NEWS

82-year-old Herbie Kelly Thursday 01 October 2026 An 82-year-old man who died following a two-vehicle collision in Cullybackey on Wednesday night has been named by police as Herbie Kelly, from the Cullybackey area. Mr Kelly was pronounced dead at the scene on Ballyconnelly Road. The other driver was taken to hospital with injuries which police said are not believed to be serious. Police confirm circumstances of collision Detective Inspector Stewart, from the PSNI’s Collision

Jailed: Cullybackey man Adam Connolly A Cullybackey man has been sentenced to four years after unlawfully entering and damaging a Ballymena home while a terrified family hid in the attic for almost five hours during the disorder that engulfed the town last year. Adam Connolly, 34, was sentenced at Antrim Crown Court today, Wednesday 16 September, after being convicted of burglary with intent to cause unlawful damage. He will spend half of the four-year sentence in custody and

CGI design drawing showing aerial view of the proposed IFA National Football Centre outside Ballymena Tuesday 15 September 2026 A campaign opposing the proposed location of the Irish FA’s National Football Centre in Galgorm has challenged North Antrim MP Jim Allister to subject the project to the same level of scrutiny he applied to Casement Park — prompting the MP to insist he will not be “pressurised or bullied” into adopting objectors’ position. The intervention from the R

(L-R): Joan McGuigan, Agewell Trustee; Jenny Marshall, Agewell Executive Director for Community Programmes; Jeanette van de Merwe, Agewell Empower Officer; and Siobhan Casey, Commissioner for Older People Northern Ireland. Older people and the community organisations supporting them across Mid and East Antrim have had an opportunity to bring their experiences and priorities directly to Northern Ireland’s Commissioner for Older People. Siobhan Casey joined representatives from

A day of work and play at Craig’s Corn Cutting charity event in 2025. (Images: Brian Millar) Families, farming enthusiasts and vintage vehicle owners are being invited to enjoy a day of rural demonstrations and entertainment near Cullybackey tomorrow, with all proceeds supporting Air Ambulance Northern Ireland. Craigs Corn Cutting Charity Day will begin at 11am on Saturday 5 September at 49 Duneoin Road, Cullybackey, BT42 1PN. Working machinery and vintage vehicles The event

Police are appealing for information after an unknown black BMW allegedly overtook another vehicle carelessly and caused a road traffic collision outside Ballymena. The collision happened on the Dunminning Road at approximately 3.30pm on Friday, 28 August. Police said the black BMW was involved in an overtaking manoeuvre which caused the collision, and are now seeking information from anyone who witnessed what happened. Witnesses urged to come forward Anyone who was travellin

CGI of the proposed IFA National Football Training Centre outside Ballymena Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has admitted that its decision that the proposed Irish FA National Football Centre at Galgorm did not require an Environmental Statement was unlawful and has committed to carrying out the assessment again. The significant development comes after Sarah and John Herbison threatened judicial review proceedings, challenging the council’s handling of the Environmental Im

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

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

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

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

(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

Wednesday 12 August 2026 Residents concerned about plans for a major new National Football Centre near Galgorm will gather in Ballymena on Thursday evening to hear the latest on the proposal and the campaign opposing its location. The public meeting, organised by the Right Facility, Wrong Location campaign, will take place at 6pm at the Adair Arms Hotel in Ballymena, with residents and others interested in the development invited to attend. At the centre of the debate is a su

Emma’s daughter Mya sharing hugs with Jimmy A Cullybackey mum whose children have been left heartbroken after their beloved young cat was killed by a snare is calling for all snares to be banned in Northern Ireland — saying she was shocked to discover that the devices are not completely outlawed here. Jimmy was less than a year old when he was discovered caught in a snare and hanging helplessly from a tree on Saturday, 8 August. His family rushed him to a vet, but nothing cou

Alderman Stewart McDonald thanks council workers for responding to local residents concerns over an overgrown hedge Residents in the Mount Hilary area of Ballymena have seen an overgrown hedge cut back after concerns about its condition were raised with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council. The work was carried out after local residents contacted TUV Bannside Alderman Stewart McDonald, who then brought the issue to council officials. Residents’ concerns addressed Following com

Arthur Cottage Cullybackey is set to take its place on an international heritage trail linking the ancestral homes of American presidents, as Tourism NI unveils a major programme of new visitor experiences designed to attract more overseas visitors to Northern Ireland. The village is one of four key locations on the new ‘Presidents, Heritage & Homecomings: The Ancestral Cottage Trail’ – a premium two-day guided experience that will connect the homesteads and heritage of US pr

Cullybackey is set to swap County Antrim for Nashville and New York for an afternoon as an all-American community celebration arrives in the village on Saturday with live music, food, family entertainment and a packed programme of attractions. The Cullybackey Community Festival, organised by Cullybackey Community Partnership, will take place on today Saturday, July 4, at Cullybackey College from 1pm until 6pm, bringing together tribute performances, competitions, craft stalls

Cullybackey New Cemetery A local woman has spoken of her upset and frustration after sentimental items were damaged and removed from her brother’s grave in Cullybackey, marking the second reported act of vandalism at the site in just over six months. The incident happened at a grave in Cullybackey New Cemetery on Fenaghy Road and has prompted a police appeal for information. According to the woman, the latest damage occurred within days of her placing a handmade tribute on th

Caroline Martin, Dale Farm pictured with Sixth Form pupils from Cullybackey College One of Northern Ireland’s best-known food producers has been strengthening its connection with young people in Ballymena through a year-long partnership designed to give pupils real insight into careers beyond the classroom. Through the ‘Adopt a School’ initiative run alongside Dale Farm and Business in the Community Northern Ireland, students at Cullybackey College have been given hands-on ex

Jonathon Fulton (CCP Chair), Dr Paul Roelle (US Consulate), Richard Hanna (CCP) Cullybackey Community Partnership has unveiled a major new exhibition exploring the remarkable role ordinary people from the local area played in the events surrounding American Independence — uncovering stories that stretch from rural Mid and East Antrim to the inner circle of George Washington himself. The project, titled Ordinary People Extraordinary History – Cullybackey and American Independe