NEWS

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon, is pictured alongside Ross Oliver of Galgorm Castle Golf Club ahead of the NI Legends event coming to the borough from the 2 to 6 September 2026. Northern Ireland’s biggest names in senior professional golf will return to Galgorm this September as the NI Legends tournament brings Major champions, Ryder Cup stars and international players back to Mid and East Antrim. The tournament, part of the Staysure Legends Tour, takes

Metropole Park, Portrush Campaigners hoping to see a dedicated skatepark and urban sports facility on the North Coast are a step closer to that ambition, with work set to begin next month on a masterplan for the long-awaited Metropole Project in Portrush. The study, due to begin in August, marks a fresh attempt to bring forward proposals for a major outdoor recreation space after more than three decades of campaigning and several previous schemes that failed to reach construc

Thousands of eligible farm businesses across Northern Ireland are being given one final opportunity to register for the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme (SNHS) before missing out could result in reduced Farm Sustainability Payments from 2027. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has announced that a final “mop-up” registration phase will open on Wednesday 5 August and close at midnight on Monday 7 September 2026. The deadline is significant because,

From Alice Feeney’s latest psychological thriller to Jamie Oliver’s ultimate barbecue cookbook, Waterstone’s Ballymena has unveiled this week’s Top 10 bestselling books, alongside exciting new releases, popular book club events and a special back-to-school offer. Whether you’re looking for a page-turning thriller, a literary classic, a romance or the perfect summer read, the latest chart from Waterstone’s Ballymena offers something for every kind of reader. This week’s Top 10

Four centuries of Ballymena’s creative heritage will be celebrated this August as local people are invited to step inside the world of traditional craftsmanship at a free evening showcase featuring live demonstrations, hands-on workshops and an exhibition exploring the town’s rich making tradition. The Traditional Crafts Showcase, hosted by Midtown Makers Gift Shop on Thursday 20 August, forms part of both Ballymena’s 400th anniversary celebrations and August Craft Month—Irel

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

Portrush, County Antrim Anyone travelling to or through Portrush on Saturday afternoon is being urged to allow extra time, with police warning of potential traffic congestion as two separate public events and parades take place in the town. Road users can expect short delays between 3.30pm and 6pm, when temporary road closures will be in place to allow the events to pass safely. Two events planned The first event, organised by Causeway Coast & Glens Concerned Parents Group, i

John Broderick, Director and Optometrist, and the team at Fitzsimons Opticians in Ballymena. Burning, watery or gritty eyes are often dismissed as a minor annoyance, but a Ballymena optician is encouraging people to seek help rather than simply putting up with symptoms that could affect their everyday quality of life. During Dry Eye Awareness Month, Fitzsimons Opticians is highlighting a condition that affects around one in three adults in the UK and can make everyday activit

Equine students enjoying unique teaching and learning at CAFRE, Enniskillen Campus. School leavers hoping to build a career working with horses are being encouraged to act quickly, with places still available on a range of equine courses starting this September at CAFRE’s Enniskillen Campus. Applications remain open through UCAS Clearing for degree programmes, while students leaving school after GCSEs can still apply directly for a selection of full-time courses and apprentic

Motorists travelling on the M2 tonight (Friday) are being advised to plan ahead as a section of the motorway will close in both directions after resurfacing work progressed faster than expected. The overnight closure, between Junction 4 at Sandyknowes and Junction 5 at Templepatrick, will allow contractors to remove the temporary contraflow system and reinstall the central safety barrier before the motorway fully reopens on Saturday morning. Closure brought forward The Depart

Northern Ireland will gain a new direct air link to Scotland next winter after easyJet announced it will launch flights between Belfast International Airport and Aberdeen. The new service, which begins on 4 January, will operate twice a week on Mondays and Fridays, with easyJet becoming the only airline to offer a direct connection between the two cities. The route is one of three new winter services unveiled by easyJet⁠ on Wednesday, alongside a new Bristol–Strasbourg route

The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Councillor Dawn Huggins, is pictured with Rohan Roy and Ronan O'Donnell from Maiden City, and Levi Weir and Archie Muir from Ballymena United, who will compete in the Minor Section of the 2026 Budget Energy SuperCupNI. Causeway Coast and Glens is preparing to welcome thousands of visitors from around the world as the 2026 Budget Energy SuperCupNI returns next week, bringing six days of elite youth football and a significa

Two of the three lion brothers now at home in Belfast Zoo Three endangered Northern lion brothers have arrived at Belfast Zoo, giving visitors the chance to see one of the world’s rarest big cat populations while strengthening an international effort to protect the species from extinction. Kumo, Djibo and Mao arrived at the Cave Hill zoo on 15 July after travelling from Zoo de La Boissière du Doré near Nantes in western France. Their transfer forms part of the European Associ

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon is pictured with Anna Tait, owner of Ahoghill based business EJs Country Kitchen who had secured grant funding from an earlier round of the Rural Business Development Grant Scheme. An Ahoghill family-run food business that expanded its kitchen and introduced new dining experiences with the help of a rural development grant is being highlighted as more local businesses are encouraged to apply for funding of up to £7,500. EJs

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

CGI showing overview of proposals for Ballee Playing Fields, Ballymena A £15 million proposal that would transform the former Ballee Playing Fields into a major mixed-use development featuring sports facilities, a community hub, healthcare provision and commercial investment has formally been submitted to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council. The long-awaited planning application would redevelop one of Ballymena’s most prominent gateway sites, bringing a floodlit football faci

Inset: UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham Households in Northern Ireland are set to receive financial support with electricity costs this winter after the UK Government announced plans to remove VAT from domestic electricity bills across Great Britain from 1 October. Because of post-Brexit VAT arrangements, the tax change cannot automatically apply in Northern Ireland, meaning the Northern Ireland Executive will instead receive comparable funding to ensure local households benefi

Shoppers using the M&S store at Aldergrove can expect a significantly larger food hall, hundreds of new products and up to 25 new jobs after the retailer confirmed plans for a major expansion. The store will temporarily close at 6pm on Saturday 1 August while work is carried out, before reopening in the autumn following an extensive refurbishment. Store set to double in size The biggest change will see the existing M&S store expand into the neighbouring service station unit,

People across Northern Ireland who are looking for a physically demanding career with the opportunity to make a real difference now have the chance to apply to become a wholetime firefighter, as Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) launches its latest recruitment campaign. Applications opened today, Monday 20 July, and will remain open for two weeks, closing at 12 noon on Monday 3 August 2026. Successful applicants will join NIFRS as wholetime firefighters, working

Close racing between Michael Sweeney and Conor Cummins during the Race of Legends at Armoy in 2025. (Photo by Rod Neill/Pacemaker Press) The Armoy Road Races will welcome some of the biggest names in international road racing this weekend, with organisers confirming a star-studded rider line-up ahead of two days of action on County Antrim’s famous circuit. Racing takes place on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 July, with competitors from across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Irel