Manna Pauses Irish Drone Deliveries Amid Regulatory Hurdles; Focuses on Clearer Markets
Drone firm Manna has paused its Irish delivery operations due to regulatory hurdles and a lack of a clear national pathway for scaling. Founder Bobby Healy confirmed the decision, made with investor approval, to focus on markets with established drone delivery frameworks. The company has invested nearly €50 million in Ireland and completed 300,000 deliveries, but faced local council rejections and noise complaints.
Drone firm Manna has announced a «strategic pause» to its Irish delivery operations, effectively grounding them. This decision follows recent setbacks, including local council blocks on operating drone delivery hubs in parts of Dublin.
Founder Bobby Healy stated this was a difficult decision, as Ireland is where Manna was founded and proven. However, in the absence of a clear national pathway for scaling commercial drone delivery in Ireland, the company will focus investment on markets where such a pathway is established. Manna has invested nearly €50 million in its Irish operations since 2019, developing hardware and software, and completing 300,000 deliveries.
The company, which has raised close to $110 million in funding, secured investor approval for this pause. Complaints about noise pollution from residents near hubs and flight paths contributed to the challenges. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council recently refused Manna permission for a new hub in Dundrum, and Fingal County Council denied continued operations from Coolmine Industrial Estate. Cork City Council also raised concerns about its Marina Market base.
Despite Irish challenges, Manna has expanded to Texas and Finland, partnered with Uber, Deliveroo, and Just Eat, and tested medical deliveries with Rotunda Hospital. The company recently closed a $50 million fundraising round, bringing total funding to over $100 million, with investors including Ark Invest, Schooner Capital, Coca-Cola HBC, and the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund.