NEWS

BBC Sport NI’s Stephen Watson, left, presents Rory McIlroy with the BBC Northern Ireland Sports Personality of the Year award for 2025 Masters Champion Rory McIlroy has been named BBC Northern Ireland Sports Personality of the Year for 2025 , capping a remarkable season that has already secured his place among golf’s all-time greats. The Holywood man enjoyed a year for the ages, headlined by a dramatic play-off victory at the Masters in Augusta in April. That win saw McIlroy

Nominations for the prestigious Mid and East Antrim Sports Awards 2026 will open in early January, offering residents the chance to celebrate the Borough’s outstanding sporting stars, teams, coaches and volunteers. Organised by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, the annual awards shine a spotlight on those who have demonstrated exceptional achievement, dedication and service across the local sporting landscape — from grassroots participation to elite performance. The awards

Minister Muir met Joshua Busteed from Coleraine and Mya Nixon from Ballyclare , Level 2 Horticulture students during a visit to Greenkeeping and Golf Academy at Greenmount Campus. The students are completing a one-year cadetship programme generously supported by Golf Ireland. DAERA Minister Andrew Muir has underlined the growing importance of sustainability and skills development within Northern Ireland’s sports turf sector during a visit to the 2025 Turf Matters event at CA

(L-R) – Adam Keefe, Head Coach, Belfast Giants; and Steve Thornton, Sports Director, The Odyssey Trust with the 2026 3ICE World Cup logo outside The SSE Arena, Belfast. The SSE Arena, Belfast is set to take centre stage on the global ice hockey calendar after being confirmed as the host venue for the inaugural 3ICE World Cup, scheduled to take place on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 July 2026. The announcement, made by The Odyssey Trust, marks a major sporting milestone for Northern

Oran Kearney, appointed Ballymena United first team manager Ballymena United Football Club has confirmed the appointment of Oran Kearney as the club’s new first team manager, marking a significant moment for the Sky Blues as they look to strengthen their position heading into the second half of the season. Kearney, 47, brings extensive managerial expertise to the Ballymena Showgrounds following successful spells at Limavady United, Coleraine and Scottish Premiership side St

North Ballymena Rangers Football Club has confirmed a major milestone in its rapid rise, after securing a 25-year lease for Smithfield Playing Field with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council. The agreement, approved at Monday night’s Full Council meeting, is being hailed by the club as the beginning of a transformative new chapter. In a statement, the club said it was “very enthusiastic about this development, as it marks the beginning of a new era for our Club with the acqu

Ballymena’s young star Kain Stewart, presented with the WKO Grand Champion belt, alongside medals and certificates, which were presented by WKO UK President Jon Green Ballymena’s rising star Kain Stewart, aged 10 and from Foxton Wood Square, has capped off an extraordinary year by being crowned WKO Grand Champion at the WKO Grand Prix awards ceremony in Barnsley on Saturday evening, 29 November. Kain’s dominance throughout the season saw him rise to the top of the 10–11-year

Ballymena United Football Club has announced that first team manager Jim Ervin has departed the club, bringing an end to his two and a half years in charge at the Showgrounds. In a statement issued on Monday morning, the club confirmed the decision and expressed deep gratitude for Ervin’s service — both as a manager and as a respected former player. The board said it wished to place on record its “upmost thanks to Jim and his staff for their efforts and support during his two

(L-R) are: Northern Ireland - 12 year old Megan McCabe from west Belfast, who plays for Linfield and the Irish FA’s Performance Programme which is based at Ulster University’s Jordanstown Campus; Wales - Sophia Huntley aged 9 who plays for Buckley Town, a thriving club with a committed volunteer base; Scotland - Erin Smith , who plays for Clark Drive and is in the South West Emerging Talent Centre programme; and England - Victoria Jones , 14 years old from Liverpool and

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford, pictured with Galgorm Golf Club representatives and junior players. The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford , has hosted a special reception recognising the outstanding achievements of Galgorm Golf Club’s junior players following a record-breaking season for the club. Junior representatives from the Ballymena club were welcomed to The Braid after two Galgorm teams – the Junior Cup side and the Fred

