NEWS

HMS Queen Elizabeth sailing into Belfast on Wednesday morning. (Photo: Michael Luke) Wednesday 07 October 2026 The arrival of HMS Queen Elizabeth in Belfast has prompted TUV leader Jim Allister to call for a significantly stronger permanent Royal Navy presence in Northern Ireland, arguing its strategic importance has grown amid heightened security concerns in the North Atlantic. The 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier sailed into Belfast on Wednesday morning, marking the first visi

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons pictured with (left to right) veteran Danny Shanahan; Chief Executive of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council David Burns; Lagan Valley MP Sorcha Eastwood; Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner David Johnstone; Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh Brian Higginson; veteran Jonny Ball; Lisburn and Castlreagh councillor James Tinsley; and veteran Stuart Ball. Saturday 03 October 2026 Northern Ireland competitors preparing to take part in the Invict

The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon with the Principal of Olderfleet Primary School, Mrs. Galbraith and representatives from the school. The Red Ensign has been raised in Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Larne as Mid and East Antrim paid tribute to generations of Merchant Navy seafarers — including thousands who lost their lives during the two World Wars. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council marked national Merchant Navy Day, held annually on 3 September, with

The Ulster Aviation Society is preparing to throw open its historic wartime hangars for what promises to be its biggest European Heritage Open Days weekend yet, with more aircraft, historic vehicles and entertainment added as visitor numbers continue to soar. The entirely volunteer-run charity will welcome the public to Maze Long Kesh, near Lisburn, on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September, with free admission and parking and no need to book in advance. Running from 10am until

Veterans Support Group Ballymena Chairperson, Councillor Lawrie Philpott Wednesday 26 August 2026 A new dedicated Veterans Hub will open its doors in Ballymena tomorrow, creating a permanent local place where veterans and their families can access support, guidance and friendship. Veterans Support Group Ballymena (VSGB) will officially launch the new facility at 62a Church Street on Thursday 27 August, serving veterans and their families from across Ballymena and the wider Mi

Waiting on the chinook for extraction… Alan Barr serving with the Intelligence Corps in Afghanistan Tuesday, 4 August 2026 Military veterans, armed forces personnel, and frontline emergency service workers across Mid and East Antrim will now be able to access discounted memberships at the borough’s leisure centres under a new council scheme aimed at recognising their service. Eligible veterans as well as those currently serving, PSNI officers and staff, Northern Ireland Fire

Kellswater Flute Band at the Ulster Memorial Tower, Thiepval, France Kellswater Flute Band has returned from what members described as one of the most significant engagements in the band’s history after taking part in the 110th anniversary commemorations of the Battle of the Somme in France and Belgium. The band participated in a series of remembrance events marking the anniversary of the opening day of the Battle of the Somme on July 1, performing at some of the most importa

Political, military and community representatives gathered at the Knockagh Monument on Sunday to commemorate the Battle of the Somme. (All photos: Steven McAuley / McAuley Multimedia) The sacrifice of thousands of soldiers who lost their lives during one of the First World War’s bloodiest battles was remembered on Sunday (June 28) as veterans, military personnel, civic leaders and community representatives gathered high above County Antrim for a poignant commemoration at Knoc

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly met members of the armed forces in Coleraine, including Seamus, the regimental mascot of the Irish Guards. Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has used Armed Forces Day celebrations in Coleraine to encourage veterans, serving personnel and their families to access Northern Ireland’s first dedicated government support line for the armed forces community. The call comes just weeks after the launch of

Thousands of people packed the streets, parks and riverside of Coleraine on Saturday as Armed Forces Day 2026 transformed the town into a celebration of military service, community pride and national remembrance. From solemn acts of reflection at the War Memorial to dramatic parachute displays above the town and a packed programme of entertainment throughout the day, residents and visitors turned out in huge numbers to honour serving personnel, veterans, reservists, cadets an

Thousands of people lined the streets of Coleraine on Saturday morning as more than 500 military personnel took part in a major Armed Forces Day parade under clear blue skies. The town centre was awash with spectators as service personnel, veterans, civic leaders and military representatives gathered to honour the contribution of the UK’s Armed Forces in what is one of the largest events of its kind ever hosted in the borough. The celebration, which continues throughout the d

Thousands of people are expected to descend on Coleraine this Saturday as Armed Forces Day 2026 transforms the town into one of Northern Ireland’s largest civic celebrations, featuring military displays, flypasts, live performances and a packed programme of family entertainment. Around 25,000 visitors are anticipated to attend the event on Saturday 20 June, with organisers describing it as a major opportunity to recognise the service and sacrifice of serving personnel, vetera

A chinook helicopter like the one that crashed in 1994 on Mull of Kintyre, and (inset) Sir Liam Fox More than three decades after one of Britain’s deadliest military aviation disasters, fresh pressure is mounting on the UK Government to re-examine the circumstances surrounding the RAF Chinook crash at the Mull of Kintyre that killed 29 people — including many of Northern Ireland’s most senior security and intelligence personnel. Former UK Defence Secretary Sir Liam Fox has wr

Northern Ireland’s defence sector is set for a major expansion following the launch of a £50 million Defence Growth Deal, aimed at boosting start-ups, strengthening supply chains and creating highly-skilled jobs across the region. The investment, announced by the UK Government, is designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and emerging defence technology companies break into the defence supply chain, while accelerating innovation and long-term economic growth.

Pictured at the launch of Armed Forces Day 2026 at Coleraine Town Hall; Councillor Tanya Elder, Captain Robert Gibson BEM, Royal Logistic Corps 152 (North Irish) Regiment, Wing Commander Jacqueline Rankin (RAF), Deputy Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Alderman Richard Brown Stewart, Commander Tom Wardley, Senior Naval Officer NI, Councillor Dawn Huggins, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council's Veterans' Champion, Councillor Philip Anderson, Deputy Veterans Champion And k

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth speaks to those gathered to mark the special occasion at the the Ulster Aviation Society. One of the world’s most iconic military aircraft has found a new home in Northern Ireland after the head of the Royal Air Force personally handed over a historic Harrier jump jet to the Ulster Aviation Society. The landmark donation, made on 1 April to coincide with the RAF’s 108th birthday, sees the celebrated aircraft join one of Nor

US Air Force F22 Raptor jet A loud rumbling noise that echoed across parts of County Antrim on Tuesday night has been linked to US military aircraft crossing UK airspace — and further activity could follow. Residents reported hearing a sustained roar overhead, prompting speculation online. Flight tracking later showed two US Air Force Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers transiting UK airspace alongside a number of F-22 Raptor fighter jets and a smaller US Navy aircraft under the sign

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

RAF Aldergrove, and (inset) South Antrim MP Robin Swann speaking in the House of Commons Robin Swann MP has urged the Government to act with urgency to ensure the “full utilisation” of Aldergrove’s world-class military facilities, following the withdrawal of RAF Puma helicopters and the end of a long chapter in the site’s aviation history. Speaking in the House of Commons, the South Antrim MP questioned the Ministry of Defence on how it intends to address a growing capacit

The Joyce on display Loughshore Park, Antrim Antrim and Newtownabbey councillors have agreed to work with a group of veterans to help maintain a historic wartime boat that has been returned to the borough. The Joyce — a 40-foot torpedo retrieval vessel which operated on Lough Neagh during the Second World War — is now on display beside The Gateway Visitor Centre at Antrim’s Lough Shore. The restored craft was unveiled earlier this year as part of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borou