NEWS

All photos: William Cherry/Presseye A royal visit to the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) has been hailed as “a proud and unforgettable day for our Service” by Chief Fire & Rescue Officer Aidan Jennings. The Prince and Princess of Wales visited the organisation’s new state-of-the-art Learning & Development College, located outside Cookstown in County Tyrone, where they met with firefighters, trainees, and staff to learn more about how the Service protects commu

Participants Imogene Jones, Siobhan Davidson, Libbie Barnett, Courtney Shields, Lorna Ramsey, Clare Moore, Kris Steele, and Simon Anderson, pictured with trainer Laura McAuley Ballymena BID has joined forces with local company Knockdene Healthcare to deliver vital defibrillator and first aid training to town centre businesses, reinforcing Ballymena’s commitment to safety and community wellbeing. Staff from Wallaces, Front Page Bar, Camerons , and Ballymena BID took part in t

Brendan and Charlotte Rodgers with some members of the Stoneyhill Committee, who oversee and administer the Maltina Park project . Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers and his wife Charlotte made a special visit to Maltina Park in Carnlough on Saturday (11 October) to view the impressive progress of a new cross community sports complex being developed on the Antrim coast. The facility — a collaboration between St John’s Camogie Club and Carnlough Swifts FC — has been named Maltina

Invasive species: The Asian hornet, otherwise known as a yellow-legged hornet was discovered for the first time in Northern Ireland. South Antrim MP Robin Swann has written to DAERA Minister Andrew Muir seeking urgent clarification on Northern Ireland’s response to the confirmed presence of an Asian hornet, warning that the invasive species poses a serious threat to local honeybees, pollinators, and biodiversity. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) confirmed last w

Fitzsimons Opticians’ senior optometrist and director, John Broderick, undertaking an eye examination A Ballymena optometry practice is marking World Menopause Day with the launch of a new dry eye service aimed at improving women’s eye health during menopause and perimenopause. Fitzsimons Opticians, based on William Street, has invested in state-of-the-art diagnostic technology to help identify and treat dry eye syndrome — a condition that experts say can affect more than hal

(L-R): Erhan Eren, Managing Director Europe at Wrightbus; Max Nastold, CEO of Kazenmaier Leasing GmbH; Tobias Fräde, Business Development Manager Trucks/Buses at Kazenmaier Leasing GmbH; Gregor Creslovnik, Sales at Wrightbus. World-leading bus manufacturer Wrightbus has strengthened its foothold in Germany by joining forces with renowned leasing firm Kazenmaier, in a move designed to accelerate the transition to zero-emission public transport across the country. The partnersh

CGI of the new Primark store at Fairhill Shopping Centre, Ballymena Primark has confirmed that its brand-new Ballymena store at Fairhill Shopping Centre will officially open on Friday 5th December at 10am. The eagerly awaited move marks an exciting new chapter for Primark Ballymena, which first opened its doors in the town in 1983. Relocating less than a mile from its long-standing home in the Tower Centre, the new store will double in size, covering 26,200 sq. ft of fashion,

Police in Ballymena have recovered suspected Class B drugs valued at approximately £3,000 following a search operation carried out on Saturday, 11th October 2025. Officers from the Ballymena District Support Team, who were on routine patrol in Ballymena town centre, observed a suspicious male. This led to a search and follow-up house search, during which quantities of suspected Class B drugs, along with a sum of cash and various electronic devices, were seized. A Police Servi

Police in Mid and East Antrim have confirmed that additional patrols were deployed on Sunday evening, 12 October, following reports of anti-social driving in the village. In a statement shared over the weekend, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said the move was prompted by ongoing concerns about dangerous and inconsiderate driving behaviour in the area. Officers from the local policing team referenced an “excellent post” originally shared by colleagues in PSNI N

A 40-year-old man arrested in connection with the death of a woman in Newtownabbey has been released on bail pending further enquiries, police have confirmed this evening, Monday, 13th October. Emergency services, including officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, were called to a property in the Old Mill Drive area on Sunday afternoon, 12th October. A woman was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Detective Chief

The Asian Hornet, also yellow-legged hornet The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) has confirmed the first-ever record of an Asian hornet in Northern Ireland, following the capture of the invasive insect in Dundonald, Belfast, on 10 October. The insect, also known as the yellow-legged hornet, was reported by a vigilant member of the public, triggering a swift response from NIEA officials. Originating from East Asia, the Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) was first recorded

AIB on Wellington Street, Ballymena AIB NI is set to visit Ballymena on Wednesday 12 November as part of its new ‘Let’s Talk Co-Ownership’ branch series – a fresh initiative designed to support homebuyers across Northern Ireland with practical, face-to-face guidance. Running throughout October and November, the series will see AIB’s local mortgage experts teaming up with Co-Ownership specialists to provide tailored advice and insight for anyone considering home ownership. The

Education Minister Paul Givan has welcomed the Northern Ireland Assembly’s support for the School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill, which aims to reduce the financial burden of school uniforms for families. The Bill, introduced by Minister Givan in February 2025, has now passed its Final Stage and will come into effect for the 2026/2027 academic year. It marks a major policy shift in how schools across Northern Ireland manage uniform requirements, with new statutory

Emily, aged 11, from Ahoghill, was one of eight young artists selected from over 1,000 entries across Northern Ireland for Translink’s Climate Action ‘Brand A Bus’ competition. A young artist from Ahoghill has seen her creative vision come to life in spectacular fashion — on the side of a Translink double-decker bus. 11-year-old Emily is one of eight talented young artists from across Northern Ireland whose artwork was selected from more than 1,000 entries in Translink’s inau

Stephen Walker and Declan Lawn will be in the Braid Theatre, Ballymena on Tuesday 14 October at 7:30pm  Two Ballymena-born writers are set to explore the remarkable life and political legacy of Nobel Laureate David Trimble at a special evening event in the town’s Braid Theatre on Tuesday 14 October. The event will feature acclaimed author Stephen Walker, whose new biography David Trimble: Peacemaker has been described by The Irish Times as a “political page turner,” in conve

Pictured: High-risk missing person Jamie Devlin Police are becoming increasingly concerned for the welfare of high-risk missing person...

Pictured are, from left, Dr Norman Apsley OBE, LEDCOM Chairman, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick and Ken...

Police have issued travel advice to football fans attending this evening’s UEFA World Cup Qualifier between Northern Ireland and Germany...

World-renowned hymn writers to bring festive joy to the SSE Arena this December Acclaimed hymn writers and performers Keith and Kristyn...

Emerald Park, Ireland’s only theme park and zoo, is gearing up for a frightfully fun Halloween season with the return of its popular...