Security normalisation in Northern Ireland, as part of the peace process, has included the removal of watch towers, the dismantling of military bases and a reduction of troop numbers. Army patrols on the streets of Belfast are now the exception rather than the norm. As part of this process the closure of Girdwood army barracks in North Belfast was announced in November 2005. Originally a TA base, it has a controversial history associated with its use in the early 70's to hold prisoners without trial.

I gained access to Girdwood as the final troops prepared to leave the base. The work looks at the evidence of the withdrawal process: diagrams for the clearance of buildings, dismantled watch towers, abandoned observation posts and downed surveillance masts. It also examines the residue of successive battalions stationed at the base, who painted murals on the internal bomb blast protection walls. Before the handover to civilian contractors dismantling the base, most of these where painted out leaving traces of regimental insignias and names of individual soldiers.

The base has now been cleared and the land is in the hands of the new Northern Ireland government. However the high parameter fence is still in place and the site is closed to the public. Various plans have been drawn up for its use for housing, but its location between a Protestant and Catholic area means that agreement has yet to be reached on how to proceed with any redevelopment of the base.