NEWS

Crime fiction has taken the top spot at Waterstone’s Ballymena this week, with Ann Cleeves’ The Killing Stones leading a varied bestseller chart featuring thrillers, historical fiction, romance, fantasy and non-fiction. Lyse Doucet’s The Finest Hotel in Kabul takes second place, while Robert Harris’ Agrippa completes the top three. Elsewhere, readers are picking up titles from Lee Child, Virginia Evans, William Boyd, Pierce Brown and Richard Osman. There is also plenty arrivi

Garda whistleblowers are to speak publicly about concerns from inside the force in a major new RTÉ Investigates documentary examining whether promised reforms following decades of policing scandals have delivered meaningful change. The programme, RTÉ Investigates: The Gardaí – Full Disclosure, will be broadcast on Wednesday night and includes revelations about the security and management of firearms, including concerns that a sawn-off pump-action shotgun may have been stolen

Photos from 2025 Fashion Show, featuring local models and professional models from ACA Modelling Agency. ACA will be partnering with organisers again for this year’s show. Ballymena’s Autumn/Winter Fashion Show is returning for a fourth year next month, promising a night of new-season style, live music and entertainment following a sell-out event in 2025. The popular annual event will take over The Braid on Friday 9 October, bringing independent boutiques and high street reta

Ahoghill is gearing up for a packed Saturday of family entertainment, music and marching bands, with a Family Community Fun Day from noon before around 45 bands are expected to take part in the village’s annual parade. The Family Community Fun Day at Bar Indigo will run from 2pm until 6pm tomorrow, Saturday 12 September, before Ahoghill Loyal Sons of William FB Annual Band Parade gets underway from the Community Centre at 7.30pm. Organisers say bands, friends, families and su

Girls across Northern Ireland will be guaranteed the choice to wear trousers as part of their school uniform under revised legally binding guidelines issued by Education Minister Paul Givan. Ulster Unionist Party leader and Education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA has welcomed the move as a “common-sense outcome”, while claiming the Minister could have resolved the issue earlier without the Education Committee having to pursue legislation. The revised Department of Education gu

Big Brother is preparing to throw open the doors of its famous house for a brand-new series this weekend — but before the real housemates get anywhere near it, a group of online troublemakers are being handed the keys. For the first time in Big Brother UK history, viewers will be allowed to watch the programme’s pre-series “dry run”, as creator collective The Bov Boys move into the brand-new house for a chaotic 24-hour takeover ahead of Sunday’s launch. The special live strea

Northern Ireland’s lowest-earning households are being left with an average of just £53.17 a week after taxes and basic household spending, new research has revealed. The latest Northern Ireland Household Expenditure Tracker from the Consumer Council shows some improvement in household finances at the beginning of 2026 — but spending power remains dramatically below where it was five years ago. For the lowest-income quarter of households, discretionary income has fallen by 35

Suzanne Garuda of Garuda Design and Judith Owens MBE, Chief Executive of Titanic Belfast are pictured as the world-famous visitor attraction announces the completion of the first phase of an investment programme in its event spaces, with the iconic Titanic Suite reopening this week following a major refurbishment. Titanic Belfast’s Grand Staircase event suite is reopening this week after a major refurbishment, as the venue prepares to host 60 events between September and Dec

Antrim Castle Gardens will be transformed into a festive wonderland for almost four weeks this Christmas as the popular Enchanted Winter Garden returns with bigger displays, new features and four additional nights. The outdoor illuminated experience will run from Wednesday 2 December until Monday 28 December 2026, with discounted admission available to residents of Antrim and Newtownabbey borough. Organisers say visitors can expect bigger and brighter lights as they follow th

David pictured with his Dad, who he is his named after. David Clarke was just 21 when he began to understand that the father who had spent his life looking after him was slowly going to need his son to do the same for him. Almost 14 years later, dementia has taken conversations, memories and many of the ordinary moments they once shared — but it has never taken the bond between them. “Memories may fade but love remains,” David says. Now, after years in which the experience fe

