NEWS

A meeting is due to take place this week between Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s chief executive, Richard Baker, and his counterpart at Bryson Recycling over missed bin collections across the borough. Councillors were told at a meeting of the council’s Operations Committee, held at Antrim Civic Centre on Monday evening, that service issues will be discussed on Wednesday, ahead of a further meeting with members in the council chamber later this month. Airport Sinn Fé

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick is joined by Chris Ward (Workforce Training Services) and Jessica Smyth (LMP) to launch the SIA Academy A new bespoke Employment Academy has been launched in Antrim and Newtownabbey to address skills shortages in the security industry and help local residents take their first steps into sustainable employment. The week-long intensive programme, delivered by the Antrim and Newtownabbey Labour Market Partnership (LMP

Pictured outside the newly expanded JAQ Group facilities in Randalstown is Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick, and Managing Director, Connor Martin. An innovative Northern Ireland e-commerce fragrance company is creating dozens of new jobs after significantly expanding its manufacturing and logistics operations in Randalstown, County Antrim. The JAQ Group has invested in a major extension of its facilities at the Craigstown Industrial Estate to meet

Mayor of Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council, Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick with representatives from Antrim & Newtownabbey Council Labour Market Partnership. A new employment-focused Medical Administration Training Academy is set to launch in Antrim and Newtownabbey in January 2026, offering local residents a direct pathway into administrative roles within GP practices. Following the success of two earlier academies delivered in other council areas, the Northern GP Federatio

The JAQ Group team, from left to right, including Lucie Boal, Calvin Martin, with Claire McGimpsey from Cash for Kids, Connor Martin, Genevieve Martin, Jackie Kilpatrick, Mollie Walker and Alex Macalintal.    A County Antrim-based fragrance company has donated £55,000 in funding and products to support Cash for Kids’ Mission Christmas campaign, helping ensure vulnerable children across Northern Ireland receive gifts this festive season. The JAQ Group, headquartered in Randals

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has entered into a debate over which household recycling system works best, after the issue was raised at a meeting of a neighbouring council. Speaking in the council chamber at Mossley Mill on Monday evening, Antrim DUP councillor Paul Dunlop highlighted the differing approaches taken by local authorities. Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has recently completed the roll-out of a triple-stacked wheelie box system to 25,000 house

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough councillors are demanding a meeting with contractor Bryson Recycling following complaints from residents about missed bin collections. Members were given an update on the roll-out of the council’s triple-stack wheelie box bins in the Antrim area at a meeting of the local authority at Mossley Mill on Monday evening. A council director said the roll-out had been completed “within schedule and on budget” to more than 25,000 households, with “mini

Asda Antrim Community Champion helped secure an Asda Foundation grant for Randalstown Ulster Scots Cultural Society Asda has relaunched its ‘Happy to Chat’ initiative across Northern Ireland in a bid to support older people facing loneliness and isolation during the festive season. The move comes as part of the retailer’s latest Christmas Community Tracker, which surveyed more than 2,000 people across the UK. The research revealed that for many over-60s, the “lack of human in

A photo shared on social media by a resident Missed bin collections in Antrim and Newtownabbey will be discussed behind closed doors at a full meeting of the borough council after “service issues” were blamed on continuing crew absenteeism. The issue was highlighted at a meeting of the council’s Operations Committee at Antrim Civic Centre on Monday evening. Lynsey Daly, head of waste strategy and sustainability , insisted that missed collections were due to absenteeism amon

The interim chief executive of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has defended the authority’s decision to move to blue mixed-recycling bins in Ballymena and Carrickfergus from 2026/27, despite neighbouring Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council phasing out the very same system. Speaking during Monday night’s full council meeting at The Braid in Ballymena, Valerie Watts responded to a public question which asked: “Who is right – Antrim council getting rid of blue bins or B

Randalstown ARCHES Association has unveiled the Randalstown Community Calendar 2026, marking the organisation’s 30th anniversary with a project designed to celebrate local heritage while raising vital funds for two well-loved charities. The calendar, priced at £10, was officially launched during this year’s Christmas Lights Switch-On and will be available to purchase from ten outlets across Randalstown from Monday. Created to honour the town’s “community spirit, heritage, an

Residents across Antrim and Newtownabbey are being invited to celebrate the start of the festive season at one of seven magical Christmas Light Switch On events taking place throughout the Borough from 20–29 November 2025. Each event promises festive entertainment, family fun, and a dazzling light display, creating an unforgettable experience for residents and visitors alike. The celebrations will kick off in Crumlin on Thursday 20 November at the Crumlin Leisure Centre from

Police in Mid and East Antrim have seized an estimated £65,000 worth of drugs, cash and prohibited weapons following two separate operations in the Ahoghill and Randalstown areas. The District Support Team carried out the first arrest and search operation on Wednesday, 29 October, in Ahoghill. During the search, officers recovered suspected Class A and Class B drugs, along with several prohibited weapons. Police estimate the total value of the drugs to be in excess of £30,000

Randalstown ARCHES Association Directors at the 30th Anniversary Gala Dinner with presentation cheque. (L-R) William Allen (Treasurer); Martin Hackett; Liam Hurrel; Eileen Ingram (Secretary); Peter Boyle (Chairman); Leanne Murray; Eugene McKeever; Anne Delaney; Pete Burbidge; and Suzanne Lawrence. Randalstown ARCHES Association has celebrated three decades of community achievement with a glittering Gala Dinner and announced a significant £46,727 grant from The National Lotter

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

South Antrim MP Robin Swann during his Doagh constituency event. South Antrim MP Robin Swann has rounded off a busy week of constituency...

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has decided against cutting Christmas festivities, opting instead to retain light switch-on...

Emergency services were called to a school in the Craigstown Road area of Randalstown today, Wednesday 24th September, following the...

Council’s Steven Norris joins staff from Contact Marketing (NI) Ltd at their new office in Randalstown Contact Marketing (NI) Ltd has...

Antrim and Newtownabbey councillors have deferred a decision on proposed changes to this year’s civic Christmas festivities. The borough...