NEWS

Antrim Jobs and Benefits Office Employer Adviser, Natasha Lamont, The Junction Retail & Leisure Park Director, Chris Flynn, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick and Business Development Project Officer, Jessica Smyth. For anyone in Antrim considering a fresh start — whether that means improving wellbeing, building confidence or stepping into new employment — a free support event later this month aims to make that next step easier. The Wellbeing and Em

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir announces next steps towards introducing new rules on selling and supplying puppies and kittens in Northern Ireland. Minister Muir is pictured with Laura Orr and Adam Clowes from Dogs Trust, members of Northern Ireland Companion Animal Welfare Group (NICAWG). Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir has announced the next steps towards introducing new rules on selling and supplying puppies and kittens in Northern Ireland, incl

The 2026 Líofa Gaeltacht Bursary Scheme is now open for applications, the Department for Communities has announced, offering financial support to eligible students and adult learners to attend Irish-language courses in Gaeltacht areas. The scheme provides attendees with an opportunity to immerse themselves in an Irish speaking community, increase their knowledge and use of Irish through attending classes, and take part in a wide range of cultural activities including sport an

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for Northern Ireland for rain and snow, in force from 04:00 to 20:00 on Wednesday 18 February 2026, with disruption to travel possible across the province. The warning, which impacts all parts of Northern Ireland, highlights the risk of outbreaks of rain, hill snow and strong southeasterly winds throughout the day. Rain, snow and strong winds forecast across the province According to the Met Office, an area of rain — falling

Young Greenisland FC U12 players Alfie, Josh, Teddy, Jake, Zach and Theo are pictured as the Budget Energy SuperCupNI confirms the elite international academies who will travel from Europe, North America, the Middle East and Central America to compete in the 2026 Boys’ Minor Section of the tournament. Eight elite international academies from across Europe, North America, the Middle East and Central America have been confirmed for the 2026 Budget Energy SuperCupNI Boys’ Minor

Kilrea Bridge on the B64 Bann Road in Kilrea will fully reopen to all vehicles at 5pm on Wednesday 18 February, following the successful completion of permanent structural repair works, the Department for Infrastructure has confirmed. The bridge, which has been restricted to cars and light vehicles since early December, will once again be accessible to all traffic as width and weight restrictions are lifted. The reopening marks the completion of the main stabilisation works,

Michaela McBurnie from the Meadows Equestrian Centre with students Emma Brow (Hillsborough) and Ellie Getty (Cloughmills). The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) has brought industry and education together at its Enniskillen Campus, hosting an Opportunities in Equine Careers Fair as part of its annual Careers Day to support students planning their future in the equine sector. The Opportunities in Equine Careers Day was designed to help students develop

Jill Stewart (Jill Bakes) with her perfectly fluffy pancakes With Pancake Day falling on Tuesday, February 17, home bakers across Ballymena will be reaching for their mixing bowls in preparation for one of the tastiest days of the year. And according to local food blogger Jill Stewart , known to her thousands of followers on Instagram as Jill Bakes , mastering a good pancake recipe is a true kitchen game changer. “I’m Jill,” she says, “trying to help you be better in the kitc

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for ice across Northern Ireland from 8pm on Monday 16 February 2026 until 10am on Tuesday 17 February 2026 , with motorists and pedestrians urged to take extra care as temperatures fall to or below freezing. According to the national forecaster, wintry showers throughout Monday will leave many surfaces wet into the evening. As skies clear overnight and temperatures drop, untreated roads and pavements are at risk of becoming i

Passengers travelling on the Dublin, Bangor, Larne and Derry~Londonderry rail lines are being urged to plan ahead as Translink confirms a series of essential engineering works across two weekends in February. The planned works will affect services on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 February , and again on Saturday 28 February and Sunday 1 March , with rail replacement bus services operating on impacted routes. The programme of works, coordinated with Irish Rail, will result in temp

Jane Rea on the family farm in Shilnavogy in the Antrim hills. (All Images: BBC NI / Below The Radar TV) Jane Rea’s Bloomin’ Wild, a new four-part farming series set on a family farm in Shilnavogy, County Antrim, begins this week on BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer. The series follows the changing seasons in the Antrim Hills, exploring food, craft and Ulster-Scots culture woven into everyday rural life. Filmed on Jane Rea’s family farm in the small townland of Shilnav

Young Greenisland FC U12 players Zach and Josh are pictured alongside Karl Bradley from Budget Energy and Sam Gamble from the Budget Energy SuperCupNI, joined by Sparky, the Budget Energy mascot, as preparations get underway for the 2026 Budget Energy SuperCupNI. Budget Energy has confirmed it will return as title sponsor of the SuperCupNI for a second consecutive year, marking the official start of preparations for the 2026 Budget Energy SuperCupNI following a record-breakin

Fantastic fun at the Belfast Brunch Co. Party in 2025! The event returns next month to Tullyglas Hotel in Ballymena. Belfast Brunch Co. will return to Ballymena on Friday 13 March 2026, bringing its high-energy brunch party to the Tullyglass House Hotel in support of Northern Ireland Hospice  and its Children’s Hospice services. The adults-only event follows strong public demand after £21,000 was raised during last year’s fundraiser, with organisers promising to bring the fee

Audry the spaniel from Dogs Trust Ballymena is seeking her loving forever home A 12-year-old Spaniel crossbreed is searching for a loving forever home this Valentine’s Day at Dogs Trust Ballymena , after being returned to the charity’s care due to a change in circumstances. Audry, described as a “sensational Spaniel” by staff, first came into the care of Dogs Trust Ballymena as a young pup in 2014 and was quickly adopted. After spending 11 years in a loving home, she was ret

Owner of the Bayview Hotel, Trevor Kane is pictured alongside William Munnis, Armoy Motorcycle Road Racing Club Director and Clerk of Course during the recent Irish Motorbike Awards.  The Armoy Road Races 2026 will take place on Friday 24 July and Saturday 25 July, with the Armoy Motorcycle Road Racing Club  (AMRRC) confirming the return of longstanding title sponsor the Bayview Hotel for a 17th consecutive year. The announcement signals a major boost for Northern Ireland roa

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for ice across Northern Ireland, with hazardous travel conditions expected from 8pm on Friday 13 February 2026 until 10am on Saturday 14 February 2026. The warning covers County Antrim, County Down, County Londonderry and County Tyrone , where sub-zero temperatures combined with wintry showers could lead to icy surfaces and difficult driving conditions overnight. Forecasters say wintry showers may fall onto freezing ground du

Anna Short secured a scholarship through CAFRE’s Industry Support Programme in conjunction with Pilgrim’s Europe. A paid placement year through the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) Industry Support Programme has helped a Greenmount Campus student gain hands-on experience across the poultry sector and clarify her future career ambitions. Anna Short, a BSc (Hons) Sustainable Agriculture student at CAFRE’s Greenmount Campus , secured a scholarship placem

More than 70,000 people across the Northern Trust area have already downloaded the My Care app, with health officials now encouraging more patients to sign up to access key parts of their medical records online. The My Care patient portal allows patients to securely view specific information from their health records, including medications, appointments and some test results, using their smartphone or tablet. The app is available on both iOS and Android devices and is design

The Utility Regulator has confirmed that a formal review of regulated gas tariffs in Northern Ireland is now under way, covering domestic and small business customers supplied by SSE Airtricity Gas Supply and Firmus Energy , while electricity prices for Power NI customers remain under ongoing monitoring. The review applies to customers in the Greater Belfast and West gas areas, supplied by SSE Airtricity Gas Supply, and the Ten Towns area, supplied by Firmus Energy. The regu

Waterstone’s Ballymena has unveiled its latest Top 10 bestselling books, with contemporary literary fiction, gripping thrillers and a hugely popular romance title dominating readers’ choices this week. The list highlights a broad range of tastes, from Anne Tyler’s quietly observant storytelling to Freida McFadden’s addictive psychological suspense, alongside strong demand for Irish fiction and prize-winning literary works. This week’s Top 10 bestselling books 1. Three Days in