NEWS

Ballymena boxer Ella McDonald A Ballymena woman who only started boxing in her mid-twenties is preparing to make her professional debut next month after an extraordinary rise through the amateur ranks that has already seen her claim major titles, win international medals and train alongside some of the best fighters in Ireland. At just 28 years old, Ella McDonald will step into the professional game for the first time at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall on June 26 — a moment she onc

Winning: Boxing talent Kain Stewart from Ballymena A brother and sister from Ballymena have returned from the WKO European Championships with multiple European titles after producing a series of dominant performances against some of the continent’s top young fighters. Lacey Stewart and her younger brother Kain Stewart — already rapidly rising names in local combat sports — travelled to Barnsley representing Cuchulainn Combat Sports under Ballymena MMA figure Alan “Super Ali”

TUV party leader and North Antrim MP Jim Allister, new party candidate Kirk Wilson, and current North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston The TUV has unveiled its two-candidate team for next year’s Assembly election in North Antrim, setting out an explicit strategy to win a fourth unionist seat in the constituency by targeting Alliance representation. Sitting MLA Timothy Gaston will once again stand for the party, joined by first-time Assembly candidate Kirk Wilson from Cloughmills as

Scene of senseless destruction in the sensory garden in the Ecos Nature Park Community volunteers in Ballymena say years of work has been damaged in a wave of vandalism at ECOS Nature Park that left a children’s sensory garden wrecked, equipment destroyed and broken glass scattered across grass used by families, runners and wildlife. Members of the Friends of the Ecos group discovered the damage on the morning of Bank Holiday Monday, 25 May, describing the scenes as “senseles

Students Niamh Reid (Glenarm), Jessica Cuthbertson (Sixmilecross), Caleb Orr (Ballymena), TJ Hamilton (Armagh), Jane May (Portadown) and Grace Hunter (Dungannon) represented CAFRE at the Great Agri-Food Debate. Students from the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) have reached the semi-finals of a major all-island agri-food debating competition after impressing judges with arguments on some of the biggest challenges facing farming and food production. Th

A 22-year-old man has been arrested and charged following a reported assault in the Dunclug Park area of Ballymena on Monday morning, May 25. Police confirmed the man has been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence. The charges follow what is understood to have been a serious incident in the Dunclug area earlier today, prompting a police investigation. Court appearance scheduled The accus

McGroggan’s shop on William Street, Ballymena McGroggan’s, one of Ballymena’s most recognisable family-run businesses, has announced it will close its long-established William Street shop later this week, bringing an end to more than a century of trading in the town centre. The much-loved business, renowned for its homemade ice cream and traditional treats, confirmed on Saturday that it will close its doors permanently on May 30, 2026. First established in 1923 by Hugh and An

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

Golden on the outside with melted Mars bar running through the centre, these fluffy apple scones are the kind of sweet bake made for sunny weekends, iced coffees and slow spring afternoons. The sharpness of fresh green apple cuts beautifully through the gooey chocolate and caramel, creating a bakery-style treat that feels nostalgic without being too heavy for the season. Finished with a drizzle of melted milk chocolate and topped with chunks of Mars bar, they look every bit a

Paul Frew MLA with Tara Cunningham, manager Causeway Coast Dog Rescue, with Archie the dog taking centre stage, as they lead the pathway for Rubys Law in Northern Ireland. Animals used to control and terrorise victims of domestic abuse could soon receive stronger legal protection in Northern Ireland under proposed changes tabled by North Antrim MLA Paul Frew. The amendments to the Justice Bill would make it an aggravating offence to hurt — or threaten to hurt — an animal con

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

Five people have been taken to hospital following a two-vehicle collision in Ballymena on Saturday evening which temporarily shut part of the Crankill Road as emergency services dealt with the aftermath. Police, ambulance crews and firefighters were called to the scene at around 5.50pm on Saturday, 23 May, following reports of a crash involving a VW Golf and a Mazda. Traffic was diverted from the area as the Crankill Road was closed for a period while emergency services atten

Romance, psychological thrillers and contemporary fiction are leading the way at Waterstone’s Ballymena this week, with the latest Top 10 bestselling books revealing a strong appetite for emotionally charged page-turners and escapist summer reads. Alongside the new chart, the Ballymena store has announced upcoming book club selections, children’s storytime events and a host of major new titles now available to preorder ahead of their highly anticipated releases later this yea

North Antrim DUP MLA Paul Frew, and Mid Ulster SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone. The PSNI could soon be handed stronger powers to seize illegally used e-scooters without first issuing a warning under a proposed amendment tabled at Stormont by North Antrim MLA Paul Frew and Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone. The move comes amid growing concern over the reckless use of e-scooters on roads and pavements across Northern Ireland, with politicians, police, doctors and vulnerable pedestrians all w

Celebrating the landmark 400 years since King Charles I granted a charter allowing Ballymena town to hold markets. (Photos by: Steven McAuley/McAuley Multimedia) Ballymena marked its 400th anniversary on Saturday with a major day of celebration that transformed the town centre into a vibrant showcase of community pride, entertainment and local history. Families, community groups, performers and visitors gathered across Ballymena on 23 May for a packed programme of events mark

A man in his 60s was confronted by a burglar armed with two knives during a terrifying break-in at a home in Ballymena early on Thursday morning. Police said the intruder, who had his face covered and was dressed in dark clothing, entered a property in the Francis Street area at around 7:50am before confronting the occupant inside the house. The incident has left fresh concern in the local community following another serious burglary involving elderly residents in Ballymena e

Farmers’ Choir NI performing at The Braid, Ballymena A packed audience filled The Braid Arts Centre as Farmers’ Choir NI delivered a sell-out Spring Concert celebrating the humour, hardships and strong sense of community at the heart of rural life across Northern Ireland. Drawing concertgoers from farming families and countryside communities, the evening blended music, storytelling and laughter in a performance that reflected the real-life experiences of those who live and wo

Members of the Farm Families Health Checks team celebrates reaching its 30,000th health check with Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt and Fearghal McKinney, Head of British Heart Foundation in Northern Ireland. A Northern Ireland health programme delivering frontline care directly into rural communities has reached a major milestone after providing 30,000 on-the-spot health checks for farmers and farm families. The Farm Families Health Checks Programme, which has operated across N

Customers visiting Specsavers stores across Northern Ireland will now be able to recycle unwanted glasses, contact lens packaging and cases as part of a nationwide expansion of the company’s recycling scheme. The move comes after the optical retailer and its recycling partner recycled 72 tonnes of material in 2025 — an increase of almost five tonnes compared to the previous year — highlighting growing demand for easier ways to dispose of hard-to-recycle eye care products. The