NEWS

Saturday 21 February 2026 Waterstone’s Ballymena has revealed its latest Top 10 bestselling books, with contemporary Irish fiction, gripping thrillers and even a literary classic making this week’s chart. From bold new voices to beloved authors, the list reflects a wide range of reading tastes across Ballymena — with strong interest in both page-turning suspense and thoughtful literary storytelling. This Week’s Top 10 Bestselling Books 1. Pagans — James Alistair Henry A sharp

Thousands of Northern Ireland pupils have called for a reduction in exam pressure as the Department of Education publishes its long-awaited report on the future of CCEA GCSE, AS and A Level qualifications. Nearly 4,500 young people responded to a dedicated survey, alongside more than 3,500 individuals and organisations who took part in a public consultation between September and November 2025. The findings will inform a new Qualifications Policy Framework, with revised CCEA s

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer The Government has announced urgent action to strengthen the Online Safety Act and close legal loopholes that ministers say are putting children at risk, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer  pledging that “no platform gets a free pass” when it comes to online safety. Speaking to parents and young people on Monday 16 February, the Prime Minister will set out new powers designed to ensure the law keeps pace with fast-moving technologies, including

Young Greenisland FC U12 players Zach and Josh are pictured alongside Karl Bradley from Budget Energy and Sam Gamble from the Budget Energy SuperCupNI, joined by Sparky, the Budget Energy mascot, as preparations get underway for the 2026 Budget Energy SuperCupNI. Budget Energy has confirmed it will return as title sponsor of the SuperCupNI for a second consecutive year, marking the official start of preparations for the 2026 Budget Energy SuperCupNI following a record-breakin

Eileen Russell, professional play therapist and founder of WayMaker Child Therapy, is pictured as the Ballymena-based child play therapy organisation unveils a therapeutic initiative combining digital storytelling and animation, practical support resources and sensory tools to support children’s emotional wellbeing. A Ballymena-based child play therapy organisation has launched a new therapeutic initiative, Little Bear, aimed at helping children navigate complex emotions thro

North Antrim DUP MLA Paul Frew Paul Frew MLA has welcomed assurances from Education Minister Paul Givan that changes are planned to end the disadvantage currently faced by working families in the allocation of funded pre-school places, while warning that existing funding and capacity levels are still falling short of what families need. The North Antrim DUP representative said parents across his constituency continue to experience real difficulty securing funded pre-school

Ulster Unionist Party leader and North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows has warned that ending academic selection in Northern Ireland would undermine parental choice and distract from the real pressures facing schools, during a debate in the Assembly on Tuesday (3 January). Mr Burrows was speaking during consideration of a private members’ motion tabled by Sinn Féin South Down MLA Cathy Mason , which calls for a time-bound plan to end academic selection and transfer tests as part of p

Onjali Q. Raúf at Slemish College (Images: Cindy Robinson Photography) Pupils at Slemish College in Ballymena have begun a special three-day programme with one of the UK’s most celebrated children’s authors, Onjali Q. Raúf , as her school visit got under way on Tuesday, 27 January. The award-winning writer and children’s rights activist is spending three days at the school, engaging pupils in conversations around storytelling, empathy and social change. During her visit, Onja

NI Youth Assembly Members Raphael, Tomila and Erynne holding the voting boxes in the Assembly Chamber Members of the Northern Ireland Youth Assembly have voted to prioritise health, rights and equality, and education as the key focus areas for their two-year mandate, following a landmark debate at their first plenary sitting. The decision was taken during a session held in the Assembly Chamber at Parliament Buildings on Saturday 24 January, where 90 Youth Assembly Members deb

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford pictured with a group of students participating in the Activate Your Curiosity event More than 400 young people from across Northern Ireland were given a hands-on insight into the world of science, technology, engineering, arts and maths (STEAM) as the flagship Activate Your Curiosity (AYC) event returned to Ballymena. The fourth AYC event took place at The Braid, Ballymena, on Tuesday 20 January, welcoming Year 10 stud

