Just off exit 7 on the M1 is the Gormanston Army Camp. What goes on here? What is the history? I spoke to three people who told me more.
I discussed with Lt Col John Kirke (Retired), the history of the camp, from its set up as a training base for the British air force, what was to become the RAF, from 1917 during World War 1 through its use as a training base for the Auxilleries (black & tans) and his own experience training and flying with the Irish Air Corp from the 1970s onwards.
Lt Col Ronan Curtis is Officer in Command at Gormanston Army Camp today tells me that the camp is at a new phase and will be a centre of increased importance for the Irish Defence Forces. It is to be the induction base for all new recruits to the Irish army.
Gormanston College today is a base for refugees seeking international protection, but from 1970, extraordinary numbers came through Gormanston Army Camp from the early years of troubles in the north. Brian Hanley (Assistant Professor Trinity College Dublin) is author of The Impact of the Troubles on the Republic of Ireland. I discussed with Brian the use of Gormanston Army Camp as a refugee camp and explore the reactions of the time.
The episode finishes with an RTE from 1970 with Rodney Rice interviewing the social worker Mairead Murphy supporting residents at Gormanston at the time talking about her work. RTÉ Archives | War and Conflict | Fleeing From The North (rte.ie)
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