NEWS

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

Janet Devlin joins Tiarnán O’Neill, Chief Finance Officer at Galgorm Collection, to celebrate the launch of Christmas All Around, the luxury hotel group’s new festive film. Northern Ireland singer-songwriter Janet Devlin is the face – and voice – of Galgorm Collection’s new Christmas campaign, Christmas All Around, an emotive festive film celebrating the meaning of time, connection and togetherness during the holiday season. The Gortin-born artist, known for her distinctive v

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons pictured at the official launch of UEFA EURO 2028 in London. Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has confirmed that ICC Belfast will host the UEFA EURO 2028 Qualifying Draw, marking a major win for Northern Ireland as excitement builds ahead of the tournament. The announcement was made following the official tournament launch in London on Wednesday evening, where it was revealed that the qualifying draw will take place at ICC Belfast on 6 Decem

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council is set to explore the possibility of using silent fireworks or drone shows during future celebrations in the borough. At November’s Environmental Services Committee meeting, members agreed that potential changes to council-organised firework displays should be discussed at a future meeting of the Leisure and Development Committee. TUV Councillor Jonathan McAuley said he had received correspondence from several constituents in the week

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

The Joyce on display Loughshore Park, Antrim Antrim and Newtownabbey councillors have agreed to work with a group of veterans to help maintain a historic wartime boat that has been returned to the borough. The Joyce — a 40-foot torpedo retrieval vessel which operated on Lough Neagh during the Second World War — is now on display beside The Gateway Visitor Centre at Antrim’s Lough Shore. The restored craft was unveiled earlier this year as part of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borou

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

A touching tribute to those who served their country is on display at St Colmanell’s Parish Church, Ahoghill, where a Remembrance Exhibition is running until Tuesday 11 November 2025. The exhibition has been lovingly created by the church family, featuring hundreds of poppies, wall hangings, floral arrangements, wartime artefacts, secret trench diaries, and stories of local people and unsung heroes. Visitors can explore a deeply personal collection of displays that not only c

The Causeway Hospital, Coleraine The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has responded to concerns about the proposed closure of an 18-bed acute admission ward at Causeway Hospital in Coleraine. A statement was issued following issues raised by campaign group SOS Causeway Hospital during a recent meeting with Trust representatives regarding the future of the Ross Thomson Unit. Representatives from SOS Causeway Hospital met with Dr Petra Corr, Director of Mental Health and

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, with club representatives at Stormont. The iconic Ulster Grand Prix is set to roar back onto the international motorsport stage in summer 2027, marking its long-awaited return to the famous Dundrod circuit for the first time since 2019. The announcement from the Motor Cycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) Ltd (MCUI UC) confirms that extensive discussions with government departments, MLAs, counc

Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows, with his much-loved companions Cassie and Maggie. Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) MLA Jon Burrows has voiced strong support for reforming Northern Ireland’s fireworks legislation, describing the current situation as “deeply distressing” for families, pet owners, and communities affected by irresponsible use. The North Antrim MLA, who is a well-known dog lover, said his own pet suffers panic attacks during fireworks seaso

The Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick looks forward to the opening of Enchanted Winter Garden for 2025. Antrim Castle Gardens will once again transform into a festive wonderland this winter as the Enchanted Winter Garden returns from Friday 28 November to Tuesday 30 December 2025 — with even more magic, light and family fun than ever before. Presented by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, this year’s event promises to be the most spectacular

From political insight and celebrity memoirs to festive favourites and local fiction, Waterstone’s Ballymena has revealed its latest Top 10 bestselling titles — alongside this week’s half-price highlights, storytime fun for families, and a new novel from a much-loved Ballymena author. This Week’s Top 10 Bestsellers At the top of the list this week is Ballymena man, Stephen Walker’s David Trimble: Peacemaker — a powerful biography exploring the life and legacy of one of North

Jon Bon Jovi speaks to Patrick Kielty at the Late Late Show Halloween Special Rock legend Jon Bon Jovi leads a star-studded line-up for this week’s Late Late Show Halloween special, joined by broadcasting veteran Miriam O’Callaghan, sports stars Davy Fitzgerald and Donncha O’Callaghan, and comedy trio the Young Hot Guys. The Late Late Show returns this Friday (31 October) with a glittering line-up packed with music, stories, laughter and nostalgia — headlined by one of the wo

(L-R) Lara Harding (aged 9), Mrs Claus, Belfast Lord Mayor Councillor Tracy Kelly, Santa Claus and Rosa Harding (aged 7) got together to promote the annual lights switch-on at Belfast City Hall. Belfast is gearing up for a “Wicked” start to the festive season with the city’s annual Christmas lights switch-on at Belfast City Hall on Saturday 15 November. The much-anticipated event will be hosted by Cool FM presenters Pete Snodden, Rebecca McKinney and Paulo Ross, alongside Bel

Presenter Steph McGovern on a farm in Northern Ireland. (Images: BBC / Stellify Media) Filmed at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) in County Antrim, a new BBC series is set to uncover the unseen side of rural life — where danger, dedication and resilience meet on Britain’s farms. The 15-part series, Farm 999, launches on Friday 7 November on BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer . Presented by Steph McGovern , it takes viewers deep into the chal

Alliance East Antrim MLA Danny Donnelly on the Antrim coast Alliance East Antrim MLA Danny Donnelly has welcomed confirmation that long-awaited action will finally be taken to replace the dangerous and rusted railings along the Coast Road in Larne. The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has confirmed that an external contractor has been instructed to assess seven sections of railings identified as being in a poor and unsafe condition, and to begin the process of replacing th

North Antrim TUV MLA Timothy Gaston taking part in a debate at Queen’s University North Antrim TUV MLA Timothy Gaston has said unionism is “stronger with variety” and warned that calls for a single unionist party would “weaken us in the long term.” Mr Gaston was reflecting on his participation in a Queen’s University Belfast Literific Society debate earlier this week on the motion “A Single Unionist Party.” The MLA said it was his first time at Queen’s and his first experi

From left: BBC Sport NI’s Gavin Andrews and Conor Murray Former Ireland and Munster scrum-half Conor Murray is set to front a brand-new rugby podcast for the BBC, bringing his deep experience and passion for the game to fans across Ireland and beyond. The Ireland Rugby Social, presented by BBC Sport NI, will launch on Tuesday 28 October and see Murray team up with broadcaster Gavin Andrews for a series of weekly conversations exploring the biggest stories in Irish and interna

A great range of eerie displays at The Spooky Gardens Ballymena The much-loved Halloween attraction at Inishowen Park promises family fun while raising vital funds for a worthy cause The Spooky Gardens in Ballymena are back for their third hauntingly popular year — bringing thrills, chills, and charity together this Halloween season. Located at Inishowen Park, off the Cullybackey Road , the Halloween-themed garden officially opened its gates on Monday 13 October and will run