NEWS

As Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales gather momentum, the Trading Standards Service (TSS) is urging consumers across Northern Ireland to “shop smart” and stay alert to misleading deals, scams and counterfeit goods circulating during the busiest shopping weekend of the year. Damien Doherty, TSS Chief Inspector , warned that the seasonal rush can leave consumers vulnerable to deceptive sales tactics. He said: “While many retailers offer genuine discounts at this time of year,

Proudly brought to you by Ballymena BID (Business Improvement District) Ballymena Town Centre is gearing up for a magical festive season, unveiling a vibrant programme of family-friendly events, Christmas characters, charity activities and pop-up entertainment designed to bring joy and festive spirit to the heart of the town. With festive shopping, cosy cafés, vibrant bars and restaurants, and a full schedule of December activities, Ballymena is inviting visitors from near an

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is set to usher in the festive season with a series of much-loved Christmas Artisan Markets, celebrating local creativity and offering residents and visitors the chance to enjoy seasonal shopping in the heart of their town centres. The markets—now a staple of the borough’s Christmas calendar—will feature an array of local producers showcasing artisan foods, festive bakes, handcrafted decorations and unique gifts. Designed to bring communiti

Ryanair has announced it will add more than 4,900 extra seats to and from Belfast for Christmas week 2025, as the carrier prepares for a surge in festive travel demand. The airline – Europe’s largest by passenger numbers – confirmed on Tuesday (25 November) that it expects to carry over 26,000 passengers through Belfast Airport during the busy holiday period, helping people return home in time to celebrate with their families. The additional seats have been introduced in resp

As winter approaches, the Department of Health is urging the public to take simple, proactive steps to maintain their physical and mental wellbeing amid rising seasonal pressures on health and social care services. Speaking during National Self-Care Week, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt highlighted the importance of self-care and community support as temperatures fall and common winter illnesses begin to circulate. “Each of us can play our part in managing our own health and wel

One of Ballymena’s oldest and best-loved butcher shops will open its newly expanded premises on Tuesday 25 November, marking a major milestone for the long-established family business. Barr’s Family Butchers – first opened by master butcher George Barr in 1878 – has been a cornerstone of Ballymena town centre for nearly 147 years. Located on Ballymoney Street, the historic butchery has served generations of local families and remained in the Barr family across five generation

Jingle Fest returns to Emerald Park from November 21st, offering families the perfect festive day out from only €18.00. Emerald Park has announced the much-anticipated return of Jingle Fest for Christmas 2025, unveiling a festive transformation that will see the popular theme park sparkle with lights, seasonal attractions and family-friendly entertainment. Opening on Friday 21 November and running on selected dates until 23 December, the Christmas celebration promises a full

NI Water is urging households across Northern Ireland to take simple but essential steps to protect their properties as temperatures drop during the first cold snap of the season. The utility provider has reinforced the importance of locating and testing stop valves, insulating exposed pipework and taking preventative measures to reduce the risk of leaks and burst pipes as colder weather sets in. With a rise in freezing conditions expected in the weeks ahead, NI Water says ea

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging parents and guardians across Northern Ireland to ensure their children receive the seasonal flu vaccine, as the latest surveillance data shows influenza activity on the rise — with the highest positivity rate recorded in children aged 5–14. All pre-school children and those in primary school up to Year 12 are eligible for the free flu vaccine, delivered as a simple nasal spray. Dr Amanda McCullough, Specialty Registrar in Public Health

The Met Office has issued a further tellow weather warning for snow and ice across all six counties of Northern Ireland as wintry showers are expected to intensify from Wednesday evening into Thursday morning. The alert will be in place from 17:00 on Wednesday 19 November 2025 until 12:00 on Thursday 20 November 2025, covering County Antrim, County Armagh, County Down, County Fermanagh, County Londonderry, and County Tyrone. Forecasters warn that the combination of falling te

