NEWS

Commuters across Northern Ireland are facing major disruption tonight after Translink announced the suspension of all evening bus and rail services amid fears of unrest linked to expected protests. The unprecedented move means no bus departures will operate after 5pm on Wednesday evening, while all train services will stop departing after 6pm as transport operators brace for potential disorder. The decision is expected to impact thousands of passengers travelling home from wo

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Communities Minister Gordon Lyons launch the 'Designing Homes for All' guide at Parliament Buildings. A new housing design guide launched by Stormont ministers could change how homes across Northern Ireland are built and adapted for people living with dementia, autism, learning disabilities and sensory impairments. The joint initiative, unveiled by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, is designed to help architec

McDonald’s Ballymena Ballymena’s McDonald’s restaurant is set to reopen tomorrow following a major £1.1 million transformation that has expanded the site, modernised operations and created 20 new jobs in the town. The popular restaurant at Braidwater Retail Park has been closed for six weeks while builders moved in for an extensive refurbishment designed to tackle one very modern fast-food problem — too many delivery drivers, too little space, and customers wondering where ex

Members of the carers walking group pictured in Antrim Castle Gardens with Claire Campbell and Louise Feeney from the Northern Trust’s Carer Hub. Unpaid carers across the Northern Trust area are being offered new support through a wide-ranging programme of wellbeing classes, peer support groups and activities designed to help them look after their own physical and mental health. The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has launched its latest Carer Support Programme during C

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

Pictured: South Antrim MP Robin Swann South Antrim MP Robin Swann is set to host a public conservation event in Toome focused on protecting native swifts as concern grows over the future of the birds across Northern Ireland. The free event will take place between 1pm and 2pm on Friday 12 June at the Lock Keeper’s Cottage in Toome as part of the upcoming Great Big Green Week. Mr Swann will be joined by local swift conservationists, including representatives from the RSPB Antri

Sales views sought: Housing Executive Chair Nicole Lappoin, (right) is joined by the organisation’s Assistant Director, Strategic Housing Authority, Ailbhe Hickey, at the launch of the new public consultation on changes to the House Sales Scheme. The future of Northern Ireland’s long-running House Sales Scheme is under review amid growing pressure on social housing, with the Housing Executive launching a major public consultation on proposed changes that could reshape how ten

(L-R): Ralph McLean (BBC Radio Ulster), Daniel Coulter, Luke Bell and Páidí Muldoon (last year’s winners, 4AM Club), Chris Nelmes (The Boulevard Banbridge), and Alderman Stephen Moutray, Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council. Musicians, singers and street performers from across County Antrim are being urged to grab their instruments, warm up their voices and head for Banbridge later this month as Buskfest 2026 returns with its biggest prize fund y

Farmers allowing calving seasons to drift over long periods are quietly losing efficiency, calf weight and profitability, according to a new warning from CAFRE beef and sheep adviser Jack Friar. The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise says maintaining a compact calving pattern remains one of the clearest indicators of reproductive performance in suckler herds — with late-calving cows creating a knock-on effect that can become increasingly difficult to reverse. M

(L-R) George Best and Pelé. ©Getty Images American showmanship, global superstars and packed stadiums helped reshape modern football decades before the Premier League boom — and a new BBC Northern Ireland series is set to revisit the extraordinary rise, collapse and rebirth of soccer in the United States. Pitch Invasion: How The USA Changed Soccer tells the story of how America helped transform the global game, from the glitzy rise of the North American Soccer League (NASL) i

Women’s Aid Seeks Skilled Finance and Communications Professionals for Board Image. Pictured is Women’s Aid ABCLN CEO Gillian Robinson Women and children experiencing domestic abuse across the Antrim, Ballymena, Carrickfergus, Larne and Newtownabbey areas could soon benefit from strengthened leadership at one of Northern Ireland’s frontline support charities, as Women’s Aid ABCLN launches a recruitment drive for two key voluntary Board positions. The organisation is seeking e

(L-R) Judy Nelson (RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer), Ruby & Sam (RNLI Lifeguards), Ivor Paul (RNLI Launch Authority), Perry Walton (RNLI Coxswain), Garth Anderson (The Causeway Shantymen Engagement Officer and Event Lead), Chris Millar (The Causeway Shantymen Chairman and Musical Director) Northern Ireland’s coastline will ring with sea shanties, maritime storytelling and traditional music this summer as The Causeway Shantymen prepare to host a major cross-country Shanty Weekend

Bestselling literary fiction, psychological thrillers and fantasy adventures are continuing to dominate the shelves at Waterstone’s Ballymena, with Maggie O’Farrell’s latest novel climbing to the top of this week’s bestseller chart. The latest weekly update from the Ballymena store also highlights Father’s Day gift ideas, upcoming book clubs and a fresh selection of new paperbacks and major new releases arriving in time for summer reading season. Top 10 this week This week’s

Ballymena United supporters are being promised cheaper football, exclusive rewards and a smoother matchday experience after the club officially launched season tickets for the 2026/27 campaign with prices frozen across every category. In a move likely to be welcomed by fans facing continued cost-of-living pressures, the club confirmed there will be no increase in season ticket prices ahead of the new NIFL Premiership season, while introducing a new ticketing platform and a pa

Motoring enthusiasts, families and supporters of two vital mental health charities are set to descend on Ballymena Showgrounds this weekend as the Ballymena Charity Vehicle Show returns with one of its biggest events yet. The popular community event, taking place on Saturday 6 June from 11am to 3pm, will transform the Showgrounds into a huge celebration of vehicles of every kind — from classic cars and modern performance machines to tractors, motorcycles, HGVs and vans — whil

CAFRE staff, Lori Hartman and James Crawford, welcome visitors to Greenmount Campus, Antrim, for Open Farm Weekend. Enjoy exploring the campus and browse a wide selection of plants available to purchase throughout the event. Families, food lovers, aspiring students and farming enthusiasts are set to get rare behind-the-scenes access to one of Northern Ireland’s leading agricultural campuses later this month as CAFRE Greenmount opens its gates for Bank of Ireland Open Farm Wee

Sue Ellen McAuley (right) pictured with Grainne Whyte and Leon Whyte. More than 100 children with disabilities across Northern Ireland are currently waiting to be matched with a short breaks foster carer, as one County Antrim woman urges others to consider what she describes as “the most rewarding thing that you’ll ever do.” With growing pressure on families caring for children with complex needs, foster carers are being asked to provide vital short breaks that give parents a

Patrick Grasso, former Belfast Giants forward and 3ICE USA roster member. Belfast is set to welcome a major international ice hockey spectacle next month after the full player rosters for the inaugural 3ICE World Cup were officially confirmed. The two-day tournament, arriving at the home of the Belfast Giants on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 July 2026, will bring together former NHL players, Elite League stars, international prospects, and Stanley Cup-winning coaches in what organi

Ballymena United supporters will begin the new season with a completely new way to buy tickets after the club announced a fresh three-year partnership with ticketing platform TicketCo ahead of the 2026/27 campaign. The deal will see the Championship side introduce a new integrated ticketing system designed to simplify how fans purchase season tickets and matchday admission, with the platform going live immediately as season ticket sales open this week. The move marks one of t

Ailbhe McCusker, Community Champion at Share Energy, and participants at the Ballymoney Show launch. Agricultural shows across Northern Ireland are facing growing financial pressure, but organisers behind this week’s Ballymoney Show say the events remain vital lifelines for rural communities, small businesses and the local economy. The Ballymoney Show returns on June 5 and 6 at Ballymoney Showgrounds, bringing together farmers, traders, families and rural organisations at a t