𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗨𝗣 | Tall Ships, fireworks, a giant waterfront wheel and a brand-new night-time river spectacle are all coming to Londonderry next summer as the Foyle Maritime Festival returns. More than 100,000 visitors are expected for the four-day celebration on the River Foyle. More below.

𝗔𝗡 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗙 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 + 𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗮 𝗘𝗹𝗶𝗺 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵, 𝟲:𝟯️️𝟬𝗽𝗺 An evening of powerful story, faith and music is set to take place this Sunday night at Ballymena Elim Church as Sylvia Burnside shares her personal life journey and ministers in song.

A calm Sunday morning from Carnlough. 📸 Linda Johnston

“…And the world comes alive…” 🎶 The colours of May in North Antrim. 📸 Anne Kelly Art and Photography • @annlizkelly.bsky.social

“Randalsstown Viaduct surrounded by the colours of spring on a warm Saturday afternoon.” 📸 John Fitz Photos

Planning to travel between Belfast and Dublin next weekend? Enterprise passengers are being warned of delays, revised timetables and replacement buses as part of the line closes for engineering works. More below.

“Great conditions for the Portrush Raft Race today, and a lovely holiday atmosphere!” 📸 Caragh Little

Sunrise on Saturday morning from Cushendun, County Antrim. 📸 Rhonda Millar

Romance, thrillers and highly anticipated new releases are flying off the shelves at Waterstone’s Ballymena — see this week’s Top 10 and what’s coming soon! More below.

𝗥𝗧𝗖 (19:57) Emergency Services remain at the scene of a serious road traffic collision in the area of the Crankill Road junction with the M2 outside Ballymena. The road is currently closed.

“People are at real risk of injury or even death by these things.” A new Stormont amendment could allow PSNI officers to seize dangerous e-scooters immediately — without first issuing a warning. More below.

From the colourful parade through the town centre to fun in People’s Park, families came together for a day filled with music, entertainment, community spirit and pride in Ballymena’s remarkable history. More below.

𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗡 | A masked burglar armed with two knives confronted a man in his 60s inside his Ballymena home before fleeing on an e-scooter. More below.

Sounds from the Lir Festival today in Ballycastle. 🎥 Anne Kelly Art and Photography • @annlizkelly.bsky.social

𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗔 𝟰𝟬𝟬 | Celebration parade in the town centre marking 400 years of Ballymena! 📸 Peter Hayes

Saturday morning on the Causeway Coast! 📸 Ellie Kate

𝗡𝗜 𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦𝗧 | An elderly couple were tied up and left badly shaken after masked intruders forced their way into a rural home overnight and stole a car before fleeing. Police are appealing for information as the investigation continues. More below.

“This choir means a great deal to people from farming and rural communities, where life can be tough and demanding.” A sell-out crowd packed The Braid Arts Centre as Farmers’ Choir NI delivered a night of music, laughter and powerful rural connection. Read more below.

𝗦𝗢𝗙𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘 Ballymena Bank Holiday savings have just landed! Save an extra 10% off all sofa orders over £750. Explore a huge range of stylish sofas, all at incredible prices! But hurry offer ends Tuesday. Visit us in store at Sofatime, Braidwater Retail Park, Ballymena

A health programme bringing frontline care directly into rural communities has now delivered 30,000 health checks across Northern Ireland. Healthcare leaders say the initiative is becoming a model for how community-based services could shape the future of care. More below.

Parades, live music, re-enactors, storytelling, artisan markets and 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 family fun — Ballymena is preparing for one of its biggest civic celebrations in years as the town turns 400! 🎉 From the town centre parade to a packed afternoon in People’s Park, there’ll be something for all ages.

Old glasses, contact lens packaging and eye care plastics can now be recycled in every Specsavers store across Northern Ireland after the company expanded its nationwide scheme. More below!

𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗞 𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗦𝗔𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦 𝗔𝗧 𝗗𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗠𝗦 𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗔! ✨ This Bank Holiday weekend at Dreams Ballymena, save 20% off all bed frames. With a huge range of stylish bed frames to choose from. But hurry, offer ends Tuesday! Visit us in store at Dreams, Braidwater Retail Park, Ballymena.

The sunny side of spring! Early Saturday morning views from Ballycastle, County Antrim. 📸 Anne Kelly Art and Photography • @annlizkelly.bsky.social

“It’s 6am on a beautiful Saturday morning here on Broughshane Street… 12°C.” 📸 Eugene Diamond • Diamonds News • @diamondsnews.bsky.social

𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗡 | Five men have been arrested under the Terrorism Act as police confirm further searches in Ballymena and Larne. Multiple vehicles were seized as part of the ongoing investigation. More below.

