Updated / Wednesday, 1 Apr 2026 16:53
Drone delivery company, Manna, has announced plans for 400 new jobs in Ireland and the United States.
It said the roles will be focused on robotics, software and mechanical engineering and aviation operations.
Manna’s workforce will increase from 170 to 570.
The company said that hiring has begun, with the aim of filling all of the roles within the next 18-24 months.
Its founder and Chief Executive, Bobby Healy, said the “high quality” roles will allow Manna to expand its business.
Most of the jobs – 300 – will be based in Ireland across sites in Cork and a number of other locations, including its Dublin headquarters, where it designs, builds and develops the software for drones.
One hundred of the jobs are planned for the US. The company already has a presence in Texas.
It said that “a number” of US cities have been “very enthusiastic” about the potential for drone deliveries.
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke said the jobs announcement represented a powerful endorsement of Ireland’s standing as a global centre for innovation, saying it showed the ability of Irish firms to compete on the global stage.
Executive Director at Enterprise Ireland Kevin Sherry welcomed the announcement, describing Manna as one of the country’s most dynamic and ambitious companies.
Manna was founded seven years ago.
It said that it has said it has carried out over 250,000 drone deliveries, and has operated in Moneygall in Co Tipperary, Oranmore in Co Galway, Balbriggan in Co Dublin, Texas and Finland.
Some 60,000 deliveries have been made in the Dublin 15 area over the last two years, the majority of which, it said, were food and groceries.
However, the company has attracted opposition, with some residents expressing concerns.
Last October, a campaign group called Drone Action Dublin 15 held a meeting which was attended by around 200 people.
Many of them expressed opposition to the operation of drones in the area.
The noise generated by the drones and concerns about privacy were among the main issues raised.
