NEWS

Design drawings showing the planned new IFA National Football Training Centre in Ballymena The Irish FA says it remains “steadfast” in its plans to create a National Football Centre at Galgorm after two residents threatened legal action over how the development’s potential environmental impact has been assessed. Responding to a pre-action letter concerning the major six-pitch development, the association said the project represents a “once-in-a-generation investment” in footb

(Left – right) Dr Martin Lester (acoustics / noise expert), Ryan Colton (architect), Sarah Herbison (local resident and key figure in the Right Facility, Wrong Location campaign), Liam Vallely (legal expert), Una Somerville (planning consultant), John Herbison (local resident), Andrew Ryan (partner TLT solicitors). The group was pictured at a public meeting held by the campaign group on Thursday evening in Ballymena. The meeting provided an update on the work of the campaign

Wednesday 12 August 2026 Residents concerned about plans for a major new National Football Centre near Galgorm will gather in Ballymena on Thursday evening to hear the latest on the proposal and the campaign opposing its location. The public meeting, organised by the Right Facility, Wrong Location campaign, will take place at 6pm at the Adair Arms Hotel in Ballymena, with residents and others interested in the development invited to attend. At the centre of the debate is a su

Power NI’s Senior Marketing Manager Amy Bennington pictured with some of Antrim’s All-Ireland Junior Football Championship winning team. A £1,200 Helping Hands boost from Power NI helped Antrim’s ladies prepare for a day to remember at Croke Park — one that ended with the Saffrons lifting the All-Ireland Junior Football Championship trophy after a breathtaking last-gasp victory over Carlow. The funding, provided by Power NI, part of Energia Group, was used by the Antrim LGFA

BBC Sport NI’s Thomas Kane and Nicola McCarthy Football fans across Northern Ireland will continue to get extensive free-to-air access to the local game after the BBC agreed a new three-year broadcast deal covering Premiership matches, cup competitions and Northern Ireland senior women’s internationals. The agreement between BBC Sport NI, the Irish FA and the Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL) will include 30 live BoyleSports Premiership streams, both major domestic cup

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

Six times Northern Ireland Rally Champion Jonny Greer in action. (All images: www.neillpics.com ) Fresh from securing a record-equalling sixth Northern Ireland Rally Championship title, Jonny Greersays the return of the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally to Ballymena was too good an opportunity to miss. The 37-year-old Toyota Gazoo Racing driver admits this year’s route – featuring iconic stages including Torr Head, Glendun and Cairncastle – was the deciding factor in committing to th

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons presents medals for the Men’s 90kg Boxing, including Bronze for Garyn McAllister, at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Northern Ireland’s athletes are returning home from the 2026 Commonwealth Games with 16 medals, three of them gold, after producing one of Team NI’s strongest performances on the international stage. Across the competition, Team NI competitors claimed three gold, four silver and nine bronze medals, while many others rec

David Kelly flew to his first ever ITRC win on the Circuit of Ireland. (PHOTO: D Harrigan Images) The countdown is on to one of Northern Ireland’s biggest motorsport weekends, with the 50th Modern Tyres Ulster Rally set to bring thousands of competitors, fans and visitors to Ballymena and across County Antrim on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 August. The landmark anniversary event will feature many of the UK’s and Ireland’s leading rally drivers, iconic closed-road stages through no

Young gymnasts from Elite Gymnastics Academy in Toomebridge, Katie DeNiro and Emily Rose McGuckin Young gymnasts from a Co Antrim club will make up a significant part of the Northern Ireland team at this year’s National Gymnastics League National Finals after three more athletes secured selection. Anabel McMurray, Katie DeNiro and Emily Rose McGuckin, all from Elite Gymnastics Academy in Toomebridge, have been chosen to represent Northern Ireland at the British Gymnastics-bac