The Met Office has issued a Yellow weather warning for snow and ice across all six counties of Northern Ireland, with forecasters cautioning of “wintry showers on Tuesday night into Wednesday” that “will bring some icy patches and lying snow in places, leading to possible travel delays.” The warning is in force from 00:00 to 12:00 on Wednesday 19 November 2025, affecting County Antrim, County Armagh, County Down, County Fermanagh, County Londonderry and County Tyrone. Accor

Santa arriving in Ballymena last weekend Mid and East Antrim is set to sparkle this weekend as the festive season continues in full swing, with Larne and Carrickfergus preparing to burst into life with music, markets, parades and magical Christmas cheer at their annual Christmas Lights Switch-On celebrations. Both towns will host a wide range of family-friendly entertainment, live performances, festive characters and crafts – with the much-anticipated arrival of Santa adding

Good Boy Olly who can't contain his excitement to meet Santa Paws at Dogs Trust Ballymena's Christmas Fair Festive fun is on the way to County Antrim as Dogs Trust Ballymena prepares to host its much-loved Christmas Fair on Saturday 6 December, complete with a special appearance from the one and only Santa Paws. The annual event is a firm favourite with local supporters, and this year promises to be no exception as the team welcomes families, dog lovers and their four-legged

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is urging shoppers to tighten the security on their online retail accounts amid a rise in hacking attempts targeting retail apps in the run-up to Christmas. The warning comes as the UK-wide Protect Network reports an increase in incidents where criminals have gained access to customer accounts to make unauthorised purchases. These include “buy now, pay later” transactions and online credit agreements carried out without the acco

Santa arriving in Limavady. Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has announced a packed programme of festive celebrations set to bring Christmas magic to Ballymoney, Limavady, Ballycastle and Coleraine later this month. The Council says the events aim to “spread festive cheer this Christmas season” with a series of family-friendly activities, parades and Santa appearances designed to mark the start of the borough’s Christmas calendar. Four towns, four festive switch-ons

With the much-anticipated opening of Primark expected to draw significantly higher footfall, Fairhill Shopping Centre Management has announced the introduction of a new pay-on-arrival parking option to help ease congestion during the busy period. In a message to customers, management said they had been “reviewing the parking system and have added the option of paying on arrival when you park at the Centre”. The change, they explained, aims “ to help reduce queues at payment

Image: Anne Kelly A yellow weather warning has been issued for parts of Northern Ireland as Storm Claudia is set to bring persistent heavy rain and possible flooding from Friday evening into Saturday afternoon. The Met Office warning, in place between 00:00 and 12:00 (UTC) on Saturday 15 November 2025, affects County Down and County Armagh , where forecasters expect some of the most severe impacts. Storm Claudia, previously named by the Spanish Meteorological Service, will p

Danske Bank has confirmed that its new Ballymoney branch will officially open its doors at 12 High Street on Monday 24 November 2025 at 9.30am . The announcement marks the latest stage in the bank’s investment in modernising local banking services in the town. To enable the transition, the current branch—located only a few doors away—will close permanently at 12.30pm on Friday 21 November 2025. The new premises will deliver the enhanced services first announced in September,

Ballymena is set to host a special performance of Handel’s iconic masterpiece, Messiah, performed with authentic period instruments later this month. Taking place in St Patrick’s Church, Ballymena, on Friday 28 November at 7:00pm, the concert will feature the Ulster Consort – Northern Ireland’s newest professional vocal ensemble – in an intimate, historically informed performance that echoes the sound of Handel’s original debut in Dublin in 1742. The Ulster Consort will prese

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford, officially launches the Borough's Christmas celebrations, marking the start of the festive season. A Season of Christmas Magic Coming to Mid and East Antrim Mid and East Antrim Borough is set to sparkle this festive season, with a packed programme of Christmas lights switch-ons, parades, markets, and family entertainment bringing festive cheer to towns and villages across the borough. The celebrations begin this Saturd