Marymass groups give behind-the-scenes peak

Marymass groups give behind-the-scenes peak

Excitement is building ahead of Marymass Saturday this weekend in Irvine, and organisers have given an insight into the work that goes into the festival's planning. The 12 days' worth of events in North Ayrshire will draw to a close this weekend, with the Irvine Carters' Society and Marymass Festival Committee already "bustling away in the background" for next year. North Ayrshire Council handed over the responsibility of the festival to the community groups in 2012, who continue to oversee […]

20/08/2026 48

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Ayrshire businesses recognised at Food Awards

Ayrshire businesses have enjoyed major success at the Food Awards Scotland 2026, with the region taking home 11 prizes. The awards ceremony was held on August 17 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central, with the event now in its 12th year. Round Island Café Bar on the Isle of Cumbrae was named Restaurant of the Year, while Viking Café Takeaway in Saltcoats received Takeaway of the Year for Recognised for Excellence. Kilmarnock businesses were among the Ayrshire winners, with […]

19/08/2026 16

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Annicks take pride despite Shetland cup loss

Stewarton Annick Ladies manager Kris Wales says their first-ever Scottish Cup trip will "live long in the memory", despite the long-haul encounter ending in defeat. The East Ayrshire side went down 3-0 to Shetland Women yesterday, in what was their first ever tie in the national competition, but are taking pride given the circumstances around the fixture. A total of around £15,000 was required to cover travel costs for the team to attend their match in the Northern Isles, which […]

17/08/2026 120

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Irish Viking group coming to Largs festival

The Largs Viking Festival will feature an Irish Viking re-enactment group bringing Hiberno-Norse history to life. Clann na Ulaidh, a group focused on Viking culture in Ireland, will present live combat, warfare tactics and traditional crafts. Organisers say the group will offer a glimpse into everyday life for Viking mercenaries living in Ireland. The Largs Viking Festival takes place from August 29 to September 6.

17/08/2026 21

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Pocognoli checks in as Scots’ boss

Sebastien Pocognoli has been confirmed as the new Scotland head coach, signing an initial two-year contract to succeed Steve Clarke. The former Belgium international previously managed Union Saint-Gilloise and Monaco, and led Union to the Belgian title in the 2024-25 season. His first game in charge of Scotland will be against Slovenia in Ljubljana on September 26 in the UEFA Nations League.

17/08/2026 16

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Popular Ayrshire cake van given licence boost

Bubba’s Cake Van has been given a licensing boost by North Ayrshire Council, allowing the popular mobile business to trade for up to an hour at locations across the county. The business, run by mother and daughter Karen and Lauren Ballantine, had previously faced a 20-minute limit. The pair had raised concerns that much of that time was taken up setting up before they could begin serving customers. Councillors unanimously agreed to allow trading over 60-minute periods.

17/08/2026 15

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Ayrshire town named best by the sea

Troon has been named the best place to live by the sea in the UK, according to The Times. The South Ayrshire town, known for its beaches and popularity with summer visitors, topped a list of coastal locations to move to while keeping the holiday feeling all year. The Times’ list also included Aberaeron in Wales, Ballycastle in Northern Ireland, Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire and Anglesey in the top five.

17/08/2026 21

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Friday night Ayrshire derby buzz builds

Kilmarnock and Ayr United go head-to-head in the last 16 of the Premier Sports Cup tonight, and the excitement ahead of the big fixture is building. The fierce rivals lock horns for their first competitive meeting since 2022, with a place in the tournament's quarter-finals up for grabs in September. Both sides have experienced contrasting starts to the league season. The Honest Men have begun their Championship season with a win over Arbroath and a hard-fought draw at Dunfermline under […]

13/08/2026 48

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MPS Clark raises funding concerns for knife campaign

Ayrshire MSP Katy Clark has criticised a reduction in funding for the No Knives, Better Lives campaign, warning it could affect pilot projects in North Ayrshire. YouthLink Scotland received £447,000 to deliver the programme during 2025/26, but that has fallen to £302,940 for 2026/27. North Ayrshire Youth Services has run pilot projects in Ardrossan, Saltcoats, Stevenston and Irvine, alongside regional training for practitioners across Ayrshire on violence and weapon prevention.

13/08/2026 19