NEWS

A Ballymena gym owner has been fined after unlicensed weight-loss medicines were discovered at his business — prompting a stark warning from health officials about the dangers of buying or supplying drugs outside regulated healthcare channels. Daniel O’Neill, 59, owner of DISQ Gym at Ross Court in Ballymena, appeared before Ballymena Magistrates’ Court where he pleaded guilty to an offence in breach of the Human Medicines Regulations. He was fined £1,000 plus an offender levy

A customer uses a Royal Mail locker (Photos: Royal Mail) Royal Mail has taken a significant step in reshaping how people send and collect parcels in Northern Ireland, launching its first-ever parcel lockers across four key locations — including Ballymena. The move marks a clear shift towards greater flexibility for customers, as online shopping and second-hand marketplaces continue to grow at pace. With 24/7 access in busy, high-footfall areas, the lockers are designed to mak

CGI of Lidl’s proposed new store on St Patrick’s Link Road, Ballymena. A significant new retail investment is being proposed for one of Ballymena’s busiest gateway locations — with plans submitted for a large-format Lidl foodstore at the junction of St Patrick’s Link Road and Broughshane Road. The planning application is supported by a detailed Planning, Design and Access Statement setting out proposals for a purpose-built store with a gross internal floor area of 2,560 squar

Quiz Masters winners 'Legs Eleven' with Mrs O'Neill and Vincent Rainey A packed room, fierce competition and a powerful show of community spirit have delivered a £7,500 boost for St Louis — funding that will soon translate directly into new interactive SMART boards in classrooms across the school. The inaugural Quiz Masters fundraiser, organised by the Friends of St Louis, brought together parents, staff, past pupils and friends of the school for an evening that blended sharp

Kathy Bennett, Head of English at Slemish College (right), with her partner teacher Olga from Pokotylivka Lyceum No. 2 in Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine Four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, pupils in Ballymena are forging friendships that stretch far beyond the classroom walls. At Slemish College, Year 10 pupils are working side-by-side — virtually — with students from Pokotylivka Lyceum No. 2 in Kharkiv as part of the UK-Ukraine Schools Partnership programme.

Queues formed outside McKillen’s of Ballymena last week when the shop first announced its closure After a century on Church Street, one of Ballymena’s best-known family retailers is preparing to close its doors — bringing to an end a story that began with a single brave decision in 1926. One hundred years ago, a 30-year-old Tom McKillen left his job at McDowells Boot and Shoe Store and opened his own gents’ footwear shop on Church Street, Ballymena. From those modest beginnin

Galgorm Castle, Ballymena A bold £14 million regeneration plan promises to breathe new life into one of Ballymena’s most historic estates — with a boutique hotel, arts venues and more than 200 jobs at its heart. Galgorm Castle Education and Preservation Limited (GCEP) , custodian of Galgorm Castle, has submitted a full planning application for what it describes as a landmark restoration and renewal programme. If approved, the ambitious scheme would not only rescue the estate

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford, pictured with children from Moorfields Primary School, along with community representatives, contractors, councillors and council staff. Two much-loved play parks in Mid and East Antrim have officially reopened, unveiling safer, more inclusive and fully refreshed spaces designed to bring families together for years to come. The completion of refurbishment works at Moorfields in Ballymena and Beachlands Play Park in Car

(L-R) Marie Moore (Rectors Warden), Wendy Halligan, Rev Adrian Halligan, Abigail Halligan and Church Reader Sandi McKendry along with gifts presented . There are farewells that feel routine — and then there are those that quietly mark the end of an era. On Sunday 22nd February 2026, at Craigs Parish Church, Cullybackey, Rev. Adrian Halligan delivered his final sermon to the Parishes of Craigs, Dunaghy, and Killagan — bringing to a close a ministry shaped by resilience, commu

Sean McLaughlin, Darren & Avah McGinty What began with a single all-terrain wheelchair is now becoming something far bigger — a £600,000 vision to transform how families living with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus experience rest, recovery and time together in Ballymena. For many children with complex mobility needs, something as simple as a walk in the park has long come with barriers. That is beginning to change thanks to Quadrix, a state-of-the-art all-terrain wheelchair pr

Bertie McNeilly from Cullybackey Community Partnership, Richard Hanna from Cullybackey Community Partnership, Paul Christie from Cullybackey Community Partnership and Jonathan Fulton from Cullybackey Community Partnership are presented the Regional Champion Runner-Up from Deputy Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Tyler Hoey (centre) Volunteers from Cullybackey Community Partnership were praised at the 2026 Live Here Love Here Community Awards, celebrating grassroots act

Saturday 21 February 2026 Waterstone’s Ballymena has revealed its latest Top 10 bestselling books, with contemporary Irish fiction, gripping thrillers and even a literary classic making this week’s chart. From bold new voices to beloved authors, the list reflects a wide range of reading tastes across Ballymena — with strong interest in both page-turning suspense and thoughtful literary storytelling. This Week’s Top 10 Bestselling Books 1. Pagans — James Alistair Henry A sharp

TUV agriculture spokesman Councillor Allister Kyle Northern Ireland’s farming community is being “failed” by Stormont, according to TUV agriculture spokesman Councillor Allister Kyle , who used a West Tyrone fundraising breakfast to launch a sweeping critique of agricultural policy, bovine TB controls and the Windsor Framework. Addressing party members on Saturday (February 21), Cllr Kyle painted a picture of mounting pressure on farmers — from disease outbreaks and slurry st

What began as a tribute between friends became a remarkable show of community strength, determination and love — and by the time the final whistle approached in Coleraine, more than £10,000 had been raised in Lydia Ross’s memory. On Friday 20 February, members of Block F Supporters Club completed the “Derby Day Dander”, walking almost 28 miles from Ballymena Showgrounds to Coleraine Showgrounds ahead of the 7.45pm kick-off between Ballymena United and Coleraine FC. The walk w

Tributes have been paid following the passing of former Ballymena Mayor and long-serving councillor PJ McAvoy, a respected public figure who dedicated three decades to serving the people of the town. Mr McAvoy, who sadly passed away on Thursday 19 February, was widely recognised for his commitment to public life and his efforts to foster cooperation and mutual respect within local government. Three decades of public service The former SDLP councillor was first elected to Ball

Pictured at the Veteran Information Roadshow event in Ballymena are (L-R) Charlie Marno, Ulster Defence Regiment and Royal Irish Regiment, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, Veterans Commissioner David Johnstone and Tricia Robinson, Royal Armed Medical Core Serving personnel, veterans and their families in Northern Ireland are set to benefit from a new dedicated advice service designed to help them access the support and entitlements available to them. The announcement was ma

Julie Martin from Northern Ireland Hospice with Mittlè McFadden and Jennifer Gardiner and members of Farmers’ Choir NI Farmers’ Choir Northern Ireland has raised £2,200 for Northern Ireland Hospice and Rural Support following its Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols held at St Patrick’s Parish Church, Kilrea last December. The fundraising total was generated through a freewill offering at the seasonal carol service, which drew strong support from local farmers, families and me

Ballymena could become the site of Northern Ireland’s first grid-scale hydrogen-to-power (H2P) system, as BS Holdings Ltd confirms plans to partner with POWERHOUSE ENERGY GROUP PLC in a zero-emission energy project aimed at supporting the National Grid. The proposed development, which is dependent on support from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, would combine renewable electricity with hydrogen production to provide back-up power when wind generation drops and

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council looks set to join a neighbouring authority in restricting commercial use of household recycling centres (HRCs). The issue was discussed behind closed doors at Monday’s meeting of the borough council at The Braid in Ballymena. At last month’s meeting of the council’s Environment and Economy Committee, councillors were asked to “reinstate the system used during Covid” , which restricted access by commercial vehicles and limited use of househo

Alderman Stewart McDonald welcomes the confirmation of resurfacing works on Sand Road, Galgorm Resurfacing works on Sand Road, Galgorm are expected to commence soon after confirmation from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), with short-term disruption anticipated while the improvement scheme is carried out. TUV Alderman Stewart McDonald welcomed the update, describing the long-awaited road maintenance as necessary and beneficial for the area. “I welcome confirmation fro