Why is there aircraft noise around Dublin Airport?

Dublin Airport (DUB/EIDW) is Ireland's busiest airport, handling around 35 million passengers per year on two parallel runways. The airport sits 10 km north of Dublin's city centre in the suburban towns of St. Margaret's and Swords. The corridor extends through northern Dublin suburbs and the coastal towns east of the airport: Portmarnock, Malahide, Sutton. Central Dublin (Temple Bar, the Docklands, Stoneybatter) sits well clear of the corridor. The opening of the new north runway (10R/28L) in 2022 expanded capacity but also redistributed noise across previously-unaffected areas, leading to ongoing community disputes.

Which Dublin neighborhoods are quietest for aircraft noise?

Most of central and southern Dublin sits clear of the corridor: Temple Bar, Trinity College area, the Docklands/Silicon Docks (Grand Canal area), Stoneybatter, the Liberties, Christchurch, Ringsend, Dolphin's Barn, Crumlin, Rathmines, Rathgar — all catch only altitude overflight. Dún Laoghaire and the south coastal suburbs are essentially aircraft-noise-free. The most affected areas are concentrated north of the city: Swords, Malahide, Portmarnock, St. Margaret's, Santry, Coolock, and parts of Glasnevin/Drumcondra catch consistent overflight.

Is the Silicon Docks loud from planes?

No — the Docklands / Grand Canal area (where Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Airbnb and other tech companies are based) sits ~10 km south of Dublin Airport and well clear of the corridor. Aircraft pass overhead at altitude (~3000-5000 ft) on certain departures heading south-east, which is audible but not impactful. For nomads choosing the Docklands or Grand Canal area, aircraft noise is essentially not a factor.

Is Malahide loud from planes?

Yes — Malahide, the affluent coastal village ~7 km east of the airport, catches consistent approach noise from runway 28R arrivals at low altitude (~1000-1500 ft). The new runway opening in 2022 changed the approach patterns and increased noise impact on Malahide and Portmarnock — leading to active community opposition and ongoing legal proceedings. Drop a pin on the map above to see your specific street.

What's the impact of the new north runway?

Dublin's new north runway (10R/28L) opened in August 2022 after decades of planning and construction. It added significant capacity but also introduced new flight paths over previously-quiet areas, particularly affecting Portmarnock, Malahide, Donabate, and parts of north county Dublin that hadn't previously been under approach corridors. Operating restrictions on the new runway have been the subject of ongoing legal and regulatory dispute between residents' associations, the DAA (Dublin Airport Authority), and the IAA (Irish Aviation Authority). Procedures continue to evolve.

How do I report aircraft noise in Dublin?

Submit complaints to the DAA (Dublin Airport Authority) via dublinairport.com/community-noise. The IAA (Irish Aviation Authority) handles regulatory complaints. Fingal County Council (which contains most of the affected suburbs) operates a noise monitoring and complaint channel. Various residents' associations (Portmarnock Community Association, FORUM — Fingal Organised Resistance Under Mounting Noise, and others) coordinate community advocacy.

Does coverage on this map include all aircraft?

Yes — commercial Irish and international fleets at Dublin have near-100% ADS-B coverage. The heatmap and density layers reflect actual traffic accurately. The Irish Air Corps operates from Casement Aerodrome (EICM), separate from Dublin Airport — their traffic doesn't appear on the DUB corridor.

Dublin Flight Path Noise Map – Dublin Airport (DUB)

Name: Aircraft noise observations near Dublin Airport
Creator: Flight Path Noise
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Aircraft noise around Dublin in October 2026

Loudest neighborhoods near Dublin: St. Margaret's, Portmarnock, Malahide, Swords, Santry. Quietest: Temple Bar, Docklands / Grand Canal, Stoneybatter, Dún Laoghaire. Busiest around 6 AM local time averaging 792 flights/day. Source: Flight Path Noise monitoring data, 30 days to 2026-10-18.

