NEWS

(L-R) Sarah McLaughlin, Executive Director for Health, and Catriona Delargy, IMPACTAgewell Team Leader, Agewell Partnership For many older people across Ballymena, Larne and Carrickfergus, support for better health and wellbeing is increasingly being found not just in a doctor’s surgery, but through local community groups, advice services and social activities designed to reduce isolation and improve quality of life. That approach was placed firmly in the spotlight this month

GP practices across Mid and East Antrim are now caring for thousands more patients than they were a decade ago after the borough lost one in four surgeries, new official figures reveal. New General Medical Services statistics published by the Business Services Organisation and NISRA show the number of GP practices in Mid and East Antrim has fallen from 28 in 2014 to 21 in 2026 — a reduction of 25 per cent. Yet during the same period, the number of registered patients increase

Ten brave volunteers stepped over the edge of one of Northern Ireland’s most recognisable buildings at the weekend, taking on a dramatic abseil down Belfast’s Europa Hotel to raise vital funds for older people across Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Larne. The fundraising challenge, held on Sunday, 7 June, saw participants descend the side of the iconic city-centre hotel in support of Agewell, helping to generate much-needed income for services that tackle loneliness, improve wel

James McHenry (1817-91) pictured in Paris on railroad business, 1861. (Image: Carte de visite, James McHenry, 1861 – Allegheny College Library Special Collections) A powerful 19th century financier who once moved in the same circles as some of the biggest names in American industry has been largely erased from history for more than a century — but groundbreaking new research is now bringing his extraordinary story back into the spotlight. Historian Dr Barry Henderson is se

Adrian Davis of Ballygally based consultancy firm AD Sustainability which is planning to double in size as it expands into the Republic of Ireland as demand for sustainability expertise continues to surge. The company received assistance from the Go Succeed business support service A County Antrim environmental consultancy is preparing to double the size of its business as growing pressure on companies to cut costs, reduce emissions and meet stricter sustainability expectatio

A planning application has been submitted to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for a proposed children’s go-kart fun ride area at Carnfunnock Country Park, outside Larne. The application was lodged by an agent on behalf of Ian and Christopher Lough, operators of Carnfunnock Family Fun Zone, which operates independently within the country park grounds. Ian said the proposal, currently under consideration by the council’s planning department, would be situated beside the exis

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has appointed a new mayor and deputy mayor for the year ahead, with Bannside DUP Alderman Thomas Gordon taking on the borough’s top civic role and Carrick Castle Ulster Unionist Councillor Bethany Carson-Ferris named as deputy mayor. The appointments were confirmed during the council’s Annual Meeting at The Braid in Ballymena on Monday evening, June 1, marking the beginning of a new civic

Bannside DUP Alderman Tom Gordon and Carrickfergus Castle Ulster Unionist Councillor Bethany Carson-Ferris The mayoral role in Mid and East Antrim will return to the DUP at the borough council’s annual general meeting taking place this evening (Monday, June 1) at The Braid in Ballymena. The borough’s new first citizen is expected to be Bannside Alderman Tom Gordon. The incoming deputy mayor is expected to be Carrickfergus Castle Ulster Unionist Councillor Bethany Carson-Ferri

Ethel Blair, centre, with Gail Caldwell, Asda Larne Community Champion, McGee's butcher Conor O'Cleary, Serena Quigley, front right and Serena's dad Jim Steele, who also works on the McGee's counter at Asda Larne A Larne woman who has spent more than a century watching the world change around her has marked her 100th birthday with a royal letter from the King, a hand-delivered gift from the Lord-Lieutenant’s office — and flowers from the supermarket team who have become part

Sea defences at 17 locations along the Belfast to Larne railway line are set to be reinforced under new Translink proposals aimed at protecting the vital transport corridor from coastal erosion and increasingly severe weather conditions. Plans for the East Antrim Sea Defences Project were unveiled during a series of public consultation drop-in sessions, the last of which was held at Glynn Village Hall outside Larne on Wednesday. The consultation events were organised to provi

