NEWS

Ballycastle beach, County Antrim Northern Ireland’s bathing water system could face its biggest overhaul in years under new proposals that may change how swimming sites are identified, monitored and protected across the country. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has launched a 12-week public consultation examining whether current bathing water rules are still fit for purpose as outdoor swimming surges in popularity and more people use coasta

Sea defences at 17 locations along the Belfast to Larne railway line are set to be reinforced under new Translink proposals aimed at protecting the vital transport corridor from coastal erosion and increasingly severe weather conditions. Plans for the East Antrim Sea Defences Project were unveiled during a series of public consultation drop-in sessions, the last of which was held at Glynn Village Hall outside Larne on Wednesday. The consultation events were organised to provi

A major new cross-border attempt to tackle bovine tuberculosis across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland has secured £4 million in public funding — but questions are already being raised over whether it will deliver real change for farming families living through repeated herd breakdowns. DAERA Minister Andrew Muir confirmed the funding allocation on Tuesday as part of a wider research programme focused on reducing bovine TB in cattle across the Derry and Strabane a

The Garron Plateau, part of the Antrim Hills. (Image: GOA Insta) North Antrim MLA Paul Frew has warned that more must be done to protect the North Antrim Hills from the threat of wildfires this summer, arguing current measures are not enough as dry conditions increase concern across Northern Ireland. The DUP representative raised the issue directly with Andrew Muir, questioning what action the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is taking to reduc

Customers visiting Specsavers stores across Northern Ireland will now be able to recycle unwanted glasses, contact lens packaging and cases as part of a nationwide expansion of the company’s recycling scheme. The move comes after the optical retailer and its recycling partner recycled 72 tonnes of material in 2025 — an increase of almost five tonnes compared to the previous year — highlighting growing demand for easier ways to dispose of hard-to-recycle eye care products. The

The Dark Hedges, near Armoy, County Antrim UUP Alderman Sandra Hunter has voiced concerns that a council team responsible for overseeing the Dark Hedges has “disappeared” ahead of the busy tourist season. Speaking at May’s meeting of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Leisure and Development Committee, Ald Hunter raised a motion seeking clarity on the council’s current role in managing the internationally recognised tourist attraction on Bregagh Road near Armoy. She n

Robin Swann MP with Randalstown and District Beekeepers Association South Antrim MP Robin Swann has marked World Bee Day by highlighting the critical role pollinators play in Northern Ireland’s food production, farming industry and countryside biodiversity. The former Stormont Health Minister used the international awareness day to praise the work of local volunteer beekeepers, warning that protecting pollinators remains essential for both the environment and the local econom

Inside Wrightbus during Manufacturing Month tour of its Ballymena site Wrightbus’s rapid expansion and growing global footprint have been hailed as a major economic boost for Ballymena and Mid and East Antrim, as local manufacturing leaders and council representatives toured the company’s flagship production facility during Manufacturing Month. The visit brought renewed focus to the scale of Wrightbus’s impact on the local economy, with the Ballymena-based manufacturer now pr

Tender Baby Garlic Kale - one of a new range of vertically farmed leaves launched by M&S in the UK Marks & Spencer has launched a new range of vertically farmed salad leaves that use 96% less water than traditional farming methods while staying fresh for up to five days longer. The retailer says the new products represent a major shift in how fresh food could be grown in the future, combining robotics, controlled indoor farming and pesticide-free production to create salad le

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald is pictured at the GeoEnergy Discovery Centre at this year’s Balmoral Show as she launches a consultation on proposals to introduce a new regulatory framework for geothermal energy in Northern Ireland Northern Ireland is preparing to open the door to large-scale geothermal energy development for the first time, as the Stormont Economy Minister unveiled plans for a new regulatory system designed to unlock the “heat beneath our feet”. The m

Northern Ireland’s poultry sector will see all remaining bird flu restrictions lifted from just after midnight on Friday, marking the end of months of mandatory disease control measures introduced to protect flocks across the region. The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ), which has been in force since 1 November 2025, will officially end at 00:01 on Friday 15 May 2026 alongside the ban on poultry gatherings. The move means poultry shows, bird gatherings and related event

A planning application has been submitted to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council for a proposed new solar farm adjacent to Belfast International Airport. The proposal is for the installation and operation of a solar farm of up to 24MW, along with associated infrastructure, access routes and landscaping, on land located around one kilometre west of the main airport terminal building between Seacash Road and British Road, Crumlin. The application has been submitted by an ag

Residents across the Borough can pick up a free bag of peat-free compost this week as Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council launches a recycling reward initiative to mark International Compost Awareness Week 2026. From Monday 4 May until Saturday 9 May, households visiting any of the Council’s five Household Recycling Centres will be eligible to receive one complimentary bag of compost while stocks last. The offer is available to residents bringing recyclable items includin

Aghanloo nature-based wastewater plant A £4 million wastewater treatment upgrade on the outskirts of Aghanloo is set to reshape how sewage is processed in rural Northern Ireland, with NI Water turning to a nature-led system that relies on thousands of reeds instead of energy-intensive machinery. The newly completed facility outside Limavady replaces traditional treatment methods with an eco-friendly process designed to cut energy use, reduce maintenance costs and deliver long

The radon map of Northern Ireland People living in parts of Northern Ireland with the highest radon levels are more than twice as likely to develop lung cancer, according to a major new study that for the first time connects national radon mapping with cancer registry data at a regional scale. The research, led by Queen’s University Belfast in collaboration with Trinity College Dublin, analysed radon exposure patterns alongside data from the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry (

An investigation into recurring blue-green algae in Lough Neagh is set to focus on the shoreline at Rea’s Wood in Antrim. A report due to be presented to the Operations Committee of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council at a meeting in Antrim Civic Centre on Tuesday evening (5 April) states that, following a preliminary site assessment, a company has identified Rea’s Wood as “a particularly suitable location for the deployment of its equipment during the summer months”. Th

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and DAERA Minister Andrew Muir pictured with Firefighter Ray Glynn, Assistant Chief Fire & Rescue Officer Marcus Wright, Watch Commander Michaela Corr and Crew Commander Sheena McKieverigan from NIFRS. A major emergency response has been triggered across Northern Ireland after a series of wildfires tore through the Mourne Mountains and other areas, destroying vast stretches of land, threatening homes and placing intense pressure on frontline servi

Only six fixed penalty notices for dog fouling were issued across Mid and East Antrim during 2025, new figures have revealed, despite continued concerns from councillors and residents about the scale of the problem. The figures, released by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council in response to a Freedom of Information request under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, show that five fines were issued in Ballymena and one in Carrickfergus over the 12-month period. No p

The large, mature tree deliberately set on fire in Cullybackey. A deliberate fire at Cullybackey River Walk has drawn sharp criticism from a local councillor after emergency crews were called out to tackle what has been described as a reckless act of vandalism. Firefighters were dispatched to the scene in Cullybackey village, Ballymena, on Wednesday evening, April 29, after reports of a tree on fire in the area. The incident, which required a response from Ballymena Fire Stat

Emergency services remain under sustained pressure across the Mourne Mountains, with fresh fires breaking out and active operations now centred on Bloody Bridge and Head Road as police warn that anyone entering the area risks both their safety and the wider emergency response. Fire crews are continuing to tackle multiple incidents on Wednesday 29 April, with the situation evolving despite earlier progress at major wildfire sites earlier in the week. New fire locations draw re