Three women were injured — some suffering severe facial wounds — before council officers seized the dog involved. A court has now banned the owner from keeping dogs for 20 years. More below.

SATURDAY | Parades, live music, re-enactors, storytelling, artisan market and FREE family fun — Ballymena is preparing for one of its biggest civic celebrations in years as the town turns 400! 🎉 From the town centre parade to a packed afternoon in People’s Park, there’ll be something for all ages.

𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦𝗧 | Emergency crews remain at the scene of an ongoing vehicle fire in the Glenwhirry area outside Ballymena after multiple appliances were dispatched on Friday afternoon. More below.

Friday morning on the Antrim coast. 📍 Ballycastle, County Antrim 📸 Anne Kelly Art and Photography • @annlizkelly.bsky.social

A £100,000 funding boost will help expand a Ballymena service supporting older people to stay independent at home — while also creating new local jobs. More below.

𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗞 𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗦𝗔𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦 𝗛𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗧 𝗦𝗢𝗙𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘 𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗔! ✨ Save an extra 10% off all sofa orders over £750. Explore a huge range of stylish sofas, all at incredible prices! But hurry offer ends Tuesday. Visit us in store at Sofatime, Braidwater Retail Park, Ballymena

𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗩𝗘𝗟 | Weeks of roadworks and traffic disruption are set to hit one of Ballymena’s busiest commuter routes this summer as a major Park & Ride expansion gets underway. Drivers and bus/rail passengers are being urged to allow extra travel time from 1 June. More below.

Hugh Jackman recorded a personal message for Galgorm Collection staff after staying at the resort — and it became one of the biggest moments of the company’s annual gala celebration. 450 employees gathered at Galgorm Resort as the hospitality group marked another major year of growth. More below.

𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗞 𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗦𝗔𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦 𝗔𝗧 𝗗𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗠𝗦 𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗔! ✨ This Bank Holiday weekend at Dreams Ballymena, save 20% off all bed frames. With a huge range of stylish bed frames to choose from. But hurry, offer ends Tuesday! Visit us in store at Dreams, Braidwater Retail Park, Ballymena.

Friday morning in North Antrim… better weather loading (slowly)! 📸 Anne Kelly Art and Photography • @annlizkelly.bsky.social

“It sort of seems to have disappeared.” Questions have been raised over who is currently overseeing the Dark Hedges ahead of the summer tourist rush, with concerns over tree safety, traffic control and visitor management now set to return before councillors next month. More below.

A proposal for 14 social and affordable homes in Ballyvoy — inside the Antrim Coast and Glens AONB — is heading to councillors next week. The scheme has attracted no objections and 17 letters of support from locals calling for more affordable housing in the area. More below.

𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣 𝗢𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗜𝗡 𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗔 ⚡ Looking to kick-start your career in the electrical industry? 👷🏼🔌 𝙎𝙃𝘼𝙒 𝘼𝙐𝙏𝙊𝙈𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 is now recruiting Level 3 Electrical Installation Apprentices to join its growing team based at Woodside Industrial Estate, Ballymena.

Views today in North Antrim… Glenshesk Road, a ploughed field on the Islandarragh Road, Whitepark Road, across the North Channel to Scotland, and Russian oil tanker ‘The GEORGIY USHAKOV’ out at sea. 📸 Cathy Clark

A huge redevelopment plan for Cullybackey College could dramatically change part of the village — with a new 700-pupil campus, major sports facilities and two new roundabouts proposed. The plans have now entered public consultation. Images at link below!

𝗡𝗜 𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦𝗧 | Two men are due in court after being charged with murder following the death of Nicholas “Nicky” Gordon after a serious assault in east Belfast. The charges include murder, threats to kill and firearm-related offences. More below.

“Putting things out free of charge — what is the point?” A debate broke out at Mid and East Antrim Borough Council after councillors agreed to scrap admission charges at President Arthur Homestead in Cullybackey despite falling income figures and ongoing financial pressures. More below.

Cheaper family days out, frozen fuel duty and VAT cut to 5% on eligible attractions and children’s meals. The UK Government has unveiled a major summer cost-of-living package as fears grow over the economic fallout from the conflict in the Middle East. More below.

𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦𝗧 | Privately owned e-scooters cannot legally be used on public roads, footpaths, cycle lanes or public spaces in Northern Ireland, police have confirmed. The PSNI has also outlined potential fines, seizure powers and how residents should report dangerous use. More below.

Thursday morning views in North Antrim. 📍 Ballycastle, County Antrim 📸 Anne Kelly Art and Photography • @annlizkelly.bsky.social

𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗨𝗣 | Sheep shearing, tractor simulators, horses, floristry displays and even the chance to milk a cow — CAFRE is opening its campuses to the public for a free family weekend this June. Below: Here’s what visitors can expect in Antrim and Enniskillen.