Photo: D Harrigan Images Ballymena will become the centre of Northern Ireland motorsport next week as the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally celebrates its 50th anniversary with a new home and the return of some of the country’s most famous stages. For the first time in seven years, the rally has moved north from Newry, with Ballymena Showgrounds serving as the hub for the landmark event on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 August. The venue will host Rally HQ, the service park, scrutiny, media

Action from the Budget Energy SuperCupNI Girls' Premier Section meeting between Liverpool and Manchester United at Dixon Park, where Manchester United claimed a 1-0 win. Manchester United took a significant step towards the Girls’ Premier Section title at the Budget Energy SuperCupNI after edging rivals Liverpool 1-0, while Linfield produced one of the standout performances of the day with an emphatic Belfast derby victory over Glentoran. Tuesday’s fixtures delivered drama ac

Chris Brunt and Karl Bradley from Budget Energy pictured with Victor Leonard from Budget Energy SuperCupNI. (Image: Stephen Hamilton / Presseye) Former Northern Ireland international Chris Brunt officially launched the 2026 Budget Energy SuperCupNI on Sunday evening as thousands of players, families and supporters gathered in Coleraine ahead of six days of international youth football across Northern Ireland. The former West Bromwich Albion captain led the traditional Welcome

Sam Gamble, Tournament Co-ordinator of the Budget Energy SuperCupNI, Ryan Young, Creative Partner at Astutely, and budding young footballer Theo Lever are pictured launching the new official Budget Energy SuperCupNI website and mobile app ahead of the 2026 tournament. The Budget Energy SuperCupNI has unveiled a new official website and mobile app ahead of this week’s tournament, giving thousands of players, families and football fans a single place to follow every fixture, re

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon, is pictured alongside Ross Oliver of Galgorm Castle Golf Club ahead of the NI Legends event coming to the borough from the 2 to 6 September 2026. Northern Ireland’s biggest names in senior professional golf will return to Galgorm this September as the NI Legends tournament brings Major champions, Ryder Cup stars and international players back to Mid and East Antrim. The tournament, part of the Staysure Legends Tour, takes

Metropole Park, Portrush Campaigners hoping to see a dedicated skatepark and urban sports facility on the North Coast are a step closer to that ambition, with work set to begin next month on a masterplan for the long-awaited Metropole Project in Portrush. The study, due to begin in August, marks a fresh attempt to bring forward proposals for a major outdoor recreation space after more than three decades of campaigning and several previous schemes that failed to reach construc

Georgie Briota, Business Development Manager at Galgorm Collection is pictured with the Warriors. Netball NI has announced the extension of its partnership with Galgorm Collection. Netball Northern Ireland’s national team has received a timely boost ahead of the Commonwealth Games after Galgorm Collection agreed to extend its sponsorship for a further three years. The renewed partnership will provide continued financial support for the governing body, helping clubs across No

Celebrations with football World Cup winners Spain Prime Video will give football fans an inside look at Spain’s latest World Cup success later this year with an exclusive four-part documentary series charting the national team’s journey to lifting the trophy. The streaming service has confirmed the docuseries will launch worldwide before the end of the year, offering unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to the squad that secured Spain’s second World Cup title after defeati

Tennis Talent: 10-year-old Emma Mezei from Ballymena A 10-year-old tennis player from Ballymena has secured a place among Ireland’s top young talents after qualifying for the prestigious AerCap Tennis Ireland Junior Kids Finals. Emma Mezei, who trains at Ballymena Lawn Tennis Club, will compete at Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin this August after finishing among the top eight junior players in Ireland through the national Road to Fitz qualifying series. The achievement

The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Councillor Dawn Huggins, is pictured with Rohan Roy and Ronan O'Donnell from Maiden City, and Levi Weir and Archie Muir from Ballymena United, who will compete in the Minor Section of the 2026 Budget Energy SuperCupNI. Causeway Coast and Glens is preparing to welcome thousands of visitors from around the world as the 2026 Budget Energy SuperCupNI returns next week, bringing six days of elite youth football and a significa