Where is NI's only nuclear bunker?

[Square Ball]

Despite the ending of the Cold War and the warming of relations between Washington and Moscow, the nuclear issue still features regularly on the international news agenda.
North Korea, Iran, China and Pakistan all get a mention these days, but just how prepared is Northern Ireland for any fallout from current arms race rumblings?



Well, you may be surprised to learn that, at present, there is only one nuclear bunker with room for just 235 people (Northern Ireland currently has a population of approximately 1.7m).

Furthermore, it's not located at Stormont, the Queen's NI residence - Hillsborough Castle - or in the caverns of Belfast City Hall.

Ballymena

No, Northern Ireland's only nuclear bunker is located in Ian Paisley's spiritual home, Ballymena, County Antrim.

At Woodside Industrial Estate, which is home to an array of businesses including a children's adventure playground, to be precise.

Work on the bunker began in 1987 and it was completed in 1989.


Work began on Northern Ireland's only nuclear bunker in 1987

An official source commenting on its current state of repair described it as being "generally maintained".


BBC News used the Freedom of Information Act to unearth the number of official nuclear bunkers in Northern Ireland and their location.


But just who will be Ballymena-bound if a nuclear attack is one day imminent?

"There is no list of people who would be admitted into it (the bunker)," said a spokesman for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.

However, the spokesman's current bosses - Messrs Paisley and McGuinness - would presumably be in with a good chance of being included if one were to be drawn up.

Ballyfeckingmena, so the 4,5,6 or whatever it is warning sounds and you have to get to Ballymena in the mddle of rush hour, stick you head between your legs and kiss you ass goodbye......

So there is room for 235 and thats it guys, so if it ever happens and Ian and Marty have the pick, it would be some craic in there for, well, a hell of a long time, probably do eachother in.

[Orior]

To hell with the bunker. When I get the 10 minute warning I'm off see the girls in my accounts department. Woof woof! BOOM! nothing....