Manna Drones Ltd, an Irish drone delivery company, proposed to the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to build an aerial delivery hub behind the Holy Cross Church in Dundrum, which was met with official refusal from the Council and loud local objection from the church.
The Council chiefly refused the plans due to noise concerns from residents and churchgoers. As reported by The Journal, Msgr Paul Callan, a senior Catholic cleric at Holy Cross Church and Pastoral Centre was among the paramount protesters objecting to the proposal, stating that “the prospect of a drone take-off during Mass is simply unprecedented and disrespectful.”
Manna Drones Ltd failed to provide sufficient evidence that the proposed aerial delivery hub would avoid harmful noise levels to the church and residents. Consultant on behalf of Msgr Callan, Ann Mulcrone expressed that the delivery hub “would create a hostile environment and would seriously injure the amenities of the Church and Pastoral Centre and Parish House.”
Ms Mulcrone, acting as a representative of Msgr Callan, said that the church “provides a quiet space of refuge and the variety of activities in the church and pastoral centre include mindfulness, meditation, stillness, yoga, therapy groups for young and old.”
Ms Mulcrone concluded, saying that “the proposed use and the impacts on the church have not and cannot be properly addressed as the proposed use is simply incompatible with the quiet environment essential to the church and pastoral centre.”
The Irish Catholic has contacted the parish and is still waiting for comments.