NEWS

Close racing between Michael Sweeney and Conor Cummins during the Race of Legends at Armoy in 2025. (Photo by Rod Neill/Pacemaker Press) The Armoy Road Races will welcome some of the biggest names in international road racing this weekend, with organisers confirming a star-studded rider line-up ahead of two days of action on County Antrim’s famous circuit. Racing takes place on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 July, with competitors from across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Irel

The Armoy Motorcycle Road Racing Club (AMRRC) has announced an agreement with King of the Roads that will see this year’s Armoy Road Races broadcast live to road racing fans around the world. Road racing fans across the world will be able to watch this year’s Armoy Road Races live for the first time after organisers secured a new broadcasting agreement with King of the Roads. The deal means the County Antrim event, taking place on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 July, will reach an

Football clubs and other users of Knockan Road Playing Fields in Ballymena are continuing to face problems with ageing facilities and maintenance issues, according to a local councillor who says action is needed to improve the site. Ulster Unionist Party Braid councillor Alan Barr has highlighted a series of concerns affecting the popular playing fields, including the continued use of shipping containers as changing rooms and toilets, alongside a list of maintenance defects h

North West 200 Event Director Mervyn Whyte MBE celebrates after receiving an Honorary Doctor of Science (DSc) from Ulster University at its Coleraine campus today. Mervyn Whyte MBE has been awarded an honorary doctorate by Ulster University in recognition of more than 50 years of service to motorsport and his role in helping turn the North West 200 into one of Northern Ireland’s most important sporting events. The North West 200 Event Director received an Honorary Doctor of S

The Essence Vault is set to sponsor the Open Race at this year’s Armoy Road Races. Pictured at the firm’s headquarters in Randalstown are, from left, Neil Kernohan, road racer, Bill Kennedy MBE, AMRRC Director, Connor Martin, The Essence Vault Managing Director and William Munnis, AMRRC Clerk of Course. A fast-growing County Antrim business with a global customer base has signed up to support one of Northern Ireland’s best-known motorcycle road racing events, with The Essenc

County Antrim man Paul Ross picked up the Fundraising Volunteer Group of the Year award at the Chartered Institute of Fundraising Northern Ireland Awards. The loss of his daughter changed Paul Ross’s life forever. What followed has changed countless others. Just over two years after 21-year-old Lydia Ross tragically lost her life in a road traffic collision, the County Antrim father has transformed unimaginable grief into one of Northern Ireland’s most remarkable grassroots f

Planning permission has been approved by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for a proposed indoor golf simulator and covered putting area at Ballymena Golf Club. A planning officer’s report said the proposed development would be located on a “rectangular-shaped, fairly level grassed area between the existing club car park and the course”. The club is situated in the countryside on Raceview Road between Ballymena and Broughshane. The report stated: “The proposal involves the

Pupils from Ballymena Dance Academy are set to take centre stage next week to compete at the Dance World Cup 2026 in Dublin following a sponsorship boost from local hospitality group, Galgorm Collection. Pictured with the pupils are (L) Lynsey Gordon, Chief Operating Officer at Galgorm Collection and (R) Greg Warner from Logans Executive Travel. Fifty-one young dancers from Ballymena are preparing to compete against some of the best talent from around the globe after receivin

Hilton Car Sales, based in Ballymena, is returning as sponsor of the Next Generation Supersport 1 race. Pictured are, from left, William Munnis, AMRRC Clerk of Course, Conor Cummins, road racer and Andy Hilton, owner of Hilton Car Sales. One of the biggest names in local road racing sponsorship is returning to the grid for another year, with Hilton Car Sales confirming its support for the Armoy Road Races for a seventh consecutive year. The Ballymena-based quality used car re

Members of Coleraine’s Irish Cup-winning team on stage at Saturday’s celebration Coleraine’s Irish Cup-winning team received a hero’s welcome in their home town on Saturday as supporters, families and local residents gathered to celebrate one of the club’s greatest modern achievements. Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council hosted a special recognition event in the town centre to honour Ruaidhri Higgins’ Irish Cup-winning squad, bringing together players past and present, s