The late poet Seamus Heaney Tuesday 8 September 2026 A landmark collection that transformed Seamus Heaney from a young Co Derry writer into one of the most recognisable poetic voices of his generation will be celebrated at a free two-day conference in Belfast this week. Digging at 60: From the Archives will take place at the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University Belfast on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 September. The event marks 60 years since the publication of Death of a N

A six-day programme of historical presentations, political discussions and traditional events will culminate in an Ulster Day Parade through Ballymena later this month. The annual Ulster Covenant Festival, organised by the Apprentice Boys of Derry Ballymena and District Amalgamated Committee, will run from Monday 21 September until Saturday 26 September. Events will include discussions examining the present and future of unionism and loyalism, a presentation on the Ballymena

Inset: UUP Infrastructure spokesperson John Stewart MLA The Ulster Unionist Party has confirmed it will oppose the proposed Display of Flags and Emblems Bill at Second Stage, arguing that responsibility for deciding which flags should be removed should not be placed on the Department for Infrastructure. UUP Infrastructure spokesperson John Stewart MLA said his party supports the removal of paramilitary flags but believes the proposed legislation risks drawing civil servants i

The Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev George Davison, Rev Emma Gibson with husband Paul, and their young daughter. (Images: McAuley Multimedia) A new chapter has begun for two North Coast parishes following the institution of the Rev Emma Gibson as rector of the Grouped Parishes of Ramoan and Culfeightrin. Holy Trinity Parish Church in Ballycastle was packed on Friday evening, 4 September, as parishioners, family, friends and clergy gathered to welcome their new incumbent. For Rev

Saturday 5 September 2026 Historical fiction, psychological thrillers and major new non-fiction titles are among the books attracting readers at Waterstone’s Ballymena this week, with Tarot Reader of Versailles by Anya Bergman taking the number one spot in the latest Top 10. Alice Feeney’s My Husband’s Wife takes second place, followed by John Grisham’s The Widow, while familiar favourites from Joanna Miller, Alex Michaelides, Sabine Durrant and Kristin Hannah also feature. T

A new children’s series created in Belfast is putting the experiences of autistic pupils at the heart of stories about starting school, friendship, inclusion and bullying — with autistic young people helping to shape what viewers see and hear on screen. Pablo: Next Level, produced by Belfast-based Paper Owl Films and Crayola Studios, launches on Monday 7 September on RTÉ KIDS and CBBC, before being rolled out internationally. Aimed at children aged five to eight, the 40-episo

CGI of newly approved five bedroom extension at Oranmore Guesthouse in Ballymena Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has approved plans for a five-bedroom extension at Oranmore Guest House on Galgorm Road, Ballymena, despite NI Water raising concerns over capacity. The proposal will provide additional guest accommodation in a single-storey detached block within the established grounds of the property. However, while planning permission has been granted, a condition attached t

A day of work and play at Craig’s Corn Cutting charity event in 2025. (Images: Brian Millar) Families, farming enthusiasts and vintage vehicle owners are being invited to enjoy a day of rural demonstrations and entertainment near Cullybackey tomorrow, with all proceeds supporting Air Ambulance Northern Ireland. Craigs Corn Cutting Charity Day will begin at 11am on Saturday 5 September at 49 Duneoin Road, Cullybackey, BT42 1PN. Working machinery and vintage vehicles The event

The enclosed outdoor padel courts opened last Autumn at Galgorm Castle. Two padel courts already operating at Galgorm Castle have been granted retrospective planning permission, with the five-year approval requiring the development to be reconsidered in 2031. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council approved the application for the enclosed outdoor courts and surrounding surfacing within the grounds of Galgorm Castle Golf Club after assessing their impact on the historic estate an

The Ulster Aviation Society is preparing to throw open its historic wartime hangars for what promises to be its biggest European Heritage Open Days weekend yet, with more aircraft, historic vehicles and entertainment added as visitor numbers continue to soar. The entirely volunteer-run charity will welcome the public to Maze Long Kesh, near Lisburn, on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September, with free admission and parking and no need to book in advance. Running from 10am until