(L-R) David Jackson, CEO of Causeway Coast and Glens District Council, Ellvena Graham, Chair of Tourism NI, Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Chief Championships Officer at The R&A, David McMullan, deputy chair of the championships committee at Royal Portrush Golf Club and Aine Kearney, Director of Events at Tourism NI announce that £280 million in economic benefit was provided to Northern Ireland by The 153 rd Open at Royal Portrush. The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush has generated an ex

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons pictured at the official launch of UEFA EURO 2028 in London. Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has confirmed that ICC Belfast will host the UEFA EURO 2028 Qualifying Draw, marking a major win for Northern Ireland as excitement builds ahead of the tournament. The announcement was made following the official tournament launch in London on Wednesday evening, where it was revealed that the qualifying draw will take place at ICC Belfast on 6 Decem

North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows and Constituency Manager Colin Crawford with members of Ballymena Squash Club North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows has given his backing to Ballymena Squash Club’s campaign to “Free Court 3” and secure the long-term future of squash in the town. Mr Burrows met with members of the recently formed club, which has grown rapidly since its launch in January 2024, now boasting a membership of 40 enthusiastic players. “I was delighted to meet with members of Ba

County Antrim boxer Zoe McCaughran – crowned the new IIBU Lightweight Champion Carrickfergus boxer Zoe McCaughran has been crowned the new IIBU Lightweight Champion after a superb performance at Belfast’s iconic Ulster Hall on Saturday night (8 November), capping off a triumphant evening for the Evolution Boxing Club team. Facing a strong and experienced opponent in Aoife Connor, McCaughran displayed her trademark composure, determination and technical skill from the opening

Ballymena Showgrounds Mid and East Antrim Borough Council planners are considering a planning application for a new 3G football pitch and spectator stand at Ballymena Showgrounds. The application has been submitted by an agent on behalf of the council for proposed works at the home of Ballymena United Football Club. The proposal includes the installation of a full-size 3G pitch to replace the existing grass pitch, along with a new 200-seat spectator stand and floodlighting. A

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, with club representatives at Stormont. The iconic Ulster Grand Prix is set to roar back onto the international motorsport stage in summer 2027, marking its long-awaited return to the famous Dundrod circuit for the first time since 2019. The announcement from the Motor Cycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) Ltd (MCUI UC) confirms that extensive discussions with government departments, MLAs, counc

Kain Stewart in the ring Ballymena’s rising combat sports star King Kain Stewart delivered an electrifying performance in Birmingham as part of the prestigious Breakthrough Fight Series, streamed live on Notorious TV. The ten-year-old sensation, a pupil of Ballykeel Primary School, lready a multiple world champion, secured a mid-card slot on the event — a remarkable achievement for such a young athlete. Fresh from an incredible showing at the WKA World Championships, where he

From left: BBC Sport NI’s Gavin Andrews and Conor Murray Former Ireland and Munster scrum-half Conor Murray is set to front a brand-new rugby podcast for the BBC, bringing his deep experience and passion for the game to fans across Ireland and beyond. The Ireland Rugby Social, presented by BBC Sport NI, will launch on Tuesday 28 October and see Murray team up with broadcaster Gavin Andrews for a series of weekly conversations exploring the biggest stories in Irish and interna

Image: Ken Cox The adrenaline-fuelled Knock Club Beach Race is making a triumphant return to Portrush’s East Strand in October 2025, promising an unforgettable weekend of high-speed motorsport on Northern Ireland’s stunning North Coast. Taking place on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th October 2025 , the Knock Ramore Beach Race Portrush will feature two action-packed days of competition, with racing scheduled from 11:00 to 15:00 each day. Spectators are invited to attend free of

(L-R) Rab McAuley, from Galgorm, who was crowned Ulster Supersport Cup Champion for 2025, GP Dr Louise Beck, of Victoria Surgery, who has been named GP of the Year 2025, and Slemish College student Emilee Leacock, who has been called up for the Northern Ireland Under-17 Women’s Football Squad Mid and East Antrim Mayor, Councillor Jackson Minford, has congratulated Larne-based GP Dr Louise Beck, of Victoria Surgery , who has been named GP of the Year 2025 by the Royal College