the Northern Health and Social Care Trust remain under significant pressure, interim chief executive Suzanne Pullins told a board meeting last week. Ms Pullins said the Trust’s emergency departments “remain under pressure from the number of people coming through the system”. The Northern Trust has reported a 12 per cent increase in emergency department (ED) attendances by patients aged over 75 at Causeway

Local councillor Anna Henry proposed a motion this week calling for urgent action to tackle lengthy delays in diagnosis and treatment across Northern Ireland Thousands of women living with chronic pain and prolonged uncertainty have moved back into sharp focus after Mid and East Antrim Borough Council formally recognised the growing crisis in gynaecology services during Endometriosis Awareness Month. In a follow-up development to growing concern around women’s health waiting

Inset: North Antrim MP Jim Allister North Antrim MP Jim Allister has formally intervened in the planning process surrounding Ballymena’s proposed new Lidl store, writing directly to a planning officer at Mid and East Antrim Borough Council to urge that the application be refused. In a strongly worded letter addressed to senior planning officer Kyle Patterson, Mr Allister said he was writing to “endorse the opposition of local residents” to the proposed St Patrick’s Link Road

Eight-year-old Daisy Doherty In a world that can often feel a little heavy, one young girl from Broughshane is bringing a powerful reminder of kindness, compassion and hope. Eight-year-old Daisy Doherty, a pupil at Broughshane Primary School , is preparing to take on a remarkable challenge this July as she donates her hair to help create a wig for a child who has lost theirs through illness. Inspired by the work of Little Princess Trust, the charity which provides real-hair w

Blue household recycling bins replaced in Antrim could soon find a new home in Mid and East Antrim. Members of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Environment and Economy Committee were told at a meeting in March that a director would contact neighbouring Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council to make enquiries about the potential reuse of the wheelie bins. A triple-stack wheelie box system was rolled out to 25,000 households across the Antrim, Randalstown, Crumlin, Temple

Pictured at the Child Development Centre at the Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ballymoney are back row, left – right, Steven Johnston, Stevie Lennon, Mark Morrow, Joe Gillan from the Robinson Memorial Trust Board, Ronnie Blair, Bamber McKay. Front row, left to right, Paddy Graffin, Kori Gault, James Archer and David Robinson, President of the Robinson Memorial Trust Board. Children and families attending Ballymoney’s Child Development Centre are now being welcomed into a signi

TUV North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston The political fallout over Northern Ireland’s special educational needs summer schemes deepened today after TUV MLA Timothy Gaston launched a blistering attack in the Assembly, accusing ministers and officials of failing some of the most vulnerable children in society. In a strongly worded address, the North Antrim MLA said the decision to cancel the schemes — before a subsequent reversal — was “not simply an administrative mis-step” but

Pictured at Studio Ulster, L-R are: Dr Theresa Donaldson, Board Chair of Belfast Harbour; Professor Anthony Lilley, Chairman of Studio Ulster; The Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; Governor Dr Arnold Schwarzenegger; Professor Declan Keeney Co‑Founder & CEO, Studio Ulster; Professor Paul Bartholomew, Vice-Chancellor of Ulster University; and Fiona Kane, Director of the Vice-Chancellor’s Office, Ulster University. Fresh from receiving an honorary d

Claire McNaughton, Accommodation Certification Manager at Tourism NI with Anne Christie, Owner of The Railway Sleeper, which has been certified by Tourism NI A historic railway building in Cullybackey that lay derelict for more than four decades has reached another major milestone after securing official certification from Tourism Northern Ireland. Set within the grounds of Cullybackey Railway Station, first opened in 1856, The Railway Sleeper stands as a remarkable example