Ballymena United Girls Academy is giving aspiring young footballers across the area the opportunity to take their game to the next level with the launch of a free four-week open training programme this summer. The academy is inviting girls born in 2010 and 2011 to take part in a series of Under-16 open training sessions beginning this week at Ballymena Showgrounds. Designed for players who are serious about developing their abilities and progressing within the game, the initi

Football, family entertainment and the chance to meet Ballymena United’s newest signings will all be on offer when the club hosts a free community fun day at the Ballymena Showgrounds next month. With free admission for everyone, the event on Saturday 4 July is designed to bring supporters, families and local residents together for an afternoon packed with activities both on and off the pitch as excitement builds ahead of the new season. Visitors can look forward to face pain

Some of the members of Carrick Pool League Pool clubs across Carrickfergus are being recognised as more than just places to compete and socialise, with a local league using the game’s strong community spirit to encourage men to open up about their mental health and seek support when they need it. Recently, during Men’s Health Week, the Carrick and District Pool League (CDPL) joined forces with the Public Health Agency (PHA) to promote the message that talking about mental hea

Green flag for Armoy Road Races 2026. Pictured at Dunluce Castle are, from left, Gareth McAuley, AMRRC Chairman, Bill Kennedy MBE, AMRRC Director, William Munnis, Clerk of Course (seated), alongside road racer, Marcus Simpson and Trevor Kane, title sponsor and owner of Bayview Hotel. The countdown is officially underway for the 2026 Armoy Road Races, with organisers expecting thousands of spectators from across the world to descend on the County Antrim village next month for

Manchester United fans will get an unprecedented look behind the scenes at one of the world’s biggest football clubs after Prime Video confirmed it will follow the Red Devils throughout the 2026/27 season for the latest instalment of its hugely successful All or Nothing documentary series. The access-all-areas production will begin filming this summer and will track Manchester United as they prepare for a return to the UEFA Champions League while attempting to build on what t

Pictured (L-R) is Kinecx Energy’s Chair of Corporate Social Responsibilities Committee Lisa McCarthy, Kinecx Energy CEO Niall Martindale, and Sorcha Mathews, Autism NI’s Corporate Fundraising Manager. A football tournament bringing together some of Northern Ireland’s biggest utilities and infrastructure organisations has raised £5,300 for Autism NI while shining a spotlight on the power of community fundraising in Ballymena. Hosted by Kinecx Energy at Ballymena Showgrounds, t

Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Dawn Huggins with Coleraine FC Captain Lyndon Kane and Coleraine Football Club’s Chief Executive Officer, Dale Pryde-MacDonald, Johnny Fielding, Chairman of Coleraine Connect, Alderman Mark Fielding and Councillor Tanya Elder. Coleraine FC’s Irish Cup-winning season will be celebrated with a major family-friendly event in the heart of the town next month, giving supporters the chance to honour the players, staff and community th

One of Ballymena’s most important sporting venues is set for a major transformation after plans for a new high-performance 3G hybrid pitch at Ballymena Showgrounds were approved on Thursday. The project will replace the existing natural grass surface in the main arena with a modern all-weather system designed to significantly increase year-round usage, reduce weather-related disruption and create greater opportunities for clubs, schools and community groups across the borough

Kilrea-born football manager Martin O’Neill Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council is to consider conferring the Freedom of the Borough on Kilrea-born football manager Martin O’Neill. During June’s council meeting, members were presented with a motion by Sinn Féin Councillor Sean Bateson seeking to award the Freedom of the Borough to Mr O’Neill in recognition of his distinguished football career and contribution to the sport. A ceremonial plaque in Kilrea has also been prop

(L-R) George Best and Pelé. ©Getty Images American showmanship, global superstars and packed stadiums helped reshape modern football decades before the Premier League boom — and a new BBC Northern Ireland series is set to revisit the extraordinary rise, collapse and rebirth of soccer in the United States. Pitch Invasion: How The USA Changed Soccer tells the story of how America helped transform the global game, from the glitzy rise of the North American Soccer League (NASL) i