NEWS

Thousands of musicians, dancers and visitors are converging on Belfast today as the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann reaches a major weekend of competition — with people being urged to leave the car outside the city centre and use dedicated Park & Ride services. Around 5,000 musicians and dancers from 22 countries are taking part in competitions across Belfast on Saturday 8 August, adding to what has already been an exceptionally busy week in the city. Competition judging begins at

More than one million passenger journeys have been made across Northern Ireland’s public transport network during the first five days of the Fleadh, as Translink prepares for another surge in demand for the festival’s final weekend in Belfast. The operator says the figure represents around 275,000 additional passenger journeys compared with the equivalent period last year, highlighting the extraordinary impact of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann on bus and rail travel. With the fest

BBC Sport NI’s Thomas Kane and Nicola McCarthy Football fans across Northern Ireland will continue to get extensive free-to-air access to the local game after the BBC agreed a new three-year broadcast deal covering Premiership matches, cup competitions and Northern Ireland senior women’s internationals. The agreement between BBC Sport NI, the Irish FA and the Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL) will include 30 live BoyleSports Premiership streams, both major domestic cup

(L-R): Paul Frew MLA, Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon, Paula Campbell of Fullan’s Food Hall Portglenone, RetailNI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts and Jon Burrows MLA. People across Ballymena and the wider Mid and East Antrim area are being encouraged to put their favourite shops, retail workers and high streets in the running for recognition on the Northern Ireland stage. The public vote is now open for the High Street Heroes Awards 2026, giving customers th

Cyclists from across Northern Ireland are being invited to take on one of the region’s most scenic charity rides next weekend, with every mile helping to raise money for people affected by dementia. The Bann Valley Road Club Tour of the Glens Charity Sportive, supported by Clarke, returns on Saturday 15 August, offering riders the choice of 40-mile or 60-mile routes through the spectacular Glens of Antrim. With all proceeds going to Alzheimer’s Society Northern Ireland, organ

Families still searching for summer holiday activities need look no further, with Ballymena 400 offering a packed programme of FREE family events throughout August. At the heart of the programme are two interactive Adventure Quests, transforming Ballymena town centre into a giant outdoor game where families become detectives, explorers and storytellers as they solve clues, complete challenges and meet colourful characters. But the quests are only the beginning. From a town ce

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Professor Mark Taylor with the Belfast Trust Validation Team People waiting for hospital treatment in Northern Ireland are being urged to keep their contact details and medical information up to date as part of a renewed effort to reduce lengthy waiting lists and ensure appointments are not wasted. The appeal comes after Health Minister Mike Nesbitt visited the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust’s Validation Team at Belfast City Hospital, w

Jenni Barkley, Belfast Harbour & Fern Keeney, Live Here Love Here 6 August 2026 Families across Mid and East Antrim are being encouraged to make the most of the region’s coastline this month as a popular environmental campaign returns with a packed programme of free and low-cost activities designed to help people reconnect with the sea while highlighting the growing problem of marine litter. The Healthy Oceans Healthy Minds campaign, organised by Live Here Love Here, is back

CAFRE’s Student Recruitment Advisers, Toni Donnelly, Laura Browne and Caoimhe Hegarty are on hand to answer your UCAS Clearing questions. Students who have not yet secured a university place for September still have time to apply, with the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) opening a range of degree courses through UCAS Clearing. The move gives prospective students across Northern Ireland another opportunity to begin higher education this autumn, with p

Wednesday, 5 August 2026 Motorists across North Antrim are being urged to plan ahead this weekend, with extensive road closures in place as the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally returns to the area. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has issued travel advice ahead of the two-day event, warning that road users should expect delays on Friday 7 August and Saturday 8 August as rally stages take place across Mid and East Antrim. While diversions will be in operation, drivers ar

Dáithí Mac Gabhann as he continues his recovery in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Wednesday, 5 August 2026 Someone in the UK will die today waiting for an organ transplant. That stark reality is behind a new appeal from the Public Health Agency (PHA), which is urging people across Northern Ireland to register their organ donation decision—and, just as importantly, make sure their family knows what they want. The campaign supports a UK-wide challenge by NHS Blood and Transplant to encour

Waiting on the chinook for extraction… Alan Barr serving with the Intelligence Corps in Afghanistan Tuesday, 4 August 2026 Military veterans, armed forces personnel, and frontline emergency service workers across Mid and East Antrim will now be able to access discounted memberships at the borough’s leisure centres under a new council scheme aimed at recognising their service. Eligible veterans as well as those currently serving, PSNI officers and staff, Northern Ireland Fire

UFU relaunches Next Generation Forum Tuesday, 4 August 2026 Young farmers and growers across Northern Ireland are being invited to help influence the future of the agricultural industry as the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) relaunches its Next Generation Forum. Applications for the latest intake opened on Monday 3 August and will remain open until Friday 28 August 2026, with places available for up to 24 participants aged under 40. Giving young voices a seat at the table The for

The Met Office has brought forward the start time of its yellow weather warning for Northern Ireland after heavy rain arrived earlier than first forecast. The updated warning is now in force from 9.15am until 9pm on Tuesday, 4 August 2026, with forecasters warning that heavy showers and thunderstorms could cause disruption to transport and outdoor events. Warning updated as rain moves east The Met Office said the warning was revised after a band of heavy rain developed across

L-R: Dee Heron, farmer, member of the Action Cancer Moneyreagh & District Fundraising Group and Skin Cancer Ambassador for the charity pictured with Mark Irwin-Watson, Community Fundraising Executive at Action Cancer. A County Down farmer who survived skin cancer is appealing to the farming community to donate livestock for an annual charity auction that has already raised tens of thousands of pounds for cancer services across Northern Ireland. Raffrey farmer Dee Heron, who h

Missing: 35-year-old Sian McClean Monday, August 3, 2026 Police have appealed for the public’s help to find a 35-year-old woman who has been reported missing from north Belfast. Sian McClean was reported missing on Monday, 3 August, and officers say they are becoming increasingly concerned for her welfare. Last seen on Cavehill Road Sian was last seen walking on Cavehill Road in north Belfast at around 11am on Monday morning. She is described as having blonde hair worn in a b

E-scooters and e-bikes seized by police over the weekend around Lurgan and Craigavon Monday, August 3, 2026 The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has reminded officers of their existing powers to seize uninsured e-scooters as concerns continue to grow about the increasing use of the vehicles on roads and footpaths across Northern Ireland. The clarification comes after an internal police document, intended for officer use only, highlighted the legal powers available wh

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald is pictured with students Naomi Duncan-Todd and Jay Curry encouraging eligible students to apply for the prestigious All Ireland Scholarship Scheme. Thousands of students across Northern Ireland receiving their A-Level and BTEC results are being encouraged to check whether they could qualify for a scholarship worth £5,850 a year to help cover the cost of university. The All Ireland Scholarship Scheme, funded by the JP McManus Trust, is no

People with time to spare and a passion for helping others are being invited to volunteer in a new role designed to make visits to Antrim Area Hospital’s Emergency Department a little less daunting. The Northern Health and Social Care Trust is recruiting Emergency Department Companion Volunteers to provide comfort, reassurance and practical support to patients and their families while they wait for assessment or treatment. The initiative aims to improve the experience of peop

People across Northern Ireland are advised to expect potentially disruptive weather after the Met Office issued a yellow thunderstorm warning covering the entire region for Tuesday. The warning comes into effect from 12 noon until 9pm on Tuesday, August 4, with forecasters warning that slow-moving heavy showers and thunderstorms could cause disruption to travel and outdoor activities. Heavy rain and thunderstorms expected According to the Met Office, showers will begin develo