NEWS

(L-R) Judy Nelson (RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer), Ruby & Sam (RNLI Lifeguards), Ivor Paul (RNLI Launch Authority), Perry Walton (RNLI Coxswain), Garth Anderson (The Causeway Shantymen Engagement Officer and Event Lead), Chris Millar (The Causeway Shantymen Chairman and Musical Director) Northern Ireland’s coastline will ring with sea shanties, maritime storytelling and traditional music this summer as The Causeway Shantymen prepare to host a major cross-country Shanty Weekend

Mayor, Councillor Dawn Huggins (left) and Deputy Mayor, Alderman Sandra Hunter. Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has made history after appointing two women simultaneously to its top civic positions for the first time since the authority was formed. DUP Councillor Dawn Huggins has officially been installed as the new Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, while UUP Alderman Sandra Hunter has taken on the role of Deputy Mayor for the year ahead. The appoin

Portrush RNLI Inshore Lifeboat ‘The Ken Blair’ Two kayakers were rescued off the north coast on Wednesday afternoon after getting into difficulty in the water near Ramore Head in Portrush. Volunteer crew members from RNLI were called into action after reports that two people had ended up in the sea alongside their kayaks just off the popular coastal headland. The incident prompted the launch of the Portrush RNLI Inshore Lifeboat, with the rescue operation unfolding shortly af

Police are deploying extra officers to beaches, parks and town centres across Northern Ireland this bank holiday weekend as warm weather is expected to bring a major surge in visitors to coastal hotspots and tourist areas. The PSNI said additional patrols will be visible across the North Coast, North Down and South Down over the sunny holiday weekend, with officers focusing on anti-social behaviour, alcohol-related disorder, dangerous driving and public safety. The move comes

A major new sports bar and restaurant promising live sport, late-night entertainment and a “true taste of the Causeway Coast” has officially opened inside The Portrush Atlantic Hotel. The venue, called Another Round, replaces the hotel’s former Atlantic Bar and forms part of a wider refurbishment programme at the landmark Portrush seafront hotel. Designed as a new social hub in the centre of the seaside town, the concept combines live sports coverage, food, drinks and enterta

North West 200 race 1 Supertwin Sportbike Race 2: Storm Stacey celebrates winning the final race of the day the second Superbike race during the International North West 200. (All photos: Stephen Davison/Pacemaker Press unless otherwise stated) Storm Stacey delivered one of the standout performances in recent North West 200 history on Saturday as the English newcomer stunned the road racing world with two race wins, a lap record, and a fearless display across a dramatic day d

Dean Harrison takes North West 200 Superbike pole Thursday evening qualifying resumed at the 2026 Briggs Equipment North West 200 following the day’s earlier fatal incident, with riders returning to the Triangle circuit for shortened final sessions across all four classes. In difficult circumstances on the north coast, Honda Racing’s Dean Harrison emerged as the fastest man in the Superbike class, securing pole position for Saturday’s feature races after producing the quickes

A competitor at the 2026 Briggs Equipment North West 200 has died following an incident during Thursday morning’s Superbike qualifying session on the famous Triangle circuit. Organisers confirmed the rider suffered fatal injuries after an incident at Station Corner on the NW200 course, prompting the session to be immediately red flagged as emergency services rushed to the scene. The tragedy has cast a sombre shadow over one of Northern Ireland’s biggest sporting events, with

Briggs Equipment North West 200 Race Director, Mervyn Whyte, pictured with Rob Hodson and Storm Stacey who with both make their North West debuts at the famous north coast venue on May 4-9. (Photo credit: Stephen Davison) A rising British Superbike star is set to take on one of the most daunting challenges in road racing this week, as Storm Stacey prepares to make his debut at the Briggs Equipment North West 200. The 23-year-old arrives at the iconic Triangle circuit in Portr

Inset: North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston Mounting pressure on NHS dentistry in North Antrim has been laid bare in the Assembly, with warnings that the system is no longer sustainable and is being steadily replaced by private provision. Speaking during a debate this week, North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston said the current situation goes far beyond access issues, describing it as a structural failure that is already reshaping how dental care is delivered across communities includin

