NEWS

(L-R) Local Inner Wheel Club President Patricia Perry, Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Alderman Tom Gordon, and Inner Wheel District Chairman, Kathy McCaul during their visit to present the framed timeline marking 400 years of Ballymena. Tuesday 20 October 2026 A framed timeline tracing key dates in Ballymena’s development over the past 400 years has been presented to the Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough, Alderman Tom Gordon, by a women’s service club with more than eight de

Guests pictured at Action Cancer’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month launch event, which brought together ambassadors, supporters and partners to help raise awareness of the importance of breast screening and early detection. Saturday 17 October 2026 Women whose breast cancers were detected through Action Cancer’s free screening service are sharing their experiences to encourage others across Northern Ireland to book potentially life-saving appointments. The charity has brought t

(L-R): Breast cancer patient Joanna Bingham pictured with two other breast cancer speakers, Kasia Garble (50) from Belfast and Ann McBrien (63) also from Belfast, alongside Dr Damien Bennett, Director of the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry (NICR) at Queen's University Belfast. Saturday 10 October 2026 Women living in Northern Ireland's lowest-value homes are almost twice as likely to be diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer, with major research also revealing a stark divide i

Ballymena woman Gemma O’Hara pictured with North Antrim MLA Sian Mulholland Friday 09 October 2026 North Antrim MLA Sian Mulholland has welcomed the introduction of a new 24/7 stroke treatment service across Northern Ireland, following her efforts to highlight the experience of Ballymena mother of four Gemma O’Hara, whose recovery was transformed by the specialist procedure. Gemma, 40, suffered a brain stem stroke in September 2025 and underwent a thrombectomy, a procedure th

Sunday 04 October 2026 A new RTÉ Investigates documentary will examine concerns over regulation of the fertility sector in Ireland, including whether the promotion of controversial treatments could give vulnerable patients false hope. The year-long investigation follows couples seeking publicly funded fertility treatment and women who say they have been left without the support they need, while examining the rapid growth of the private fertility industry. RTÉ says undercover

Sunday 20 September 2026 More than £148,000 has been awarded to eight projects working across Mid and East Antrim to help prevent violence against women and girls, with initiatives involving young people, families, schools, sport and community organisations. The latest round of the Local Change Fund will support grassroots work aimed at challenging harmful attitudes and behaviours, promoting healthy relationships and addressing some of the root causes of gender-based violence

Wednesday 16 September 2026 Young men and boys across Northern Ireland are being urged to challenge misogyny in group chats, gaming platforms and social media as new figures show increases in reports of online stalking, harassment, blackmail and intimate image abuse. Between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026, police recorded 1,971 reports of online stalking and harassment — a 12% increase on the previous year — alongside 591 reports of online blackmail, up 11%, and 110 reports i

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

Women across Northern Ireland are being urged not to ignore unusual bleeding, persistent bloating, pelvic pain or other changes in their bodies which could be signs of gynaecological cancer. The Public Health Agency (PHA) has issued the reminder during Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month, stressing that women of all ages can be affected and that finding cancer earlier can improve the chances of successful treatment. Five main types of cancer affect the female reproductive s

Women’s Aid Retail Manager, Michelle McIlwrath , Director of Finance Karen McConkey and CEO, Gillian Robinson. (Images: Danielle Kernohan Photography) A new Women’s Aid shop has opened in Ballymena, with every purchase helping to fund specialist support for women and children experiencing domestic abuse in the local area. The new premises at 23–25 Henry Street are the third retail outlet operated by Women’s Aid ABCLN and will also provide a place where women can access inform

A still taken from a short video captured by the local woman of the vehicle which she believes was following her as she took a walk A woman has described being left frightened while walking alone on the outskirts of Ballymena after a car containing two men allegedly repeatedly followed her, passed her and then waited along her route. Police have confirmed they received a report of a suspicious vehicle in the Old Ballymoney Road area on Sunday evening, 9 August, and are now as

First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly joined the programme as mentors Thirty-seven students from Ballymena have been recognised as part of a leadership and mentoring programme that has seen more than 750 young women deliver hundreds of community projects, benefiting almost 18,000 people across Northern Ireland. Students from Slemish College, Ballymena Academy and St Louis Grammar School took part in the 2025–26 SistersIN programme, joi

Inset: Alliance councillor for Braid, Chelsea Harwood Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has committed to providing all elected members with training on violence against women and girls (VAWG), including the harmful effects of victim blaming, after Alliance councillor Chelsea Harwood raised the issue at Monday night’s council meeting (27 July) following recent remarks by DUP councillor Reuben Glover. The confirmation came in response to a question submitted by Councillor Har

Northern Ireland is set to introduce new measures to encourage and support more mothers to breastfeed after the Department of Health launched a three-year action plan aimed at tackling some of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the UK. The Breastfeeding Action Plan 2026–2029, unveiled by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt at the annual Breastival #MorethanMilk event at Stormont on Tuesday, sets out a programme of work designed to improve support for families, reduce health inequalit

Inset: North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows Many people in Northern Ireland are unaware they can ask police whether a current or former partner has a history of domestic abuse – something Ulster Unionist Party Leader Jon Burrows MLA says must change. Burrows has written to the First Minister, deputy First Minister and Justice Minister Naomi Long calling for a major public awareness campaign promoting Clare’s Law – officially known as the Domestic Violence and Abuse Disclosure Scheme

Asda Antrim Community Champion Ashley Ritchie donating essentials to The Shed after a devastating fire A women’s community group in Antrim is beginning to rebuild after a devastating fire left its premises unsafe, thanks to emergency funding that will help members replace essential equipment and continue supporting some of the area’s most vulnerable people. Antrim Ladies Shed has received a £1,500 emergency grant from the Asda Foundation, along with £150 worth of essential su

(L-R) UUP party leader and North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows, TUV Bannside councillor Anna Henry, and Alliance Party Braid councillor, Chelsea Harwood Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows has condemned reported comments by DUP councillor Reuben Glover about girls’ clothing and an alleged sexual assault in Ballymena, saying such views should have been “consigned to the 70’s”. Alliance councillor Chelsea Harwood has also called for an investigation and disciplinary action, descr

DUP Ballymena councillor Reuben Glover, and TUV Bannside councillor Anna Henry A TUV councillor has strongly condemned reported comments by DUP Ballymena representative Reuben Glover linking girls’ clothing with an alleged sexual assault, describing the remarks as “blatant victim blaming”. Bannside councillor Anna Henry said women and girls were never responsible for the actions of sexual predators and warned that comments from elected representatives could reinforce harmful

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has acknowledged “higher than usual absence rates” within its maternity services team over recent months after concerns were raised by campaign group SOS Causeway Hospital. SOS Causeway Hospital recently met with senior Department of Health officials to highlight what it described as “severe pressures within Antrim maternity services following the centralisation of births”. All hospital births in the Northern Trust have taken place at

The Junction, Antrim, has rallied local businesses Murdock Builders Merchants & Home Centre and Shannon Site Solutions along with Brackenwood Property & Estate Management to restore Women’s Aid’s Safe Haven Garden following recent storm damage. A vital sanctuary for women and children escaping domestic abuse in Antrim has been restored after local businesses joined forces to repair storm damage that threatened the privacy and security of the space. The Safe Haven Garden at th