NEWS

CGI of the proposed new 12,300 sq. ft JD Sports store at Fairhill Shopping Centre Tuesday 1 September 2026 JD Sports is to relocate within Ballymena’s Fairhill Shopping Centre after exchanging contracts for a new 12,300 sq ft store. The sportswear and footwear retailer will move from its existing Fairhill shop into a newly formed unit occupying a prominent corner location within the centre. The agreement secures JD Sports’ continued presence at Fairhill and marks another ste

The scene of the single vehicle collision at an apartment complex in Ballymena Monday 31 August 2026 A 39-year-old man has been charged with three driving offences after a car crashed in Ballymena, leaving extensive damage to railings and a road sign immediately outside an apartment building. The single-vehicle collision happened in the Broughshane Road area, in the early hours of Sunday, 30 August. A photograph taken following the collision shows metal railings badly buckled

Ballymena newsagent Eugene Diamond on Sunday as he serves his last day from his shop on Broughshane. Eugene retires after 47 years at the heart of local community. Sunday 30 August 2026 Every morning, for 47 years, while much of Ballymena was still sleeping, Eugene Diamond was already beginning his day. At 5am, the lights would go on inside his small shop on Broughshane Street. Before long came the factory workers heading for early shifts, followed by familiar faces Eugene ca

Ballymena’s business community has helped turn the town’s historic 400th birthday into several days of celebration, generosity and community spirit — with families entertained, shoppers surprised with gifts and prizes, and £850 raised for charity. From a packed End of Summer Street Party on Greenvale Street to businesses creating their own giveaways, discounts and birthday surprises for the official Charter Day, Ballymena BID says the response showed just how strongly local b

Ballymena Town Hall, and (inset) North Antrim MP Jim Allister Ballymena’s 400th anniversary has been marked at Westminster, with North Antrim MP Jim Allister tabling a House of Commons motion celebrating four centuries of the town and the generations of people who have helped shape it. The parliamentary recognition comes on a landmark day for Ballymena — exactly 400 years since King Charles I granted the charter on 25 August 1626 which established the foundations of the marke

Ballymena BID is bringing businesses across the town centre together for a major birthday celebration tomorrow as Ballymena marks its historic 400th anniversary. Shops, cafés, restaurants and other businesses will roll out special offers, £400 giveaways, discounts, competitions, parties and treats on Tuesday 25 August, while the Ballymena BID team will be out on the streets handing out nostalgic party bags — with some containing extra surprises. The “Birthday Bonanza” is desi

Ballymena BID is bringing businesses, families and visitors together for two major days of town-centre celebrations as Ballymena prepares to mark its 400th birthday. An End of Summer and Ballymena 400 Street Party will take over Greenvale Street on Saturday 22 August, before businesses across the town join the official birthday celebrations on Tuesday 25 August. The programme, with support from Department for Communities (DfC), will run alongside a number of anniversary event

The success of the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann has strengthened plans for more pedestrianisation in Belfast city centre, with Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins confirming that proposals will go before the public within weeks. More than 1.6 million visits were recorded across the eight-day festival, when a number of city centre streets were closed to traffic to accommodate crowds, performances and events. The temporary arrangements have intensified the debate over how Belfast’

The crowded streets of Belfast city centre during the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann The success of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann has become a “tipping point” for the debate over greater pedestrianisation in Belfast city centre, a councillor has claimed, amid growing calls for some of the temporary traffic restrictions to lead to permanent change. Belfast Green Party Councillor Brian Smyth says the “bottom line” is that the Fleadh “would not have worked without pedestrianisation in th

(L-R): Paul Frew MLA, Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon, Paula Campbell of Fullan’s Food Hall Portglenone, RetailNI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts and Jon Burrows MLA. People across Ballymena and the wider Mid and East Antrim area are being encouraged to put their favourite shops, retail workers and high streets in the running for recognition on the Northern Ireland stage. The public vote is now open for the High Street Heroes Awards 2026, giving customers th