Richard Cooper celebrating winning the Tides Restaurant Supersport Race at last year’s Briggs Equipment North West 200. (Photo Stephen Davison/Pacemaker Press) Seven-time Briggs Equipment North West 200 winner Richard Cooper says he and the SMS Nicholl Oils team are leaving their first test sessions on the BMW M1000RR “very, very happy” — with confidence building rapidly ahead of race week at Portrush from May 4–9. The 43-year-old Nottingham rider has been getting to grips wi

PSNI Chief Superintendent Mark Roberts, NW 200’s Mervyn White and PSNI Constable from Roads Policing. Police are urging road users travelling to and from this year’s North West 200 to prioritise safety, as tens of thousands of visitors prepare to descend on the North Coast for Northern Ireland’s largest sporting event. With race week scheduled to run from 4th to 9th May, officers have warned that increased traffic, changing road conditions, and heightened excitement around th

The Causeway Coast Ford Fair will return to Portrush this summer with a powerful new focus, as organisers confirm Cancer Focus Northern Ireland as the official charity partner for the 2026 event, bringing a major fundraising and awareness drive to one of the region’s most anticipated motoring gatherings. The event is set to take place on Sunday 7th June at West Bay, Portrush, drawing Ford enthusiasts, car clubs, families and visitors from across Northern Ireland and beyond fo

Kurt Harmer, Dealer Principal of Ballymena Honda, and Honda Racing’s John McGuinness, presented five Honda Fireblades and three Honda CBR600RR machines to Mervyn Whyte, Race Director of the Briggs Equipment North West 200 at the recent re-opening of the revamped Ballymena Honda showroom, in Co. Antrim. (Pics by: Stephen Davison) Ballymena Honda and Feridax have reinforced the safety operation at this year’s Briggs Equipment North West 200 by supplying a fleet of high-performa

Carl Cox, Josh Brookes and Alan Morris A major new partnership has been unveiled ahead of the 2026 Briggs Equipment North West 200, with Australian road racing star Josh Brookes confirmed to return to Portrush as part of a high-profile collaboration between Carl Cox Motorsport and the newly formed Uggly&Co Racing team. The deal will see Brookes line up in both Supersport races during race week, running from May 4–9, aboard a Suzuki GSX-R750 in the Fraser Homes and Tides Resta

The RNLI has issued its own urgent Mayday call after new figures revealed its volunteer lifeboat crews across Northern Ireland were launched 235 times in 2025, bringing 214 people to safety, including three lives saved. The newly released data, published today by the lifesaving charity, also shows that 80 of those call-outs took place in darkness, underlining the scale and intensity of demand facing volunteer crews at the region’s 10 lifeboat stations. Alongside the lifeboat

A major policing operation across the North Coast over the bank holiday period resulted in nine arrests, 21 vehicles seized for dangerous defects and 560 speeding detections, as police moved to tackle traffic disruption, anti-social behaviour and dangerous driving in one of Northern Ireland’s busiest visitor hotspots. The extensive operation, led by police in Causeway Coast and Glens District, ran throughout the holiday weekend amid heightened concerns around road safety, exc

An eight metre yacht with one person on board was safely brought to shore off the Causeway Coast on Wednesday morning, April 8, after suffering engine trouble near the Skerries, prompting a call-out for Portrush RNLI’s inshore lifeboat. The volunteer crew was tasked by HM Coastguard at 11.29am following reports that the vessel was in difficulty off the Skerries, close to Portrush Harbour. In calm spring conditions, with clear skies, good visibility and only a light wind, the

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has received plans for a new 154-caravan extension at Skerries Holiday Park in Portrush. The council’s planning department has recently received an application for 154 new static caravan pitches, along with associated amenity space, parking, and landscaping, on lands at and to the south-west of the existing park at 126 Dunluce Road. According to an accompanying Design and Access Statement , the site includes the access and front portio

Visitors travelling to the North Coast for the Easter holiday weekend are being met with an increased police presence, as the Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed officers are out on patrol across the district today. With large numbers expected to travel to Portrush and surrounding coastal areas, police have issued a clear public safety message focused on responsible behaviour, road safety and respect for shared public spaces. In a statement issued today, officers sai