NEWS

A man wanted in connection with child sexual offences in Ballymena has been extradited from Spain to Northern Ireland, five years after he allegedly failed to answer bail. The 45-year-old suspect was transferred back to Northern Ireland on Thursday, 27 November 2025, following his arrest earlier this year in the Canary Islands. He is wanted to stand trial for five offences of sexual activity with a child, alleged to have taken place in the Ballymena area in August and October

John Ferris, Accelerator Leader, Ulster Bank; Kerri Anderson, Head of Fundraising, Air Ambulance Northern Ireland, and Terry Robb, Head of Personal Banking, Ulster Bank. Ulster Bank colleagues in Ballymena have helped raise more than £155,000 for Air Ambulance Northern Ireland (AANI) as part of this year’s major ‘One Week in September’ fundraising campaign — delivering a six-figure boost for the charity’s lifesaving work. Staff at the Ballymena branch organised a series of ev

The interim chief executive of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has defended the authority’s decision to move to blue mixed-recycling bins in Ballymena and Carrickfergus from 2026/27, despite neighbouring Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council phasing out the very same system. Speaking during Monday night’s full council meeting at The Braid in Ballymena, Valerie Watts responded to a public question which asked: “Who is right – Antrim council getting rid of blue bins or B

The potential for locating a dog park at the Ecos Nature Park in Ballymena has been dismissed at a meeting of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council this week. The issue was raised through a public question submitted ahead of Monday evening’s meeting at The Braid in Ballymena. Responding, Interim Chief Executive Valerie Watts said: “After consideration of this question, it would be council’s view that Ecos is not a suitable location for a dog park for a number of reasons. “A key

Victoria Brown, Director of Marketing at Galgorm Collection and Tara Moore, Head of Spa Operations at Galgorm accept the award for Best Spa Weekend at the Condé Nast Johansens in London. Galgorm, Northern Ireland’s premier luxury resort, has secured a series of major international accolades at the World Luxury Awards and the Condé Nast Johansens Awards, reinforcing its status as one of the world’s leading spa and hospitality destinations. The global recognition comes as the

Proudly brought to you by Ballymena BID (Business Improvement District) Ballymena Town Centre is gearing up for a magical festive season, unveiling a vibrant programme of family-friendly events, Christmas characters, charity activities and pop-up entertainment designed to bring joy and festive spirit to the heart of the town. With festive shopping, cosy cafés, vibrant bars and restaurants, and a full schedule of December activities, Ballymena is inviting visitors from near an

Crowned ‘Newcomer of the Year’ at the 2025 British Hairdressing Awards, Chloe Houston of Houston Hair, Ballymena Chloe Houston of Houston Hair has been crowned Newcomer of the Year at the 2025 British Hairdressing Awards, sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional — a remarkable achievement for the 21-year-old stylist in her first ever entry to the competition. Her win marks a significant milestone, placing her among the brightest rising stars in UK hairdressing. Known locally for

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is set to usher in the festive season with a series of much-loved Christmas Artisan Markets, celebrating local creativity and offering residents and visitors the chance to enjoy seasonal shopping in the heart of their town centres. The markets—now a staple of the borough’s Christmas calendar—will feature an array of local producers showcasing artisan foods, festive bakes, handcrafted decorations and unique gifts. Designed to bring communiti

The former Woolworths store on Bridge Street, Ballymena Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has deferred a decision on the sale of the former Woolworths premises in Ballymena town centre. The property at 12–16 Bridge Street was discussed in a closed session at a council meeting last month. Councillors had been asked to approve placing the building on the market. The former chain store, which closed in 2008, sits opposite council headquarters at The Braid. Last year, the counc

Principals Sandra Sheeran (Ballykeel Primary), Karen McMaster (Camphill Primary), and Neil McCullough (Harryville Primary), governors, counsellor and parent representatives, with Minister Gordon Lyons, DUP North Antrim MLA Paul Frew, and Indeoendent Ballymena Councillor Lawrie Philpott. The Minister for Communities, Gordon Lyons , visited North Antrim on Wednesday following intervention from DUP MLA Paul Frew that helped secure continued funding for a counselling and therap