Families still searching for summer holiday activities need look no further, with Ballymena 400 offering a packed programme of FREE family events throughout August. At the heart of the programme are two interactive Adventure Quests, transforming Ballymena town centre into a giant outdoor game where families become detectives, explorers and storytellers as they solve clues, complete challenges and meet colourful characters. But the quests are only the beginning. From a town ce

Pictured at the new pop-up park on Main Street in Larne are (l-r) Ald. Thomas Gordon, Mayor of Mid & East Antrim Borough Council; Eamon McMullan, Capital Regeneration Manager, MEABC; Ryan Black, Director of Growth & Major Projects, MEABC; Communities Minister Gordon Lyons MLA; Gail Kelly, Town Centre Development Manager, MEABC A previously derelict site in Larne has been transformed into a new pop-up park as part of a wider £367,750 regeneration programme aimed at improving t

Preparations are continuing to get the premises in Ballymena town centre ready for the new coffee shop and amusement arcade. Planning permission has been approved by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for the change of use of a retail unit into a coffee shop and amusement arcade in Ballymena town centre. The proposal relates to a vacant retail premises at 41–43 Church Street, which planning documents say has stood empty for several years after accommodating a number of diffe

CGI showing elevations of approved plans to create 19 town centre apartments at a historic former bank building in Ballymena. Planning permission has been granted to transform a historic former bank building in Ballymena town centre into 19 apartments. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Planning Committee approved the application at a meeting in The Braid on Thursday morning. The proposal will see the partial demolition of the building at 97 Mill Street, alongside its ada

Four centuries of Ballymena’s creative heritage will be celebrated this August as local people are invited to step inside the world of traditional craftsmanship at a free evening showcase featuring live demonstrations, hands-on workshops and an exhibition exploring the town’s rich making tradition. The Traditional Crafts Showcase, hosted by Midtown Makers Gift Shop on Thursday 20 August, forms part of both Ballymena’s 400th anniversary celebrations and August Craft Month—Irel

Dunnes Head Office in Dublin. An East Antrim MLA says he was left waiting in the reception of Dunnes Stores’ headquarters for more than seven hours after travelling to Dublin to discuss the future of the retailer’s long-vacant Larne town centre building — but no one came to meet him. Danny Donnelly made the journey to the company’s head office on Friday, 24 July, to personally deliver a letter to Dunnes Stores CEO Margaret Heffernan after years of unsuccessful attempts by loc

The vacant premises in Larne town centre will plans approved to be used as a place of worship Planning permission has been granted by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for the change of use of a former coffee shop and bakery in Larne town centre into a place of worship. The proposal relates to a vacant commercial premises on Lower Cross Street. A development management officer’s report said the application proposes internal alterations only, with no external changes to the

With another school year now at an end, ten teachers and school staff from across the Ballymena area have been recognised after hundreds of local pupils nominated the people who made the biggest difference to their lives in the classroom. The winners of Ballymena BID’s popular ‘Treat Your Teacher’ competition were announced following an overwhelming response from families, with children sharing heartfelt stories of kindness, encouragement, patience and support shown throughou

A man has been charged after a woman says she caught him inside her parked car in Ballymena town centre, prompting a police investigation and a warning to motorists to ensure their vehicles are locked. The incident happened on Broadway Avenue on Wednesday, 8 July, where the woman’s car was parked outside her workplace in full view of nearby offices and commercial buildings. According to the woman, she discovered a man inside her vehicle and immediately confronted him before h

A summer of giant games, silent discos, street parties, secret surprises and birthday celebrations is set to transform Ballymena town centre as the community comes together to mark one of the biggest milestones in the town’s history. This year marks 400 years since Ballymena was granted its charter in 1626, and organisers BALLYMENA BID, in partnership with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, are promising an unforgettable programme of events designed to celebrate four centur