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Site Visit – Divis Key Point

Divis KP or Divis Key Point as it was known, was a remote communications station situated on the bleak Divis Mountain to the west of Belfast overlooking the City. Due to the highly sensitive nature of the site little is publicly known about it, however as part of the normalisation process within Northern Ireland it was abandoned in around 2005, this visit was in 2008. I believe it was demolished the following year.

There was a short article I came across in ‘The Sapper’ magazine January 2005 from the two Sections who were tasked with the ‘lock and leave’ of Divis KP. They stripped out 2km of coil fencing, installed new chain link fence with razor wire, removed the reinforced concrete blocks along with other improvised barriers and electrical cables.

The photographs aren’t the highest quality, and were taken on a Samsung compact camera. At this stage they are the only images remaining of what was a very unique site.

© Google Maps aerial image of Divis KP prior to its demolition.
© Google Maps aerial image of Divis KP prior to its demolition.

Divis Key Point, 2008

Divis Key Point, a remote communications station on Divis Mountain, to the west overlooking Belfast. Taken in May 2008.
Divis Key Point, a remote communications station on Divis Mountain, to the west overlooking Belfast. Taken in May 2008.
The pedestrian gate to Divis Key Point, a remote communications station on Divis Mountain, to the west overlooking Belfast. Taken in May 2008.
The pedestrian gate to Divis Key Point, a remote communications station on Divis Mountain, to the west overlooking Belfast. Taken in May 2008.
Divis Key Point, a remote communications station on Divis Mountain, to the west overlooking Belfast. Taken in May 2008.
Divis Key Point, a remote communications station on Divis Mountain, to the west overlooking Belfast. Taken in May 2008.
The front gate. Taken in May 2008.
The front gate. Taken in May 2008.
The once secure door to the surveillance dome. Taken in May 2008.
The once secure door to the surveillance dome. Taken in May 2008.
The surveillance dome. Taken in May 2008.
The surveillance dome. Taken in May 2008.
The switch room for the radio relay mast. I believe this is the only building remaining on site and it is still operational. Taken in May 2008.
The switch room for the radio relay mast. I believe this is the only building remaining on site and it is still operational. Taken in May 2008.
A makeshift outpost to be used for cover from small arms fire in the event of an attack. Taken in May 2008.
A makeshift outpost to be used for cover from small arms fire in the event of an attack. Taken in May 2008.
The fortified blockhouse. Taken in May 2008.
The fortified blockhouse. Taken in May 2008.
The fortified blockhouse. The observation cupola can be seen on the top of this building. Taken in May 2008.
The fortified blockhouse. The observation cupola can be seen on the top of this building. Taken in May 2008.
The fuel supply and POL store. Taken in May 2008.
The fuel supply and POL store. Taken in May 2008.
The rear of the fortified blockhouse. This was the single occupied building on site where troops would have lived, worked and slept. Taken in May 2008.
The rear of the fortified blockhouse. This was the single occupied building on site where troops would have lived, worked and slept. Taken in May 2008.
The ammunition locker. Taken in May 2008.
The ammunition locker. Taken in May 2008.
The kitchen. Everything about the day-to-day operation at Divis was self-contained. Troops would have been stationed here for days or weeks at a time. Taken in May 2008.
The kitchen. Everything about the day-to-day operation at Divis was self-contained. Troops would have been stationed here for days or weeks at a time. Taken in May 2008.
Entry into the electronics rooms was strictly prohibited. It was in here that the sensitive communications equipment would have been housed. The infantry on site (2 R Irish) would have provided security only. Taken in May 2008.
Entry into the electronics rooms was strictly prohibited. It was in here that the sensitive communications equipment would have been housed. The infantry on site (2 R Irish) would have provided security only. Taken in May 2008.
Accommodation was rudimentary, with no fresh drinking water on site. This room would most likely have been the Officer of SNCO accommodation. Taken in May 2008.
Accommodation was rudimentary, with no fresh drinking water on site. This room would most likely have been the Officer of SNCO accommodation. Taken in May 2008.
The political map of Belfast sits fixed to the bench in the observation cupola situated onto of the blockhouse. Taken in May 2008.
The political map of Belfast sits fixed to the bench in the observation cupola situated onto of the blockhouse. Taken in May 2008.
The 'happy button' to sound the alarm in the event of attack. Taken in May 2008.
The ‘happy button’ to sound the alarm in the event of attack. Taken in May 2008.

Divis Key Point, 2016

Divis Transmitter as it stands in 2016. A much reduced compound than previously operated during OP Banner. Now the site operates as an unmanned radio station.