NEWS

Communities Minister pictured with US Consul General James Applegate and Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Tracy Kelly at the launch of PRONI’s Ulster American Treasures: The Migration Story at Belfast City Hall. Northern Ireland’s deep and often overlooked role in the creation of the United States has been brought sharply back into focus with the launch of a major new publication uncovering the stories of Ulster emigrants who helped shape America from its earliest days. Comm

Ballymena is preparing to celebrate a major milestone this Saturday as the town marks its 400th anniversary with a packed day of parades, live entertainment, history, music and free family activities expected to draw large crowds into the town centre. From community groups and youth organisations taking part in a colourful town parade, to live performances in People’s Park and historical re-enactors bringing centuries of local history to life, the celebrations are designed to

Arthur Cottage in Cullybackey, Ballymena. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has agreed to scrap admission charges at one of its historic tourist attractions for a 12-month trial period — despite concerns from some councillors over falling income and ongoing financial pressures. Members of the council’s Neighbourhoods and Communities Committee backed the proposal for free entry at President Arthur Homestead in Cullybackey during a meeting at The Braid in Ballymena on Tuesday

Lord Mayor of Belfast City Council, Councillor Tracy Kelly pictured with social historian and history communicator Robyn Atcheson as they unveil a memorial plaque for over 10,000 people from the former Belfast Workhouse on the Donegall Road who were buried on the site in unmarked graves. More than 10,000 people buried in unmarked graves beside one of Belfast’s busiest roads have finally been formally recognised, as a permanent memorial plaque was unveiled at the site of the f

VR Mesolithic hut from the Mountsandel virtual reality experience An internationally significant archaeological site in County Londonderry is set to undergo its first major survey in half a century, as experts prepare to dig deeper into the ancient secrets of Mountsandel. The new investigation at Mountsandel — regarded as one of Ireland’s earliest known human settlements — will form part of a wider heritage project backed through the Causeway Coast and Glens PEACEPLUS Action

Two of Northern Ireland’s most iconic historic landmarks are set to appear on millions of letters, parcels and collector items across the UK after Royal Mail unveiled a major new stamp collection celebrating some of Britain and Ireland’s most remarkable castles. Dunluce Castle on the North Antrim Coast and Dundrum Castle in County Down have both been selected for inclusion in a new 12-stamp series showcasing the architectural brilliance, military history and enduring cultural

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford and Maureen Pimley, Chairperson of the Islandmagee Community Development Association with representatives from the Islandmagee Community Gardening Group and the Islandmagee Community Fridge. A memorial stone marking the last witch trial on the island of Ireland has been given a new home in a community garden on the Islandmagee Peninsula, placing a centuries-old story at the heart of a modern space focused on wellbeing,

Castlerock’s iconic Victorian railway bridge is set to reopen on Friday, May 8, marking the end of a six-year absence after a major £730,000 restoration project to address serious structural decay and safety concerns. The listed wrought iron pedestrian bridge, a familiar landmark in the Causeway Coast and Glens area, was originally removed in October 2018 after inspections revealed significant deterioration. Its reinstatement now signals the return of a key piece of local her

A powerful programme of remembrance in Ballymena will shine a local light on one of Northern Ireland’s darkest wartime chapters, as the 85th anniversary of the German air raids of 1941 is marked with a deeply personal focus on Mid Antrim lives lost. The commemorative event, titled German Air Raids: A Mid Antrim Perspective, will take place at Ballymena Services Club on Wednesday 6th May 2026 at 7:30pm, forming part of a wider series organised by Mid and East Antrim Borough Co

Stonemason Julia Gebel, based in Tipperary A major new RTÉ documentary series is set to bring Ireland’s fading traditional crafts back into sharp focus, revealing the lives, pressures and passion behind skills that risk disappearing in a fast-moving, digital-first world. Launching on Monday, April 27 at 8:30pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, Masters: Keepers of Tradition explores six rare crafts through the personal stories of the people who have dedicated their lives to preservin

Pic: Phill McAlinney at Irish Transport Heritage Dozens of historic and modern buses will take to the roads of Northern Ireland this weekend as leading manufacturer Wrightbus marks the start of its 80th anniversary year with a major public rally culminating at Stormont. The large-scale event on Saturday, April 25 will see a convoy of heritage buses and coaches travel from the Ulster Transport Museum in Cultra to the Stormont estate, bringing together decades of engineering hi

A major fire that tore through the derelict Antrim Arms building in Ballycastle on Sunday evening is now being treated as a deliberate act, police have confirmed. The blaze at the prominent Castle Street property was reported shortly after 8pm on Sunday 19 April, triggering a large-scale emergency response and leading to multiple road closures in the town centre. Police confirm fire was deliberate In an update issued on Monday 20 April, the Police Service of Northern Ireland

Image: McAuley Multimedia A major fire broke out in Ballycastle on Sunday evening, sending thick plumes of smoke across the town and prompting urgent safety warnings for residents as dozens of firefighters worked to bring the blaze under control. The incident unfolded at the derelict former Antrim Arms building in The Diamond area, with emergency services receiving the first call at 8:08pm on Sunday 19 April 2026. Firefighters battle blaze at prominent town centre site Witnes

Residents, businesses and visitors are being invited to have their say on the future of Carrickfergus, as a major £42.2 million regeneration scheme moves into its next phase with a new public consultation event later this month. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has confirmed it will host a free drop-in session on Thursday 23 April 2026 at Carrickfergus Museum & Civic Centre , giving the public an opportunity to view the latest designs for the Carrickfergus City Deal Regene

Barr’s grave in Connor New Cemetery. Alan with his father Roy and children, James and Maria Eighty-five years after one of the darkest nights in Northern Ireland’s wartime history, Braid Ulster Unionist Councillor Alan Barr has paid a deeply personal tribute to members of his own family and to a young Ballymena police officer whose lives were lost during the Belfast Blitz. As communities across Northern Ireland pause this week to mark the anniversary of the devastating Luftw

Twenty-eight years after the Belfast Agreement reshaped Northern Ireland’s future, Ulster Unionist leader Jon Burrows MLA has said the next political mission must be to turn the peace secured in 1998 into lasting prosperity, governance reform and renewed public confidence in Stormont’s institutions. Marking the anniversary of the landmark accord on Friday, April 10, Burrows used the moment to reflect on both the transformation brought by the Agreement and what he described as

The Bedford Hotel, set within the historic Scottish Mutual Building in Belfast city centre A landmark piece of Belfast’s architectural heritage has been brought back to life as The Bedford Hotel officially opened its doors to the public today, Wednesday, April 8, following a multi-million-pound restoration that has transformed the iconic Grade B1 listed Scottish Mutual Building into an 82-bedroom luxury boutique destination. The opening marks a major new addition to Belfast’s

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth speaks to those gathered to mark the special occasion at the the Ulster Aviation Society. One of the world’s most iconic military aircraft has found a new home in Northern Ireland after the head of the Royal Air Force personally handed over a historic Harrier jump jet to the Ulster Aviation Society. The landmark donation, made on 1 April to coincide with the RAF’s 108th birthday, sees the celebrated aircraft join one of Nor

950 drones were used to ‘recreate’ the RMS Titanic in Belfast harbour, beside the Titanic Slipways in reference to the BBC series Titanic Sinks Tonight Belfast harbour was transformed into a striking tribute to the city’s most famous ship this week as the BBC launched its Made Of Here campaign in Northern Ireland with a dramatic 950-drone recreation of RMS Titanic. The large-scale aerial display, staged on Monday 30 March using what the BBC described as a “flotilla” of almos

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