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Palace Barracks

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  • 05-03-2010 5:00pm
    #1
    Ruby_Woo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 259 ✭✭


    Just back from my first trip to Belfast - will most definitely be back, I absolutely loved it there, great city and everyone was so helpful and friendly.

    One evening taking a random spin around the place we passed by the Palace Barracks - I was just wondering what exactly this place is still being used for?

    A quick bit of googling suggests that the M15 are now based there, is that true?

    There appeared to be a lot of houses inside the barbed wire enclosure - do people live there?

    Sorry for all the ignorance, but this spot really intrigued me and would like to hear more about it.

    Thanks guys


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    #2
    m@cc@
    Registered Users Posts: 4,526 ✭✭✭m@cc@


    You'd still have Navy and Marine personnel living there. There's probably recruitment and enlisting services running out of there as well I'd imagine.


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    #3
    Soil Mechanic
    Closed Accounts Posts: 49 ✭Soil Mechanic


    Palace Barracks was, is & in alll likelihood will be one of the main MOD bases in NI for quite some time.

    It's one of the legacy resident infantry Battalion (600+) bases, together with married quarters as well as certain attached support units.
    Thats what all the housing is & yes it's still used. This is arguably one of the main reasons for the audible moaning, wailing & knashing of teeth you hear from the place!
    Has everything you would expect at a working military base e.g. various Firing ranges, obstacle courses, Hanger/workshops etc.
    Nothing special really.

    In addition, there's a new, small Royal Marine Reserve unit, and a seperate entire TA Logistics Regiment (400+, but only Part-time.)

    In terms of ancillary services there's a military recruiting office with staff, the BFBS Broadcast studio & a whole host of MOD civilian staff.

    The site facilities are also used by the PSNI for various courses (mainly weapons & tactics AFAIK)

    It also houses an MI5 sneeky-beaky support base & data-base backup centre (supposedly the primary 'Fallback Facility' for an emergency contingency situation, apparently has the office & computer storage capacity for up to up to 500 staff...)
    But you didn't hear it from me, right?:D

    Also has Kinnegar Barracks the other side of the road, which is the main Logistics & Heavy Workshop Facility base for the North, which also houses a resident full-time Logistics Regiment (again 400+) and a large number of MOD civilian staff.

    Quite a large local employer. Hope thats satisfies your intrigue. Alll open source BTW.

    SM


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