A casualty with a suspected broken leg was rescued from a beach earlier today (Monday 25 May) after HM Coastguard Larne and the volunteer crew of Larne RNLI launched a joint emergency response. The incident unfolded in a difficult coastal location where access for ambulance crews was limited and changing tidal conditions created additional pressure for rescuers working on scene. Coastguard teams arrived quickly and worked alongside the RNLI crew to stabilise the casualty befo

Larne RNLI’s new Shannon class all-weather lifeboat Machiko Nancy Larne RNLI’s new Shannon class all-weather lifeboat Machiko Nancy was launched for the first time on Sunday afternoon after two crew members onboard a broken-down RIB got into difficulty off the County Antrim coast. The volunteer crew were requested to launch at 2.48pm on Monday 25 May following a call from HM Coastguard after a member of the crew onboard the vessel reported that they had suffered a breakdown w

Children and young people with complex disabilities across Mid and East Antrim could benefit from new summer activities and support programmes after the council launched a dedicated funding scheme aimed at creating more inclusive opportunities during the school holidays. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has unveiled its first-ever Inclusive Summer Opportunities Grant Funding Scheme, with £12,000 available to help local organisations deliver free and accessible activities t

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford, and Mayoress Allison Minford, pictured with Karen Bruce from Council’s Community Health and Wellbeing Team and DEA Manager, Janet Shearer, to launch the Dementia Safeguarding Scheme for Mid and East Antrim. Families caring for loved ones with dementia across Mid and East Antrim are being offered new peace of mind through a safeguarding scheme designed to help vulnerable residents return home safely if they become lost

(From left) Youth workers Matthew Simpson, Jonny Farrell and Johnny Crymble. Support services for children and teenagers across Mid and East Antrim are being expanded this summer amid growing concerns around anti-social behaviour, safeguarding risks, mental health pressures and the dangers young people can face when schools close for the holidays. Youth workers, police and community organisations told a public meeting in Ballymena this week that summer can become a particular

Detectives investigating violent dissident republican activity have carried out further searches in Ballymena and Larne following the arrest of five men under the Terrorism Act in west Belfast. A number of vehicles have also been seized as part of the ongoing investigation being led by the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Terrorism Investigation Unit. The latest searches will heighten attention locally after police confirmed operations had extended beyond Belfast into par

Seven Towers Leisure Centre, Ballymena A review of leisure centre opening hours is set to be carried out by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council after councillors called for a rethink on bank holiday closures. Speaking at last week’s council meeting at The Braid in Ballymena, Larne Lough Alliance Councillor Maeve Donnelly proposed a motion calling for leisure facilities to open during bank holidays. Cllr Donnelly said: “For many of us, bank holidays are a welcome opportunity t

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford, and Rowan Moore, Director of Place at Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, are pictured at Slemish alongside a few of the new vehicles joining the Council’s refuse collection fleet. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is investing in ten new refuse collection vehicles as pressure grows on waste services across a rapidly expanding Borough. The major fleet upgrade includes a mix of smaller rural-access vehicles and large

Smiles all round as Ready2Work Academy students stand outside Tuition Time with teachers and facilitators, celebrating the success of their showcase café event. A group of young people from Larne took a major step towards the world of work this week after stepping behind the counter to run a real café environment as part of a programme designed to help SEN school leavers build confidence and job-ready skills. Ten students from Roddensvale School showcased what they had learne

Margaret Bell, former resident of Latharna House in Larne reflects on tower block life with Roy McClean, Housing Executive Assistant Area Manager, Mid and East Antrim. One of Larne’s most recognisable landmarks is about to disappear from the town’s skyline as demolition work begins on the towering Latharna House apartment block. For decades, the 16-storey Northern Ireland Housing Executive building stood prominently above Larne, visible to thousands of motorists travelling al