NEWS

A fantastic effort by the Ballymena Academy teams. Saturday 03 October 2026 Ballymena Academy made a perfect start to their Netball Northern Ireland League campaign, with all four teams securing victories away to Belfast Royal Academy on Friday. Four wins on opening day The Minor 1 and Minor 2 sides delivered particularly commanding performances, recording 22–1 and 28–1 victories respectively. Minor 3 also began their campaign on a winning note with a 4–1 result, before Junio

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons pictured at Blanchflower Stadium with Graham Fitzgerald, Chief Operating Officer at the Irish Football Association, and Jake and Leon from Ashfield Boys' High School. Wednesday 30 September 2026 Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council is among seven applicants moving to the next stage of a £9 million programme to improve grassroots football facilities across Northern Ireland. The seven were selected from 42 applications to the Northern Irela

FEAT4’s new premises opening soon in Belfast Monday 28 September 2026 Two Dungannon brothers are preparing to open a major new padel and wellness destination in Belfast next month following a multi-million-pound investment that will create 15 jobs. FEAT4, developed by brothers Charlie and Edward Conroy, is transforming the former Ulster Tatler headquarters at 39 Boucher Road into an indoor sport, recovery and social venue combining padel courts with Pilates, physiotherapy, re

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons pictured at Larne Rugby Football Club with Sophia Dorman, Derek Lough, President Larne RFC, Richard Archibald, Interim CEO Sport NI and Ollie Swann at the announcement of a £2million funding package for the Minister’s Olympic Legacy Fund for 2026/27. Thursday 24 September 2026 Sports clubs in Ballymena and across Northern Ireland have a fresh opportunity to improve facilities and buy new equipment after £2million was made available through th

CGI design drawing showing aerial view of the proposed IFA National Football Centre outside Ballymena Tuesday 15 September 2026 A campaign opposing the proposed location of the Irish FA’s National Football Centre in Galgorm has challenged North Antrim MP Jim Allister to subject the project to the same level of scrutiny he applied to Casement Park — prompting the MP to insist he will not be “pressurised or bullied” into adopting objectors’ position. The intervention from the R

Galgorm Collection has announced its support for local tennis ace, Emma Mezei. Pictured with Emma is Georgie Briota, Business Development Manager at Galgorm Collection. Ten-year-old Ballymena tennis player Emma Mezei has secured a three-year partnership with Galgorm Collection after becoming the first member of Ballymena Lawn Tennis Club in more than 40 years to reach an All-Ireland junior final. Emma recently finished runner-up in the William Fry All Ireland Under 10 Junior

More than 40 clubs, professional academies and representative sides from around the world have already applied to compete in next year’s Budget Energy SuperCupNI, following a record-breaking 2026 tournament. Applications are now open for the 2027 competition, which will return to Northern Ireland next July, bringing another major week of international youth football to venues across the north coast and wider area, including Mid and East Antrim. The early interest follows a 20

Irish Champion: Ballymena racing talent Amy Booth The first day Amy Booth climbed back onto a motorcycle following a nine-month injury lay-off, the Ballymena racer wanted to give up. She felt slow, her fitness had disappeared and the road back to competition appeared daunting. Now, the 24-year-old is preparing to represent Northern Ireland in Belgium after being offered a motorcycle and the opportunity to compete at the Mettet Supermoto. Taking place from Friday 9 to Sunday 1

(L-R): Rhys McClenaghan; Gordon Cruikshanks, Regional Managing Director, Lidl Northern Ireland; Kerry O’Flaherty Secondary schools across County Antrim are being invited to apply for a programme using sport and athlete mentoring to help pupils manage pressure, build resilience and support their mental wellbeing. Schools selected for Lidl Northern Ireland’s Sport for Good programme will receive a series of workshops led by experienced athlete mentors, along with £1,000 worth o

Police have warned that football supporters who arrange violent confrontations online could face consequences affecting their future employment and ability to travel. The Police Service of Northern Ireland said it had become aware of online communications between rival groups challenging each other to pre-arranged fights following a number of recent incidents. Parents urged to monitor social media PSNI Football Co-ordinator Inspector Gary McCullough stressed that the overwhel

