Dublin Airport’s plane spotting site, locally known as “The Mound”, has been granted planning permission to improve the site’s viewing facilities. The application was submitted in June of last year and was approved on November 13th by Fingal County Council.
Conceptual artwork of the new site shows an elevated platform with several benches and a sheltered viewing area where hobbyists can watch departures and arrivals from a safe distance.
According to Gary McLean, Managing Director of Dublin Airport, “this news will be cheered by locals, families and aviation enthusiasts all around the Dublin region. The public reaction to our proposal, which we’ll pay for, has been incredibly positive and people really want it”.
The Mound should be a familiar sight to anyone who has travelled in and out of Dublin Airport, located on Old Airport Road on the way to the airport entrance. For many years, it has been an informal viewing site where plane spotting enthusiasts can park their car and watch planes come and go from the South and Crosswind Runways throughout the day. Now, The Mound will be transformed into a pedestrian area with increased space for more plane spotters.
Plane spotting has experienced renewed interest in the past few years, the novelty of the hobby having garnered much positive social media attention. According to Dublin hobbyists, The Mound is frequently overcrowded as observers can track planes and know exactly when the incoming flights will land with flight tracking apps such as FlightRadar24.
The new renovation will be fully funded by the DAA group, a state-owned company that operates Dublin and Cork Airport. The upgrade is part of a series of initiatives introduced by DAA to give back to the local community surrounding the Dublin Airport. This includes the new Elevate ‘25 support programme, which pledges €2 million in funding to local primary and secondary schools in North Dublin and East Meath. These initiatives coincide with Dublin Airport’s 85th anniversary, which they are celebrating this year.
It is unclear when the plane observation facility will be completed, but Director McLean claims DAA is searching for a contractor currently and will provide updates as soon as possible.
