The Chronicle - in shops now!

This week's newspaper is in shops now - full of all your local news and sport at the start of another year.

Leading on our front page is a rather concerning story about the extent of educational under achievement in certain parts of Coleraine.

A new 'Strategic Area Plan' for tackling educational disadvantage and raising aspirations of children and young people reveals that the proportion of school leavers going into higher education in parts of Coleraine is less than half the Northern Ireland average.

The Department of Education report also reveals 43 per cent of pupils in Ballysally, Harpurs Hill and the Heights are not achieving five or more good GCSE grades (A–C including English & Maths).

It's a rather sobering report and one which poses plenty of questions as we go into 2026 - read the full story in our special report.

Elsewhere, we reveal just who has been recognised locally in the New Year Honours List, a list that includes well-known Coleraine woman Margaret Peacock who has been awarded the MBE for services to the community.

In other news we report on how the re-opening of a bridge helped save Christmas for traders in one local town and reflect on the end of a centuries old tradition at one rural church.

Our photographers have been busy over the festive period so we have plenty of photos from events taking place across the borough while the first part of our popular 'News Review of the Year' runs this week.

In sport, it hasn't been a particularly happy Christmas for Coleraine FC players, management and fans as they have lost ground on league leaders Larne on the back of a number of disappointing defeats.

But there is better news for Glenullin GAA club just outside Garvagh who are preparing for a trip to Croke Park this weekend and a first All Ireland football final after successfully coming through their semi-final last Saturday.

We have all the build-up in a busy sports section.

So, to ensure you start the New Year in the proper way, make sure and pick up your copy of The Chronicle today...