Organ Donation Specialist Nurse Jacqueline Heasley pictured with colleagues from Causeway Hospital’s Emergency Department, Niamh Mullan, Carmel Alexander (Deputy Clinical Sister) Caoimhe Larsen (Staff Nurse) and Kim Carson. The Northern Health and Social Care Trust is harnessing the power of storytelling to support children and families facing the loss of a loved one, with a new collection of bereavement books now available in hospital settings. A carefully selected range of

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford pictured with Joan Burney Keatings MBE with cast and crew from Cinemagic Placement Insights Programme. Young filmmakers from across Mid and East Antrim have taken centre stage after seeing their work showcased on the big screen at a special short film screening held at the Ecos Hub. A group of 23 talented young people, aged between 17 and 24, attended the screening of The Friendship Garden, an original short film develo

Parents across Northern Ireland have welcomed a move by the Department of Education to formally endorse the Parent Pact, a voluntary initiative encouraging families to delay giving children a smartphone until at least the age of 14. The Department has written to all school principals in Northern Ireland to raise awareness of the Parent Pact, developed by Smartphone Free Childhood, a grassroots parents’ movement representing more than 350,000 families across the UK. Launched i

Applications for pre-school and Primary One (P1) places for children starting education in September 2026 have officially opened through the Education Authority’s (EA) online EA Connect portal. More than 40,000 applications are expected across Northern Ireland for the incoming academic year, making this one of the most significant annual processes for families preparing children for their first step into formal education. Parents and guardians have until 12 noon on Tuesday, 2

Oldstone Coffee and Play… a hidden gem tucked away in the Antrim countryside Tucked away in the Antrim countryside, just a 13-minute drive from Ballymena town centre, a former church built in 1872 has been given a thoughtful new lease of life. Oldstone Coffee and Play , located in Clough village , is the latest example of how rural spaces can be reimagined to serve modern communities — without losing their warmth, character or sense of history. The idea was born from a simpl

Chickenpox vaccination is to be added to Northern Ireland’s childhood immunisation programme from January, offering thousands of children protection each year against an illness that, while often considered mild, can lead to serious and even life-threatening complications. The Public Health Agency (PHA) confirmed the move will mark the first time children in Northern Ireland can receive free protection against chickenpox through the routine childhood vaccination schedule. Hea

Parents of around 3,000 children across Northern Ireland have joined forces to delay giving their children smartphones until at least the end of Year 10, amid growing concerns about the impact of early smartphone use on mental health, wellbeing and childhood development. The families are among a rapidly growing number signing up to the Smartphone Free Childhood Parent Pact, a digital tool launched by the grassroots movement Smartphone Free Childhood (SFC) , which now counts a

The UK’s first children and young people’s bereavement charity, Winston’s Wish , has launched a new text-based support service designed to make grief support more accessible to young people who may struggle to speak about their feelings out loud. The new service will allow bereaved young people aged 13 to 25 to access specialist support through WhatsApp or SMS, offering what the charity describes as “grief support in your pocket”. Available weekdays from 3pm to 8pm , excludi

Sparky, the Budget Energy mascot, joins players as the Budget Energy SuperCupNI confirms the eight Northern Ireland representatives for the 2026 Boys’ Minor Section, the first official team announcement ahead of next summer’s 43rd edition of the tournament. Pictured left to right are Callum McCabe (Rosario YFC) , Dylan Harkin (Maiden City), Archie Muir (Ballymena United) , Flynn Johnston (Cliftonville), Luke Duddy (Linfield) , Lorcàn Duffy (Newell Academy), Ben Robinson (Glen

Belfast Zoo joins the Lord Mayor, Cllr Tracy Kelly, to spread festive joy Belfast Zoo has helped bring festive cheer to young patients at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, joining the Lord Mayor of Belfast on a special Christmas visit aimed at lifting spirits during the holiday season. The Zoo joined Lord Mayor Councillor Tracy Kelly on Monday (15th December) as part of her visit supporting local charity Little Heroes, which works closely with children and familie