NEWS

Monday 23 February 2026 Families across Northern Ireland are set to see the cost of school uniforms fall after new legislation formally came into operation, placing legal duties on schools to prioritise affordability. Education Minister Paul Givan has welcomed the commencement of the School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Act (Northern Ireland) 2026, which has now received Royal Assent. The move means statutory School Uniforms Guidelines are in force with immediate effec

Saturday 21 February 2026 Waterstone’s Ballymena has revealed its latest Top 10 bestselling books, with contemporary Irish fiction, gripping thrillers and even a literary classic making this week’s chart. From bold new voices to beloved authors, the list reflects a wide range of reading tastes across Ballymena — with strong interest in both page-turning suspense and thoughtful literary storytelling. This Week’s Top 10 Bestselling Books 1. Pagans — James Alistair Henry A sharp

Waterstone’s Ballymena has unveiled its latest Top 10 bestselling books, with psychological thrillers, heartwarming romance and children’s favourites all performing strongly in store this week. Freida McFadden returns to the top spot, while Dav Pilkey claims two places in the chart, and Rachel Reid continues her winning streak with not one but two romance titles in the list. This week’s Top 10 bestselling books 1. The Housemaid — Freida McFadden The addictive psychological th

Buyers and suppliers (L-R) – The judges: Jonathan Mitchell (Our Brewery’s co-founder), Esther Paul, (Business Development Manager at Armagh Cider Company), Chelsea McCullagh (Marketing Manager at Heaney Brewery), Michael Crealey ( Lead Packaged Buying Manager at Tesco NI), Karen O’Neill (Sales Manager at Anzac Drinks/ Farmageddon Brewing Co), Bernard Sloan (Managing Director at Whitewater Brewery) and Peter McKeever (Production Manager at Longmeadow Cider). A Randalstown-base

Waterstone’s Ballymena has unveiled its latest Top 10 bestselling books, with contemporary literary fiction, gripping thrillers and a hugely popular romance title dominating readers’ choices this week. The list highlights a broad range of tastes, from Anne Tyler’s quietly observant storytelling to Freida McFadden’s addictive psychological suspense, alongside strong demand for Irish fiction and prize-winning literary works. This week’s Top 10 bestselling books 1. Three Days in

Pictured celebrating Tayto’s 70th anniversary at Tayto Castle in Tandragee, Co Armagh, are (L-R) Stephen Hutchinson, Anne Hutchinson-Kane and Raymond Hutchinson Northern Ireland’s iconic crisp manufacturer Tayto has kicked off a year-long programme of celebrations to mark its 70th anniversary, unveiling new products, limited-edition packaging and special anniversary branding. Founded in 1956 by Thomas Hutchinson at Tayto Castle in Tandragee, Co Armagh, the family-owned busine

Waterstone’s Ballymena has unveiled its latest Top 10 bestselling books, with literary fiction, psychological thrillers and popular non-fiction continuing to shape readers’ choices as the new year gathers pace. Northern Irish author Jan Carson tops this week’s chart, while bestselling writers Freida McFadden, Maggie O’Farrell and Mel Robbins all feature prominently. The list reflects a broad appetite for thought-provoking fiction, comforting cookery and titles focused on well

Waterstone’s Ballymena has revealed its latest Top 10 bestselling books, with psychological thrillers, literary fiction and popular self-help titles continuing to dominate readers’ choices as January draws to a close. Freida McFadden claims three places in this week’s chart, reflecting sustained local demand for fast-paced, twist-heavy thrillers, while acclaimed novels by Roisín O’Donnell and Maggie O’Farrell also feature strongly. This week’s Top 10 bestselling books 1. The

Sarah and Paul Thompson, owners of Ballymena-based embroidery business Ted & Stitch, and co-founders of Tedberry Market Northern Ireland’s independent retail sector has received a significant boost following the latest Tedberry Market, which helped participating businesses generate an estimated £650,000 in combined sales. Running for the first time over a three-day weekend from Friday to Sunday, the event attracted more than 9,000 visitors, according to a post-event survey of

The Junction continues to buck national retail trends as sales figures soar.  Christmas has come early for The Junction Retail and Leisure Park after the Antrim-based outlet confirmed the renewal of two major tenant leases while posting strong sales growth that defies wider national retail trends. The Junction has officially re-signed leasing agreements with leading retailers Next and Denby, reinforcing confidence in the scheme as it finishes 2025 with year-to-date turnover u

