NEWS

Learner and newly qualified drivers across Northern Ireland are being urged to prepare for the biggest overhaul of the driver licensing and testing system in around 70 years, with new rules taking effect from 1 October. Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) will introduce a compulsory six-month minimum learning period, mandatory training recorded in a logbook and new restrictions for young people after they pass their test. The changes will also extend the period during which newl

Motorists in Ballymena and Larne are being warned to expect delays this Saturday as thousands of Royal Black Institution members and supporters take part in the annual Last Saturday demonstrations. Around 5,000 participants, 76 preceptories and 71 bands are expected at the main County Antrim demonstration in Larne on Saturday 29 August, with up to 10,000 spectators anticipated. For Ballymena residents, the impact will begin much closer to home. A number of feeder and return p

Drivers could be banned from overtaking school buses on single-carriageway roads where the national 60mph speed limit applies, under proposed new legislation aimed at protecting children as they get on and off buses. Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has confirmed she has selected the Department for Infrastructure’s preferred legislative approach following consultation, with plans to bring the proposal to the Northern Ireland Executive before potentially introducing legisla

81-year-old Eithne Vallely An 81-year-old woman has sadly died following a road traffic collision involving a lorry in Armagh. Police have named the woman as Eithne Vallely, who was from the Armagh area. The collision happened in the Portadown Road area on Friday morning, 21 August. Collision reported on Friday morning Detective Inspector Stewart, from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Collision Investigation Unit, said: “We received a report at approximately 8.20am on

Motorists travelling through Rasharkin are being advised to allow extra time this evening as road closures are put in place for an annual band parade expected to involve 25 bands. Ballymaconnelly Sons of Conquerors Flute Band will hold its annual parade through the village tonight, Friday 21 August, beginning at 7.15pm and expected to finish by 9pm. Parade route through Rasharkin The parade will leave the Turnpike at Church Road before proceeding along Main Street, Moneyleck

The newly resurfaced Galgorm Road in Ballymena The resurfacing of a key route from Galgorm into Ballymena has been completed, bringing an improvement to a stretch of road which local representatives say had caused concern among residents for some time. TUV councillors Stewart McDonald and Matthew Armstrong have welcomed the completion of the works on the main road into the town, saying carrying out the scheme during the summer holidays helped avoid some of the worst potential

Glenshesk Drive, Ballymena North Antrim MLA Paul Frew has urged motorists to obey the one-way system on Glenshesk Drive in Ballymena after receiving several complaints from residents about vehicles travelling in the wrong direction. The DUP representative said the incidents were particularly concerning because children regularly play near the road, including on an adjacent grass area. Residents report recent incidents Glenshesk Drive has operated as a one-way street for a num

Passengers travelling between Derry~Londonderry and Coleraine are being urged to plan ahead as essential engineering work will close the railway line across two weekends in September. Rail replacement buses will operate during the closures, while early-morning services will also face changes on the following Tuesdays. Dates passengers need to know Engineering work will take place on: Saturday 19, Sunday 20 and Monday 21 September Saturday 26, Sunday 27 and Monday 28 September

Heavy showers and thunderstorms could cause travel disruption and flash flooding across Northern Ireland today after the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning. The warning takes effect at 12 noon today, Wednesday 19 August, and remains in place until 11.59pm tonight. Some areas could receive up to 20mm of rain in an hour or less, while a few places may see as much as 30mm within two hours. Heavy showers moving from west to east According to the Met Office, a band of heav

Motorists heading to Ballycastle for this weekend’s Ould Lammas Fair are being urged to plan ahead, with major road closures, limited parking and changes to bus stops expected as thousands of visitors arrive in the town. The PSNI has confirmed traffic restrictions across the four-day event, running from Saturday 22 to Tuesday 25 August, including extensive closures on Sunday evening and throughout Monday and Tuesday. Visitors are being strongly encouraged to consider public t

A woman aged in her 50s has sadly died following a collision involving a pedestrian and a car near Limavady. The single-vehicle collision happened in the Drumrane Road area on Sunday afternoon, 16 August. Woman died from her injuries Detective Inspector Stewart, from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Police received a report at around 2.50pm of a collision involving a pedestrian and a car in the Drumrane Road area. “Officers, along

Motorists travelling through Belfast are being warned to allow extra time over the next three weekends as major maintenance work on the M3 Lagan Bridge brings slip-road closures, lane restrictions and lengthy diversions. The first restrictions begin at 9pm tomorrow, Friday 14 August, and remain in place until 6am on Monday 17 August, with drivers heading from the Sydenham Bypass towards the Westlink, north Belfast and west Belfast among those affected. Further weekend closure

A yellow weather warning is in force across Northern Ireland today as forecasters warn that intense thunderstorms could bring torrential downpours, lightning, hail and gusty winds. The Met Office warning covers all six counties and is in place from 11am today, Thursday 13 August, until 6am on Friday. While many places could escape the worst of the weather altogether, thunderstorms that do develop could produce 10–20mm of rain in less than an hour, with a chance of isolated lo

The success of the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann has strengthened plans for more pedestrianisation in Belfast city centre, with Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins confirming that proposals will go before the public within weeks. More than 1.6 million visits were recorded across the eight-day festival, when a number of city centre streets were closed to traffic to accommodate crowds, performances and events. The temporary arrangements have intensified the debate over how Belfast’

The crowded streets of Belfast city centre during the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann The success of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann has become a “tipping point” for the debate over greater pedestrianisation in Belfast city centre, a councillor has claimed, amid growing calls for some of the temporary traffic restrictions to lead to permanent change. Belfast Green Party Councillor Brian Smyth says the “bottom line” is that the Fleadh “would not have worked without pedestrianisation in th

A motorcyclist remains in a critical condition in hospital following a single-vehicle collision in Lisnaskea on Friday evening. Police are appealing for witnesses and dash-cam footage following the collision, which involved a black Suzuki motorcycle in the Lisnaskea Road area shortly after 9pm on Friday, 7 August. Rider remains critically ill Inspector Brian St Ledger said: “A report was received at approximately 9.05pm on Friday evening, 7th August of a collision in the Lisn

Thousands of musicians, dancers and visitors are converging on Belfast today as the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann reaches a major weekend of competition — with people being urged to leave the car outside the city centre and use dedicated Park & Ride services. Around 5,000 musicians and dancers from 22 countries are taking part in competitions across Belfast on Saturday 8 August, adding to what has already been an exceptionally busy week in the city. Competition judging begins at

The scene of the collision in Co Antrim where emergency responders feared the worst upon arrival A driver escaped without life-changing injuries after being thrown through the sunroof of a car during a violent crash on a narrow rural road in Co Antrim. Police described the outcome as a “miracle” after officers from Ballymoney and Moyle arrived to find the badly damaged vehicle in a field, with clothing and personal belongings scattered around the scene. The single-vehicle col

More than one million passenger journeys have been made across Northern Ireland’s public transport network during the first five days of the Fleadh, as Translink prepares for another surge in demand for the festival’s final weekend in Belfast. The operator says the figure represents around 275,000 additional passenger journeys compared with the equivalent period last year, highlighting the extraordinary impact of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann on bus and rail travel. With the fest

Wednesday, 5 August 2026 Motorists across North Antrim are being urged to plan ahead this weekend, with extensive road closures in place as the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally returns to the area. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has issued travel advice ahead of the two-day event, warning that road users should expect delays on Friday 7 August and Saturday 8 August as rally stages take place across Mid and East Antrim. While diversions will be in operation, drivers ar