NEWS

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald is pictured at Roe Valley Residents Associations Youth and Community Hub in Limavady where she met some of the young people who have participated in the Peaceplus Journeys Project. More than 1,000 young people across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have taken part in a cross-border programme designed to help disadvantaged young people build confidence, gain qualifications and move towards education or employment. The mileston

The new All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 2026-2030 was launched on Thursday at the National Botanic Gardens, Dublin, by Andrew Muir, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Northern Ireland and Ireland’s Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD. Pictured with Dr Úna FitzPatrick, Co-founder of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan and Chief Scientific Officer, National Biodiversity Data Centre. Northern Ireland is backing an ambitious new

The Girl in the Water: Kelly Lynch A young woman’s unexplained death, conflicting post-mortem findings and a family’s determination to uncover the truth are at the heart of a powerful new RTÉ documentary airing this week. The Girl in the Water tells the story of 23-year-old Kelly Marie Lynch, whose body was discovered near Horseshoe Bridge in County Monaghan on St Patrick’s Day 2024. More than two years later, her family say they are still searching for answers about what hap

A new true-crime podcast has revisited the disturbing story of former pirate radio DJ Eamon Cooke, shedding fresh light on how one of Ireland’s most prolific child sexual abusers was able to evade justice for decades while operating in full public view. Released by the team behind several acclaimed investigative productions, Pirate Predator examines the life and crimes of Cooke, the founder of the once hugely popular Radio Dublin pirate station, and explores new evidence and

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald is pictured with George Healy (Go Succeed, Belfast City Council), Prof Thomas Cooney (Technological University Dublin), and Marty McLaughlin (Disability Action) to launch this year’s programme. People with disabilities across Northern Ireland are being encouraged to turn their business ideas into reality through a specialist entrepreneurship programme that is now open for applications for a second year. The Self Employment for Persons wit

The Moravian Church in Gracehill, Ballymena A major new cross-border initiative centred on Gracehill World Heritage Site is set to connect 14 UNESCO-designated locations across the island of Ireland, creating new opportunities for education, community engagement, tourism and peacebuilding while placing the historic Ballymena village at the heart of an ambitious all-Ireland heritage network. The project, known as UNESCO Together, has secured €93,000 through the PEACEPLUS Chang

Immigration enforcement activity in Northern Ireland has increased significantly over the past two years, according to information provided by a Government source, which says arrests for immigration offences have risen by 30% and nearly 1,000 illegal migrants have been removed during the past year. The figures emerge as immigration, border security and the movement of people through the Common Travel Area have become central issues in political debate following recent unrest

The Public Health Agency (PHA) and the Republic of Ireland’s Health Service Executive (HSE) have issued a major cross-border warning over dangerous drugs circulating ahead of the busy summer festival and concert season, with officials raising serious concerns about high-strength MDMA, ketamine-related harms and the spread of so-called “pink cocaine” across the island of Ireland. Thousands of people are expected to travel north and south for concerts, festivals and nightlife e

A major new cross-border attempt to tackle bovine tuberculosis across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland has secured £4 million in public funding — but questions are already being raised over whether it will deliver real change for farming families living through repeated herd breakdowns. DAERA Minister Andrew Muir confirmed the funding allocation on Tuesday as part of a wider research programme focused on reducing bovine TB in cattle across the Derry and Strabane a

Passengers travelling between Belfast and Dublin on Enterprise rail services are being warned to expect delays and bus transfers for three days after engineering works forced the closure of part of the line south of the border. The rail line between Dundalk and Dublin will close from Saturday 30 May until Monday 1 June inclusive, with replacement buses operating for affected sections of the journey. The disruption is expected to affect passengers travelling between Northern I

A new season of Back From The Brink is set to shine a spotlight on the hidden wildlife thriving in cities across Ireland and Europe — from suburban Dublin foxes enjoying “The Full Irish” to Belfast’s breathtaking starling murmurations and peregrine falcons nesting high above Cork City. Returning for a fifth season this weekend, the acclaimed RTÉ wildlife series follows conservationists, researchers and local communities working to protect species increasingly pushed to the ed

New research spanning the island of Ireland has exposed major gaps in the support available to pregnant and postpartum women trying to stay physically active — with researchers warning that thousands are being left without clear guidance during one of the most challenging periods of their lives. The findings, released during Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week 2026, reveal that while physical activity is widely recognised as beneficial before and after childbirth, many wome

AIB Branch Manager Peter Hughes pictured with RNLI staff and volunteer crew at the 2026 AIB Community Fund launch Communities across Ballymena and Northern Ireland are being urged to nominate local charities for support after AIB officially launched the fifth year of its Community €1 Million Fund — with additional funding added this year to mark the bank’s 60th anniversary. The initiative, which has already supported nearly 300 charities across the island of Ireland since 202

Ireland will host the largest-ever GAA World Games this July, with a record 115 teams from across the globe set to descend on Waterford for the five-day tournament. The international event, running from 13th to 17th July 2026, will bring together thousands of players competing in Gaelic football, hurling, camogie and LGFA, marking a major milestone in the global growth of Gaelic games. Europe drives surge in global participation Europe will form one of the strongest contingen

Westlife are set to take centre stage on this week’s Late Late Show as the chart-topping group returns for the final episode of the season, marking a major moment in their 25th anniversary celebrations and a packed year ahead for fans across Ireland and Northern Ireland. Shane Filan, Kian Egan and Nicky Byrne will lead the line-up with a performance of three of their biggest hits, alongside a surprise collaboration being kept tightly under wraps. The trio will also sit down w

Stonemason Julia Gebel, based in Tipperary A major new RTÉ documentary series is set to bring Ireland’s fading traditional crafts back into sharp focus, revealing the lives, pressures and passion behind skills that risk disappearing in a fast-moving, digital-first world. Launching on Monday, April 27 at 8:30pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, Masters: Keepers of Tradition explores six rare crafts through the personal stories of the people who have dedicated their lives to preservin

Doireann Ní Ghlacáin and Anton Savage at Ravensdale, Co. Louth in RTÉ‘s latest series of Tracks & Trails Spring’s most soothing television watch is back this week as RTÉ’s much-loved walking series Tracks & Trails returns for its 13th season, bringing viewers across some of Ireland’s most spectacular landscapes — including a dedicated Northern Ireland episode featuring Belfast’s Cave Hill and Rathlin Island, Co Antrim. The new five-part series begins this Friday, 10 April, at

A remarkable double discovery in County Tyrone is shining new light on Ireland’s ancient past—while safeguarding its future. Within weeks of each other, a previously unknown burial cairn dating back up to 5,000 years and a 5,500-year-old Neolithic court tomb have both been uncovered and preserved near Omagh, as part of environmental and conservation work led by NI Water and local partners. The finds are not only archaeologically significant—they reveal how modern environmenta

Golf Ireland outgoing President Michael Evans and new President Fiona Delargy at the Golf Ireland AGM in the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone. (Photo credit: Bryan Keane / Inpho.) A proud moment for the north coast — and a landmark for women in sport — as Cushendall’s Fiona Delargy has been appointed President of Golf Ireland, becoming the first Ulster woman to take on the prestigious role. Her appointment was confirmed at the organisation’s 2026 National AGM, held on Saturday (Marc

A major €40million funding programme aimed at transforming communities and strengthening relationships in Mid and East Antrim, across Northern Ireland and border regions is now fully open — offering local groups a rare chance to turn ideas into real-world impact. The PEACEPLUS Change Maker Funding Programme will provide grants of up to €100,000 for grassroots initiatives designed to bring people together across communities and borders, with a strong focus on building lasting