NEWS

Translink has urged passengers to plan ahead for festive travel as a series of adjusted Christmas and New Year timetables come into effect across Northern Ireland’s bus and rail services. The operator confirmed early finishes on key dates, full service cancellations on Christmas Day, and a range of special holiday timetables affecting NI Railways, Enterprise, Metro/Glider, Ulsterbus, Goldliner and airport express routes. A Translink spokesperson encouraged passengers to prepa

Ballymena is gearing up for a major festive celebration this Saturday, 13 December, as Santa’s Spectacular Festive Cavalcade returns for its third year—complete with hundreds of illuminated vehicles, charity fundraising, and the hugely popular Festive Minions bringing lively chaos to the town centre earlier in the day. The much anticipated Christmas convoy, which always attracts visitors from near and far, has rapidly become one of Ballymena’s standout seasonal events. Host

A Ballymena man has been handed a prison sentence for his role in the large-scale, race-motivated disorder that brought significant disruption and fear to the town in June this year. At Antrim Crown Court today, Tuesday 9 December, Jordan Benjamin McAuley was sentenced to two years and eight months’ imprisonment after being convicted of riot. Half of the term will be served in custody, with the remainder on licence. McAuley, from Ballymena, also received a three-month custodi

The Education Authority (EA) has issued further safety advice to schools across Northern Ireland today as Storm Bram continues to intensify, bringing hazardous winds and an upgraded amber weather warning to parts of the region. A spokesperson for the EA said: “All schools are advised to keep pupils indoors throughout the day and, if practical, to cancel after school activities.” Schools are also being encouraged to take a flexible approach to dismissal times due to the deteri

The Education Authority (EA) has confirmed that there are no plans for general school closures today despite the escalating weather situation as Storm Bram moves across Northern Ireland. A spokesperson for the EA said: “Following the escalation of the Storm Bram warning this morning, the Education Authority has discussed the situation with the Department. At this stage, it is not planned to issue general school closure notices.” “Instead, school principals are being encourag

Children in Ballymena are set for an extra dose of festive cheer this year as two local retailers announce a major Christmas giveaway featuring all 15 toys from the prestigious DreamToys 2025 list. Following the official unveiling of the highly anticipated selection, Smyths at Braidwater Retail Park and ToyTown in Fairhill Shopping Centre have teamed up to offer a dream prize for local youngsters — the full lineup of this year’s must-have toys, gadgets and games. The initia

Ronny McFall, Community Champion at Tesco Ballymena Tesco customers in Ballymena are being encouraged to help bring festive cheer to local children in need by donating new toys to The Salvation Army this Christmas. Until 15 December, the Tesco Ballymena Superstore is hosting a special collection point for new and unwrapped toys, which will be distributed to families across the local area by The Salvation Army. The organisation supports vulnerable people through homelessness s

Dogs Trust Ballymena is encouraging festive shoppers to consider a heartfelt and meaningful Christmas gift this year by sponsoring one of the charity’s dogs, including much-loved English Springer Spaniel, Zebedee. With Christmas preparations well underway, Dogs Trust’s ‘Sponsor A Dog Scheme’ provides an ideal present for the canine enthusiast in your life. A sponsorship not only supports the charity’s work caring for around 1,500 dogs at any one time, but also includes a rang

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for Northern Ireland as Storm Bram — officially named by Met Éireann — is forecast to bring severe winds and heavy rain across the UK later on Monday and through Tuesday. The warning is in place from 9:00am to 9:00pm on Tuesday 9 December 2025, with forecasters urging the public to prepare for disruption to travel, power supplies and coastal areas. Storm Bram is expected to track close to western Ireland on Tuesday, generatin

Brie and cranberry is the elite festive flavour combo for me, and add it to some garlic bread, and you have the most unreal snack that is bound to be a crowd-pleaser! Jill Stewart ( @jillbakes_ ) INGREDIENTS… 1 garlic bread baguette Half a wedge of brie, sliced Cranberry sauce Grated cheddar or mozzarella INSTRUCTIONS… • Place the garlic bread on a sheet of greaseproof paper inside your air fryer or on a baking tray if using the oven. • Pull the slices apart gently. • Add abo

