History
Mount Oriel is one of four sites within the Irish Republic which appeared on Post Office/BT microwave site lists. They formed part of links from Belfast to Dublin and Dublin to Manchester and were operated by the Irish Department of Posts & Telegraphs (later known as Telecom Eireann/eircom)
The route from Belfast to Dublin was subject of a planning application in 1967 by Philips Electrical (Ireland) Ltd - the main contractor *. The installations at Cappagh and Mount Oriel were similar - a "pylon" type tower and a building constructed of concrete blocks. Planning documents reveal that the building was extended in 1974 and "welfare" facilities provided for a military guard by around 1978.
The plans for Cappagh show a single-storey builiding with separate rooms for radio, batteries and generator ("engine") plus a welfare room. There is almost no detail of the tower but the building was to be constructed from concrete blocks with glass bricks rather than conventional glazing. The outside was rendered and the concrete roof finished with asphalt. A somewhat "utilitarian" construction, but probably providing enhanced protection compared to the standard UK design, which may have been a consideration. Unusually the building at Cappagh was located underneath the tower.
The next development was in 1974 with an application from the Office of Public Works for an extension to the radio room - almost doubling the size of the building. In 1978 a further request was made for the provision of a well and septic tank as part of welfare arrangements for the "military guard on duty at the station". Plans show the compound accommodated temporary buildings used as Guard Room and Cook House, with walls made from concrete blocks and sandbags. Similar planning applications were made for Mount Oriel. Whether the security precautions were specific to sites providing the link between Belfast and Dublin is unknown.
* The public notice in a 1967 newspaper also includes a site at Capard, Co Laois. The 1967 application includes a sketch suggesting Cappagh linked to Capard as well as Dublin and Mount Oriel.
Planning references (Kildare County Council): 676513 (original development); 741265 (extension to building, also includes details of 1978 security provision).