NEWS

39-year-old Michael Kenna A 39-year-old motorcyclist has died following a single-vehicle collision in Co Fermanagh in the early hours of Sunday morning. The victim has been named by police as Michael Kenna, from the Belturbet area of Co Cavan. The fatal collision happened on the Marble Arch Road in Florencecourt at around 6am on Sunday, May 24. Police, ambulance crews and firefighters all attended the scene, however Mr Kenna was pronounced dead at the roadside. Police investi

The scene on Sunday afternoon as huge plumes of smoke billowed into the sky from a blaze at a scrapyard in Titanic Quarter, Belfast (Images: Anne Kelly) A major firefighting operation is continuing in Belfast after a huge blaze broke out at a scrapyard on East Twin Road, prompting public safety warnings and a significant emergency response. Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service said 60 firefighters are currently battling the fire at Clearway Metal Recycling, where a large qu

Communities Minister pictured with US Consul General James Applegate and Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Tracy Kelly at the launch of PRONI’s Ulster American Treasures: The Migration Story at Belfast City Hall. Northern Ireland’s deep and often overlooked role in the creation of the United States has been brought sharply back into focus with the launch of a major new publication uncovering the stories of Ulster emigrants who helped shape America from its earliest days. Comm

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

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Ruairí McHugh said the festival had become one of the city’s defining events More than 100,000 visitors are expected to descend on Londonderry this summer as the Foyle Maritime Festival returns with a major expanded programme featuring Tall Ships, a giant waterfront wheel, fireworks, live entertainment and a brand-new illuminated river spectacle. Running from 25–28 June 2026, the internationally recognised festival

Passengers travelling between Belfast and Dublin on Enterprise rail services are being warned to expect delays and bus transfers for three days after engineering works forced the closure of part of the line south of the border. The rail line between Dundalk and Dublin will close from Saturday 30 May until Monday 1 June inclusive, with replacement buses operating for affected sections of the journey. The disruption is expected to affect passengers travelling between Northern I

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

An elderly man and woman were left badly shaken after masked intruders tied them up during a terrifying overnight burglary at a home in County Londonderry. The ordeal unfolded in the early hours of Saturday morning, 23 May, at a property in the Formoyle Road area of Macosquin, where a man in his 70s and a woman in her 60s were confronted inside their own home by two masked men. Police said the couple were ordered to hand over money before the intruders stole mobile phones, a

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

Detectives investigating violent dissident republican activity have carried out further searches in Ballymena and Larne following the arrest of five men under the Terrorism Act in west Belfast. A number of vehicles have also been seized as part of the ongoing investigation being led by the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Terrorism Investigation Unit. The latest searches will heighten attention locally after police confirmed operations had extended beyond Belfast into par

*Stock image A dog owner has been banned from keeping dogs for 20 years after a series of attacks involving an unlicensed French Bulldog left three women injured — including victims who suffered severe facial injuries. The case, which was brought before Laganside Magistrates’ Court earlier this month, followed three separate attacks between October 2024 and April 2025 that triggered a major investigation by enforcement officers from Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council. Co

Ballymena is preparing to celebrate a major milestone this Saturday as the town marks its 400th anniversary with a packed day of parades, live entertainment, history, music and free family activities expected to draw large crowds into the town centre. From community groups and youth organisations taking part in a colourful town parade, to live performances in People’s Park and historical re-enactors bringing centuries of local history to life, the celebrations are designed to

Firefighters remain at the scene of an ongoing vehicle fire in the Glenwhirry area outside Ballymena on Friday afternoon after emergency services were called to the incident shortly before 2.40pm. Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) confirmed crews were tasked to Douglas Road, Glenwhirry, at 2.37pm on Friday 22 May 2026, with multiple appliances dispatched to tackle the blaze. The incident prompted a significant emergency response in the rural Ballymena area, wit