NEWS

A leading County Armagh historian will visit Broughshane this week to give a public presentation examining one of the most significant events in Irish and British history ahead of the annual Relief of Derry commemorations next month. The Broughshane Branch of the Apprentice Boys of Derry is hosting historian Quincey Dougan for an evening exploring the Siege of Derry and the history of the Apprentice Boys, with the talk taking place on Wednesday 29 July at Broughshane Orange H

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon, is pictured with Shirin Murphy, Heritage Officer, at Carrickfergus Museum ahead of the Mapping Medieval Carrickfergus events In August People with an interest in local history will have the chance to explore what Carrickfergus may have looked like nearly 800 years ago at a free event next month showcasing a new interactive medieval map of the town. On Saturday, 15 August, Carrickfergus Museum will host a day of workshops a

One of Northern Ireland’s best-known celebrations of heritage, machinery and country life returns to Ballymena this week as the Ballymena Steam Rally gets under way with three days of steam engines, vintage vehicles, road runs and family attractions. The Ballymena Steam Rally runs from Thursday 23 July to Saturday 25 July at Ballymena Livestock Market, bringing together historic machinery, classic vehicles, traditional crafts and family entertainment before culminating in Sat

The Giant’s Causeway, on Northern Ireland’s North Antrim coastline. Thousands of coins wedged into the basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway have now been removed after experts warned the long-standing visitor tradition was causing lasting damage to one of Northern Ireland’s most famous natural landmarks. The National Trust has confirmed that a major conservation project at the UNESCO World Heritage Site has been completed, with specialists removing 20.5kg of coins — around

Glenarm Castle, County Antrim Planning permission has been granted by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for the installation of solar panels at Glenarm Castle. The listed building consent application was submitted by Antrim Estates Company. Glenarm Castle is a Grade A listed building, recognised for its special architectural and historic interest. A planning officer’s report said the Department for Communities’ Historic Environment Division (HED) raised no objections to the

Kellswater Flute Band at the Ulster Memorial Tower, Thiepval, France Kellswater Flute Band has returned from what members described as one of the most significant engagements in the band’s history after taking part in the 110th anniversary commemorations of the Battle of the Somme in France and Belgium. The band participated in a series of remembrance events marking the anniversary of the opening day of the Battle of the Somme on July 1, performing at some of the most importa

Machinery moved in around midnight to demolish The Antrim Arms, a derelict listed building in the middle of Ballycastle, County Antrim. (Photos: McAuley Multimedia) The overnight demolition of the former Antrim Arms Hotel has marked the end of one of Ballycastle’s most recognisable historic buildings, as Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council investigates whether the work was legally carried out. Machinery moved in toward midnight on Wednesday night, July 8, with much of th

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

The Galeón Andalucía A floating museum that has sailed some of the world’s greatest oceans has dropped anchor in Coleraine, giving visitors a rare opportunity to step aboard a full-scale replica of a 17th-century Spanish galleon. For just five days, from today, July 15, to July 19, the Galeón Andalucía will open its decks to the public at Coleraine Harbour, offering an experience that transports visitors back to the age of exploration, trade routes and global discovery. The i

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

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon launches the council’s part of the ‘Immersive Ancestral Cottage Trail’ with Robert Stewart at its President Arthur Homestead in Cullybackey. Mid and East Antrim is set to play a central role in a new international tourism initiative designed to strengthen historic links between Northern Ireland and the United States while attracting visitors from around the world to local heritage sites. A new immersive ancestral cottage tr

Political, military and community representatives gathered at the Knockagh Monument on Sunday to commemorate the Battle of the Somme. (All photos: Steven McAuley / McAuley Multimedia) The sacrifice of thousands of soldiers who lost their lives during one of the First World War’s bloodiest battles was remembered on Sunday (June 28) as veterans, military personnel, civic leaders and community representatives gathered high above County Antrim for a poignant commemoration at Knoc

Construction of the Silent Valley ‘overflow bell-mouth’ as part of the reservoir scheme built between 1926 and 1932 A magical gateway into one of Northern Ireland’s most treasured landscapes will open this weekend as a packed programme of walks, tours and family events invites visitors to experience the Mournes in a whole new way. From the hidden history of Water Town to the engineering marvel of the Mourne Wall and behind-the-scenes access to vital water infrastructure, from

Gracehill, Ballymena (Image: Gail Spiers) and the Giant’s Causeway from above (Image: Patryk Sadowski Photography) Northern Ireland’s internationally recognised UNESCO sites – including Gracehill’s newly inscribed World Heritage Site status – were celebrated at Stormont this week as political leaders, councillors and heritage representatives gathered to launch a new video series highlighting some of the region’s most significant cultural and natural landmarks. The event, held

Children enjoy one of the many events at Ballymoney Museum Ballymoney Museum has been shortlisted for one of the UK’s most respected heritage awards after being recognised by families as one of the country’s most welcoming places to visit. The museum, located in Ballymoney Town Hall, has secured a place on the shortlist for the 2026 Kids in Museums Family Friendly Museum Award and is the only museum in Northern Ireland to make the final selection. The annual award, which has

The Moravian Church in Gracehill, Ballymena A major new cross-border initiative centred on Gracehill World Heritage Site is set to connect 14 UNESCO-designated locations across the island of Ireland, creating new opportunities for education, community engagement, tourism and peacebuilding while placing the historic Ballymena village at the heart of an ambitious all-Ireland heritage network. The project, known as UNESCO Together, has secured €93,000 through the PEACEPLUS Chang

James McHenry (1817-91) pictured in Paris on railroad business, 1861. (Image: Carte de visite, James McHenry, 1861 – Allegheny College Library Special Collections) A powerful 19th century financier who once moved in the same circles as some of the biggest names in American industry has been largely erased from history for more than a century — but groundbreaking new research is now bringing his extraordinary story back into the spotlight. Historian Dr Barry Henderson is se

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick pictured alongside the son of Stoker Sammy Bannister, Andy Bannister at a special memorial plaque at Hazelbank Park. A deeply personal chapter of Northern Ireland’s naval history has been permanently commemorated in County Antrim following the unveiling of a new memorial honouring local sailors caught up in one of the Royal Navy’s most dramatic post-war incidents. Family members travelled from across the UK and beyo

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons is pictured at the unveiling of the UNESCO plaque at Gracehill along with (L-R) Sarah Groves, former Bishop of Gracehill Moravian Church, outgoing Deputy Mayor, Councillor Tyler Hoey, outgoing Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford, Alderman William McCaughey, Alderman Thomas Gordon, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant Mr David McCorkell and Chair of Gracehill Old School Trust, Dr David Johnston OBE. Northern Ireland’s first cultu

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