The enclosed outdoor padel courts opened last Autumn at Galgorm Castle. Two padel courts already operating at Galgorm Castle have been granted retrospective planning permission, with the five-year approval requiring the development to be reconsidered in 2031. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council approved the application for the enclosed outdoor courts and surrounding surfacing within the grounds of Galgorm Castle Golf Club after assessing their impact on the historic estate an

Share Energy Director, Jonny Barr pictured with members of Larne Ladies Hockey Club, celebrating Share's ongoing commitment to supporting the club's junior teams. Young hockey players in Larne are heading into the season with continued backing from locally-owned electricity supplier Share Energy, which is supporting three of Larne Ladies Hockey Club’s junior squads. The sponsorship covers the club’s U11, U13 and U15 teams, providing training tops for players and helping ensu

Metropole site in Portrush, County Antrim Skateboarders, BMX riders, scooter users and other urban sports enthusiasts are being invited to help shape proposals for the future of Portrush’s Metropole site as the next stage of consultation gets underway. Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council is progressing feasibility work for the prominent site, with specialist organisation Betongpark appointed to explore potential options and lead consultation with those who could ultimate

CGI of the proposed IFA National Football Training Centre outside Ballymena Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has admitted that its decision that the proposed Irish FA National Football Centre at Galgorm did not require an Environmental Statement was unlawful and has committed to carrying out the assessment again. The significant development comes after Sarah and John Herbison threatened judicial review proceedings, challenging the council’s handling of the Environmental Im

Sara Kyle, owner of Galgorm Parks Riding School A long-established Ballymena riding school which provides therapeutic riding for disabled children and young people could face an uncertain future if the proposed Irish FA National Football Centre is built nearby, its owner has warned. Sara Kyle, owner of Galgorm Parks Riding School, says she fears increased noise and activity associated with the major development could affect horses, vulnerable riders and ultimately the viabili

Dunloy teenager Adam Gault has been crowned world powerlifting champion A 17-year-old from Dunloy has become a world powerlifting champion, producing the performance of his young career to defeat some of the strongest teenage lifters on the planet in a title battle decided by just 2.5kg. Adam Gault has been crowned IPF U93kg Sub-Junior World Champion at the 2026 World Classic Powerlifting Championships in Sun City, South Africa — completing a remarkable rise from taking up co

CGI of the proposed new Irish FA National Football Centre at Galgorm One of Ballymena’s biggest employers has thrown its weight behind plans for a major Irish FA National Football Centre at Galgorm, as the planning file shows around 110 representations supporting the development compared with 64 opposing it. Wrightbus has formally backed the proposed centre at Fenaghy Road, arguing that an investment of this scale could increase visitor numbers, support businesses across hosp

Ballymena’s Brandon McCaughan Ballymena racing talent Brandon McCaughan has returned to the top step of the Ligier European Series podium after a superb weekend at Spa-Francorchamps — taking pole position, two podium finishes and his third career victory in the championship. The 22-year-old produced one of his strongest weekends of the season at the world-famous Belgian circuit from 21–23 August, helping the #1 Team Virage Ligier JS P4 to its first victory of 2026 and putting

Young Ballymena tennis star, 10-year-old Emma Maria Mezei who finished runner-up in the William Fry All Ireland U10 Junior Championship Ten-year-old Ballymena tennis player Emma Maria Mezei has been congratulated by North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows after finishing runner-up in the William Fry All Ireland U10 Junior Championships. Emma’s achievement saw her progress from a competition involving around 1,700 young players in regional match plays across Ireland over the past 12 mont

Irish Football Association Chief Operating Officer Graham Fitzgerald, Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Belfast Area Commander Chief Superintendent Amanda Ford, Superintendent Mark Conway and Irish Football Association Chief Executive Patrick Nelson met at the National Stadium to reinforce a shared commitment to a safe and positive season. Football supporters across Northern Ireland are being urged to help keep matchdays safe and peaceful as the 2026/27 season gets underw