Oran Kearney, appointed Ballymena United first team manager Ballymena United Football Club has confirmed the appointment of Oran Kearney as the club’s new first team manager, marking a significant moment for the Sky Blues as they look to strengthen their position heading into the second half of the season. Kearney, 47, brings extensive managerial expertise to the Ballymena Showgrounds following successful spells at Limavady United, Coleraine and Scottish Premiership side St

Northern Trust’s Farm Families Health Check team The pioneering work of Northern Trust’s Farm Families Health Check team has been recognised at the 2025 NI Farming Awards, with the programme receiving the prestigious Farm Safety Affiliate Award. The accolade highlights the team’s commitment to bringing accessible healthcare directly into the heart of rural communities, and its efforts to raise awareness of how personal health is closely linked to farm safety. For years, the F

Gavin and Elaine Lowry, with sons Timmy (left) and Joshua (right) A Ballymena family is rallying behind a much-loved father, husband, and classroom assistant as they take on an extraordinary endurance challenge to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer and vital funds for the charity NIPANC (Northern Ireland Pancreatic Cancer). The event, organised by Gavin Lowry’s daughter-in-law Megan with support from wider family and friends, has already raised more than £3,000 — with hope

Slemish College Students Scarlet Kerr-McKillop and Darragh Martin Two Slemish College students, Scarlet Kerr-McKillop and Darragh Martin , were among the young people given the chance to step inside NI Water’s laboratories as the utility company kicked off the second year of its hybrid work experience programme. The pair joined aspiring scientists from across Northern Ireland for an immersive mix of virtual and in-person learning designed to give students aged 16 to 19 real-w

(L-R) Northern Trust Day Opportunitues volunteers Lee, Kerry, Shop Manager Shirley Kearney, Chris, Annette and Sandra. A group of dedicated volunteers from the Northern Health and Social Care Trust’s Day Opportunities service are being celebrated for their commitment to supporting a local charity shop in the heart of Carrickfergus. Lee, Kerry, Chris, Annette and Sandra – described as the “fab five” – give up their time each week to volunteer at the Action Cancer store, where

Waterstone’s Ballymena has released its latest Top 10 bestselling books, offering a rich mix of new fiction, humour, festive favourites and anticipated annuals. As Christmas shopping season gathers pace, local readers are turning to a wide variety of titles — from Northern Irish literature to children’s blockbusters and high-profile thrillers. This Week’s Top 10 Bestselling Books 1. The Benefactors — Wendy Erskine A sharply observed and darkly funny portrait of contemporary N

Drains Bay on the Antrim coast A report on bathing water quality at Mid and East Antrim beaches during the summer was presented to the Borough Council’s Neighbourhoods and Communities Committee at a meeting in The Braid, Ballymena, on Tuesday evening. Findings showed that following water quality testing on July 29, swimming was temporarily advised against at Portmuck, Islandmagee, due to faecal pollution. Committee members were told this can arise from sewage outfalls, combin

Education Minister Paul Givan is pictured at Anahilt Pre-school Playgroup, Hillsborough with pupils and Dara Graham, Preschool Leader. Education Minister Paul Givan has announced a major expansion of pre-school education provision, with an additional 102 pre-school settings  across Northern Ireland approved to offer full-time education from September 2026. This announcement represents the second phase of settings approved to transition to offering full-time places under the o

Christmas arrived early for Ballymena today as Primark officially opened the doors of its brand-new store at Fairhill Shopping Centre — a major £5 million investment that doubles the retailer’s footprint in the town and delivers a welcome boost to the local economy. The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Jackson Minford, joined store colleagues for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking a significant milestone for the internationally recognised retailer, which first

St Louis Grammar School, Ballymena St Louis Grammar School has secured its place among Northern Ireland’s top-performing post-primary schools, ranking ninth in the prestigious Sunday Times Parent Power 2026 guide . The annual league table, widely considered the definitive benchmark for school performance across the UK, will be published online on Friday 5 December and in print on Sunday 7 December. Nationally, St Louis Grammar also earns a strong position at number 65 within