WWII RAF Trainer Dome Restoration Begins

A campaign to bring Northern Ireland’s only World War II RAF ‘Trainer Dome’ back into use as a community defence heritage facility will reach a major milestone today (Friday 13th February), thanks to work beginning on-site in Aghanloo village.

The rare building, one of only six in the UK, sits on the former RAF Limavady site and was a key defence site during WWII's ‘Battle of the Atlantic’.

A sod-cutting is being held to mark a £1m investment in conservation and public access at the Dome by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and partners as part of Binevenagh Landscape Partnership.

The project will not only relaunch the scheduled WWII Trainer Dome into a multi-purpose community event space with 360-degree projection capability, but will also aim to remove the scheduled monument from the Heritage at Risk Register.

With a target opening date of Autumn 2026, the Trainer Dome will create a facility to tell the WWI and WWII story of Lough Foyle and the North-West through immersive projection technology. The project part of a developing ‘Atlantic Defence Trail’ which will see the development of conservation and public access to additional sites of defence heritage interest around the coast of Northern Ireland.

The project is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund with the support of National Lottery players, Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council. The sod-cutting celebration marks the culmination of seven-year programme of engagement with the local community and heritage experts to gain scheduled monument and planning consent.

Devity Contract Services will now begin clearance works before work to prepare the venue can begin.

Dr Paul Mullan, Northern Ireland Director at The National Lottery Heritage Fund said:

“We are so pleased the see the development of this unique defence heritage project as part of our commitment to the delivery of the Binevenagh and Coastal Lowlands Landscape Partnership. The conservation of the Second World War Training Dome is a flagship project which offers both visitors and local people to opportunity to learn more about the history and heritage of the landscape.

We are looking forward to seeing the works progress and the exciting ways that this space will engage people. Thanks to National Lottery players we are able to support the training dome project which will provide a sustainable future for this important monument.”

The milestone was also welcomed by project partner Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.

Mayor Councillor Oliver McMullan commented:

 “Council is delighted to see work beginning on the World War II RAF ‘Trainer Dome’ project in Aghanloo.

“The site has played an important role in the island’s history, and this work will not only preserve the building, but also recognise the contribution and sacrifice made by many local people during World War II.

“Future plans for the site, include a multi-purpose community event space, will be beneficial for the entire community and a welcome addition for many generations to come.”

Contractor Devity Contract Service’s Sean Warnock outlined the next stages of work at the site:

“Over the coming months, works will progress to include access improvements, drainage and service installations, alongside the conservation and refurbishment of the Dome structure itself. This will involve specialist structural steelwork, installation of a new tensile fabric covering, and associated internal and external repairs, all carried out in line with the requirements of a scheduled monument.

“We are proud to be delivering this project in close collaboration with the design team and stakeholders, with a strong emphasis on safety, heritage sensitivity and quality, as we help secure the long-term future of this unique structure for the local community.”