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About DSI

About Drone Services Ireland

Established in 2016 by Fergal McCarthy. Commercial drone operations serving all 32 counties from our base in Navan, County Meath.
Est. 2016
Founded
500+
Projects Completed
32
Counties Covered
€6.5M
Insured
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Meet the Founder

Fergal McCarthy – Founder & Chief Pilot

Fergal McCarthy founded Drone Services Ireland in 2016 after a career in IT consultancy. He brings a technical mindset and client-focused approach to every project.

Fergal holds full IAA licensing with EASA Specific Category operational authorisation, allowing him to conduct complex operations in controlled airspace, including Dublin’s Class C airspace. He was Ireland’s first IAA-verified member on the Drone Safe Register.

His specialisations include drone LiDAR surveying (delivering sub-5cm accuracy), RTK/PPK photogrammetry, thermal imaging inspections, and topographical surveys in Irish Transverse Mercator (IRENET95) coordinate systems. Irish media regularly call on Fergal for expert commentary on drone regulations, technology developments, and aviation safety. See our media appearances →

  • Operating commercially since 2016
  • 500+ projects delivered nationwide
  • EASA & IAA certified for all operation categories
  • Ireland’s first IAA-verified member on the Drone Safe Register
Fergal McCarthy, Founder of Drone Services Ireland, Navan, County Meath
Industry Leadership

Leading Ireland’s Drone Industry

Fergal has held leadership positions across Ireland’s main professional drone organisations.

Secretary – Drone Professionals Ireland

Ireland’s newest professional-only drone organisation, focused on raising standards across the commercial sector.

Former Chairman – Irish Professional Drone Pilots Association (IPDPA)

Helped establish professional standards and best practices for Irish drone operators.

Former Co-Chair – Unmanned Aircraft Association of Ireland (UAAI)

Contributed to regulatory consultation processes with the Irish Aviation Authority and EASA.

Fergal’s involvement across multiple industry bodies reflects his commitment to growing the drone industry and ensuring businesses across all sectors can benefit from professional drone operations.

What We Do

Our Services

We deliver aerial survey and inspection services across a wide range of applications.

Surveys & Mapping

Drone surveys, topographical surveys, stockpile volumetrics, and multispectral mapping.

LiDAR

Drone LiDAR surveying for terrain models, vegetation analysis, and power line surveys.

Inspections

Building and roof inspections, infrastructure inspections, wind turbine inspections, telecoms inspections, and underwater ROV inspections.

Construction

Construction progress monitoring, time-lapse documentation, H&S audits, and site security surveys.

Photography & Modelling

Drone photography and video, 3D models and digital twins, and golf course mapping.

Specialist Services

Storm damage assessment, aerial environmental monitoring, drone consultancy, custom solutions, and research projects.

We price every job based on location, airspace restrictions, and the deliverables required. Contact us for a quote.

Our Equipment

Equipment and Technology

We operate DJI Matrice 300 RTK platforms with a range of survey and inspection payloads.

DJI Matrice 300 RTK
Enterprise drone platform with RTK positioning for centimetre-level accuracy. All-weather capable with 55-minute flight time.
DJI Zenmuse L2 LiDAR
240,000 points per second with 5cm horizontal and 4cm vertical accuracy at 150m altitude. Includes integrated 20MP RGB camera for colourised point clouds.
DJI Zenmuse P1
Full-frame 45MP photogrammetry camera. Mechanical shutter eliminates rolling shutter distortion for the sharpest aerial imagery available.
Emlid RS3 GNSS
Multi-band RTK GNSS receiver for ground control points. Achieves ±8mm horizontal and ±15mm vertical accuracy for survey verification.
Radiometric Thermal Camera
Radiometric thermal sensors for building inspections, energy audits, and infrastructure assessments.
Deeptrekker DTG3 ROV
Professional underwater ROV for subaquatic inspections. 4K UHD camera with 200m depth rating for bridge, pier, dam, and harbour assessments.

View our full equipment specifications →

Compliance & Safety

Compliance, Insurance, and Safety

Safe flight and accurate geospatial data are our primary focus. Every operation is planned, risk-assessed, and executed in full compliance with regulations.

IAA Licensed
We hold a current EASA Specific Category Approval for commercial drone operations across Ireland.
EASA Compliant
Full Specific Category operational authorisation under EU Regulation 2019/947, including permission to operate in controlled airspace.
Fully Insured
€6.5 million public liability insurance for drone operations and €13 million employers’ liability. Certificates are available on request.
SafePass Certified
Valid SafePass certification for work on construction sites, along with manual handling and working at heights certificates.

All documentation – including insurance certificates, risk assessments, method statements, and pilot credentials – can be provided for tender submissions and pre-qualification questionnaires.

What Our Clients Say

“We use Drone Services Ireland on our real estate projects to provide real-time progress updates on a monthly basis. The drone video footage gives our project teams and stakeholders a very clear picture on overall progress and is an excellent tool for tracking against the construction and completion programme.”

Our Values

What Drives Us

Three principles that define every project we deliver.

Accuracy
Survey-grade precision on every project. We use RTK positioning, ground control points, and rigorous quality checks to ensure your data meets engineering standards. Our deliverables are CAD-ready and independently verifiable.
Safety
Safety is non-negotiable. Every flight is planned with full risk assessments, airspace permissions, and compliance with EASA and IAA regulations. We carry €6.5M public liability insurance for complete peace of mind.
Innovation
We stay ahead of the curve with the latest drone technology, LiDAR sensors, and processing workflows. Continuous investment in equipment and training means you always get the best available data quality.
Nationwide Coverage

Covering All 32 Counties

Drone Services Ireland is based in Navan, County Meath, and provides coverage across all of Ireland. We have completed projects in every county and regularly operate in Dublin’s controlled airspace.

DublinCorkGalwayLimerickMayoWaterfordMeathKildareWicklowLouth+ All 32 Counties

View our full service areas →

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Drone Services Ireland was founded by Fergal McCarthy in 2016, making it one of Ireland’s longest-established commercial drone operations with nearly a decade of continuous service.

Yes. We hold a current EASA Specific Category operational approval. We carry €6.5 million public liability insurance for drone operations and €13 million employers’ liability. All certificates are available on request for procurement and tender purposes.

We provide nationwide coverage across all 32 counties from our base in Navan, County Meath. We have completed projects in every province and regularly operate in Dublin’s controlled airspace.

We serve construction, engineering, architecture, insurance, agriculture, forestry, energy, telecommunications, quarrying, and environmental sectors. Our clients include major construction firms, engineering consultancies, government agencies, and infrastructure operators.

Contact us on 087 205 2331 or email us. We price every project individually based on location, airspace requirements, and the specific deliverables you need. Most quotes are returned within 24 hours.

Discuss Your Project

Get in touch to discuss your requirements. We respond to all enquiries within 24 hours.

Get a Free Quote087 205 2331
Further Reading

Related Resources

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