Riverside Retail Park, Coleraine A Ballymena-based property company headed by local businessman Ryan Walker has completed a landmark £30 million acquisition that brings one of Northern Ireland’s most prominent retail destinations under single local ownership for the first time. Magmel (Ballymena) Limited , which owns the Fairhill Shopping Centre in Ballymena , has acquired Riverside Retail Park in Coleraine from Kelvin Properties Ltd, in a transaction overseen by TDK Property

Allison Ewing, Fraud Manager, Education & Awareness at Bank of Ireland with Peter Corrie, Customer Advisor urging everyone to stay alert and be extra vigilant as purchase scams are on the rise. Purchase scams are now the most common form of fraud reported in Northern Ireland, prompting Bank of Ireland to issue a renewed warning to consumers as Christmas shopping reaches its peak. As households across Northern Ireland turn to online platforms in the final days before Christmas

Waterstone’s Ballymena has released its latest Top 10 bestselling books, with festive favourites, cookery titles and family-friendly reads proving especially popular as Christmas approaches. From Mary Berry’s celebratory new release to children’s classics and record-breaking annuals, the list reflects a wide range of tastes among local shoppers seeking thoughtful Christmas gifts. This Week’s Top 10 Bestselling Books – With Descriptions 1. Mary 90 — Mary Berry A celebratory co

Trading Standards Service (TSS) has seized more than £22,000 worth of counterfeit toys from high street retailers and shopping centres, issuing a stark warning to families ahead of the Christmas shopping rush. The haul included fake Labubu dolls, K Pop Demon Hunters merchandise, Lego figures and Disney’s Lilo & Stitch products. Some of the counterfeit items were being sold for as much as £80, potentially misleading consumers into believing they were genuine branded goods. TSS

Northern Ireland consumers are leading the UK in festive confidence, early planning and online purchasing, according to PwC’s latest Festive Predictions Survey —which reveals the region is bucking national spending trends this Christmas. One in three Northern Irish consumers (31%) plans to spend more on gifts, food, and celebrations this year, more than double the UK average of 15%. Only 4% expect to reduce their festive spending, compared to 14% across the UK, signalling str

Counterfeit goods seized by police during Safer Business Action Week Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland have issued a stark warning about the risks linked to buying counterfeit goods after more than £1.1 million worth of fake items were seized during coordinated searches. The operation, carried out as part of Safer Business Action Week —a national initiative aimed at cracking down on business crime—saw officers search four properties in Dungannon and one i

Children in Ballymena are set for an extra dose of festive cheer this year as two local retailers announce a major Christmas giveaway featuring all 15 toys from the prestigious DreamToys 2025 list. Following the official unveiling of the highly anticipated selection, Smyths at Braidwater Retail Park and ToyTown in Fairhill Shopping Centre have teamed up to offer a dream prize for local youngsters — the full lineup of this year’s must-have toys, gadgets and games. The initia

Women’s Aid ABCLN Retail Manager Michelle McIlwrath, Noreen McClelland, Women’s Aid CEO Gillian Creevy with staff and volunteers. Women’s Aid ABCLN has officially opened a vibrant new pop-up shop in the heart of Antrim, offering shoppers a chance to find high-quality preloved treasures while supporting vital local services for women and children experiencing domestic abuse. The new store, based in Grace House on Fountain Street, features an impressive selection of new and nea

Waterstone’s Ballymena has released its latest Top 10 bestselling books, offering a rich mix of new fiction, humour, festive favourites and anticipated annuals. As Christmas shopping season gathers pace, local readers are turning to a wide variety of titles — from Northern Irish literature to children’s blockbusters and high-profile thrillers. This Week’s Top 10 Bestselling Books 1. The Benefactors — Wendy Erskine A sharply observed and darkly funny portrait of contemporary N

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has urged consumers across Northern Ireland to remain alert to fraudsters during the busy festive shopping period, warning that scammers are increasingly exploiting the rush of online gift buying. Dr Archibald said: “Fraudsters don’t stop for Christmas and will continue to operate, targeting people who are busy preparing for the festive season. With so many people shopping online for gifts it’s worth taking a bit more time to ensure that