James Martin, actor with Down's syndrome, inspires young people

A Belfast actor with Down's syndrome has inspired young people with special needs after he appeared in a television drama earlier this year.

James Martin, 27, received rave reviews in the BBC Northern Ireland drama Ups and Downs.

31 July 2019

Maggie OFarrell stands on the red carpet in a flowery dress

Hamnet writer says Oscar nod 'very surreal'

Northern Ireland

Noah Donohoe is smiling into the camera. He's wearing his school uniform. A framed picture is on the wall behind him.

What to expect from the Noah Donohoe inquest

Northern Ireland

A woman with chin-length brown hair is smiling into the camera. She is wearing a red jumper.

'My prognosis was so good because I was seen so quickly'

Northern Ireland

Confessions of double murderer to be heard for first time

The confessions of one of Northern Ireland's most notorious killers are to be broadcast for the first time.

Northern Ireland

A man is sitting on a brown sofa. He's wearing a brown jumper.

'I couldn't really find anywhere else to go'

Curtis is now in temporary accommodation at the Simon Community in Bangor.

Northern Ireland

'I put off my smear test for so long out of stupidity'

The 36-year-old shared her experience of undergoing treatment for severe pre-cancerous cells after years of putting off getting a smear test.

Northern Ireland

Rising ferry fares for Strangford and Rathlin services

Fares on the publicly-funded ferry routes will rise by approximately 4-7%.

Northern Ireland

A woman with long brown hair looking at the camera. She is wearing a black top.

Deepfakes are 'violating, humiliating and distressing'

Cara Hunter of the Social Democratic and Labour Party has growing concerns over deepfake imagery produced by X's AI tool Grok.

Northern Ireland

A woman with blond hair is standing beside cars and houses.

'My car has been destroyed by rats'

People in a County Tyrone town are calling for action over what they say is a rat problem in their area.

Northern Ireland

Elena is looking directly at the camera. She has blond hair tied back in a ponytail. She is wearing a light blue shirt and jumper. She is clearly in a school as the background has a wall display featuring paper trophies and names.

Nazareth House pupils welcomed by neighbours as roof gets fixed

Nazareth House closed after an inspection of the roof found that it was unsafe.

Northern Ireland

'Oysters are a missing habitat, a missing species, that do fantastic things for biodiversity'

Thousands of European oysters have been placed on the Belfast Lough seabed, in a bid to bring back native reefs that had almost disappeared.

Northern Ireland

A woman with long brown hair, wearing a black blazer, photographed from the chest up while sitting on abrown sofa

'Endometriosis has ruined my life'

A woman waiting for endometriosis treatment has said the pain she experiences is like having barbed wire in her body.

Northern Ireland

Michael has ginger hair and beard. He has a white breathing tube near his face.

'For the first time in over two years, I can wiggle my toes'

Michael Campbell, also known as Michael Patrick, was diagnosed with MND in February 2023.

Northern Ireland

A man with two young girls, beside a snowman

'We just got our winter break extended'

A fresh weather warning has been issued for icy conditions in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland

A young girl with brown hair smiling at camera

SMA diagnosis 'is not doom and gloom'

A County Down mother, whose five-year-old daughter has Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), has said singer Jesy Nelson should know "there is light at the end of the tunnel".

Northern Ireland

A wooden puppet wearing a red costume and hat lies on the table. It has green eyes and brown hair. A lady wearing pink is examining its strings while another hand holds up its wooden top.

Puppets and family plates - how repair cafes bring items back to life

Volunteers at a County Antrim repair cafe sew, glue and paint to restore loved items.

Northern Ireland

A man and woman standing facing each other in a forest. A woman has long brown hair and is wearing a red dress and the man has short dark hair and a green/ blue shirt.

'I always wanted it to be Paul Mescal'

Coleraine born Maggie O'Farrell says she always wanted Paul Mescal to star in the film adaption of Hamnet.

Northern Ireland

A man wearing a black coat holding a red defibrillator. He has dark short hair and is standing in front of a red brick building.

Electrician saves life of man on Belfast street

Dale Lee had begun to carry a mobile defibrillator in his work van after an advanced first aid course.

Northern Ireland

A woman with a shirt blonde bob standing next to five young children - two boys and three girls.

Crafts and chats - how one school is bridging the generational gap

A scheme that started four years ago, brings primary school pupils together with elderly residents living nearby.

Northern Ireland

A long haired dachshund standing on grass. He is wearing a collar with a red lead.

Woman calls for firework regulation change after dog's death

Ms Allen's long haired miniature dachshund, Buddy, ran off after fireworks "just started out of nowhere" startling the dog.

Northern Ireland