Helen Gage lives with COPD and has lent her support to NICHS’s Hall of Hope at Antrim Area Hospital to inform and inspire other respiratory patients and their families. A Kells woman living with an incurable lung condition has urged others to seek help early, as new figures reveal the number of people in Northern Ireland diagnosed with COPD has risen by 56% in just 17 years. Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke (NICHS) is using COPD Awareness Month this November to shine a s

The vacant premises on Church Street in Ballymena town centre Plans have been lodged with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council that could see a vacant retail unit on Church Street, Ballymena, transformed into a combined coffee shop and amusement arcade. The application, submitted by Broad Enterprises Ltd of Belmont Crescent, Londonderry, seeks permission for a change of use at 41–43 Church Street from its current retail designation to a mixed café and entertainment venue. Acco

Ballymena has become one of the latest towns in the UK to benefit from EE’s new 5G+ network, with upgraded coverage now live across the area in time for the busy Christmas period. The enhancement – rolled out at no extra cost – aims to provide faster speeds and significantly more reliable connectivity for residents, shoppers and visitors, particularly around high-footfall areas such as Fairhill Shopping Centre. The upgrade forms part of EE’s nationwide December rollout, which

Free dementia support clinics are returning to branches of Nationwide Building Society in Ballymena, Derry, Newry and Bangor this December, with Dementia UK urging people to be aware of the early signs and symptoms of the condition. Hosted by the charity’s specialist Admiral Nurses, the face-to-face clinics will offer confidential, tailored advice to anyone concerned about dementia—whether for themselves or a loved one. Appointments can be booked online via the Dementia UK w

Barr’s Butchers, one of Ballymena’s longest-established family businesses, has officially opened a major new store on Ballymoney Street, marking a significant milestone in its 147-year history. The fifth-generation butchers, founded in 1878 by George Barr, unveiled the expanded premises on Tuesday 25 November, signalling a substantial investment both in the future of the business and in Ballymena town centre. Now led by Managing Director Trevor Barr , great-great grandson of

The Housing Executive’s Ballymena office is opening its doors to the local community this December for a special coffee morning and donation drive in support of Homelessness Awareness Week. Locals are invited to Twickenham House on Monday 1st December, from 10am to 2pm , for a warm drink, a slice of cake, and an opportunity to show support for individuals experiencing homelessness. As part of the initiative, staff will also be collecting non-perishable food items, toiletries,

Ballymena Academy pupils Samantha Dunlop and Katie McNeilly who are through to the final stage of the ABP Angus Youth Challenge Ballymena Academy has secured a place in the final of the prestigious ABP Angus Youth Challenge, with two Year 11 pupils set to take on an innovative project aimed at advancing genetic literacy in beef production. The announcement was made today via YouTube , where pupils Samantha Dunlop and Katie McNeilly learned that their school had qualified for

Ballymena’s 7 Towers Burgers is rapidly becoming one of Northern Ireland’s most talked-about emerging food brands after securing two major accolades at the NI Food To Go Awards 2025 and continuing to build impressive momentum both online and in the local community. The smash-burger specialist, based in Ballee Community Square, was crowned Newcomer of the Year and received Highly Commended in the Best Burger To Go category. The wins follow their earlier success at the Ballym

Wrightbus CEO Jean-Marc Gales World-leading zero-emission bus manufacturer Wrightbus has capped its most successful year to date with another major international accolade — this time for innovation in mobility at the ADS Federal Conference in Germany. The Ballymena-based firm was recognised for its significant advances in hydrogen technology, including its record-breaking fleet currently operating across Germany. The latest honour joins a growing collection of awards presente

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has voted to support a motion to rename Prince Andrew Way in Carrickfergus, following growing public concern over continued association with the disgraced former royal. The motion, brought forward by the Alliance Party during a meeting on Monday evening (24 November), proposes renaming the street while retaining a link to the Royal Family. Carrickfergus Castle Councillor Lauren Gray said the council would “work to rename Prince Andrew Way