Flights by hour · last 30 days

12a6a12p6p

Average daily traffic

792

flights / day · 23,756 total

Busiest hour

6 AM

peak 95 dB

Loudest hour

6 AM

peak 95 dB

Loudest residential area

St. Margaret's

68 dB avg · ~752 flights/day · Busy road

Rural-residential area immediately north of the airport; under all corridor operations

Does Dublin Airport have a curfew?

Partial — no full ban, but restricted night operations under a noise quota (11 PM–7 AM).

Dublin has restricted operations between 11 PM and 7 AM but does not have a strict full ban. Some flights operate during the early-morning shoulder window (5-7 AM) and late evening (11 PM – midnight) under specific noise quotas. The 2022 opening of the new runway changed the operational profile, leading to ongoing legal and political dispute over the appropriate level of night-time restrictions. As of 2026 the regulatory framework continues to evolve.

Dublin Airport (DUB/EIDW) is Ireland’s busiest airport — around 35 million passengers per year on two parallel runways, sitting 10 km north of Dublin’s city centre. The 2022 opening of the new north runway dramatically expanded capacity but also redistributed noise over previously-quiet areas. The corridor extends through north Dublin suburbs (Swords, Santry, Coolock) and the coastal towns (Portmarnock, Malahide). Central and southern Dublin sits clear.

Which neighborhoods are quietest — and which aren’t

DUB has two parallel runways: 10L/28R (the original main runway, 2,637 m) and 10R/28L (the new north runway, 3,110 m, opened 2022). Plus a short cross runway 16/34 (used infrequently). The parallel runways are widely spaced, which distributes noise impact across a band of north Dublin.

Area	Aircraft noise	Why
St. Margaret’s	✈︎✈︎✈︎	Airport-adjacent north
Portmarnock	✈︎✈︎✈︎	Eastern approach, new runway
Malahide	✈︎✈︎✈︎	Coastal under runway 28R
Swords	✈︎✈︎✈︎	Northern departure corridor
Santry	✈︎✈︎✈︎	Southern airport-adjacent
Coolock	✈︎✈︎	Approach altitude
Glasnevin	✈︎✈︎	North Dublin lateral
Drumcondra	✈︎✈︎	Inner north under approach
Temple Bar	✈︎	Centre; altitude only
Docklands	✈︎	Silicon Docks; clear
Stoneybatter	✈︎	Trendy district; off corridor
Dún Laoghaire	✈︎	South coastal; outside footprint

The practical move at Dublin is south of the Royal Canal — all of central and southern Dublin sits clear of the corridor. The Silicon Docks tech district is essentially aircraft-noise- free. The southern coastal suburbs (Sandymount, Dún Laoghaire, Dalkey) are also clear. The affected zone is concentrated in north county Dublin.

Flight patterns and runway use

DUB operates both parallel runways in segregated mode under most conditions — one for arrivals, one for departures. The two-runway configuration distributes noise across a wider band of north Dublin compared to single-runway operations. The predominant flow has arrivals from the east (over Malahide/ Portmarnock) and departures to the west (over Swords and the northern suburbs).

When is it quietest?

DUB’s restricted operations during 11 PM – 7 AM give residents a quasi-quiet window, though some shoulder operations continue:

5 AM – 7 AM: early-morning departures (some).
7 AM – 9 AM: peak morning departure bank.
Midday (10 AM – 3 PM): moderate.
Evening arrival bank (4 PM – 9 PM): peak.
9 PM – 11 PM: tapers; late arrivals.
11 PM – 5 AM: restricted operations; reduced volume but not silent.

For your specific address, drop a pin on the map above.

How to check noise at your specific address

Search your address or postcode in the bar at the bottom.
Drop a pin.
Read the noise report.

For north county Dublin addresses (Swords, Malahide, Portmarnock, Donabate), check carefully — the new runway has changed the noise picture compared to historic patterns. Central and southern Dublin will show flat green profiles.

Frequently asked questions

Why is there aircraft noise around Dublin Airport?: Dublin Airport (DUB/EIDW) is Ireland's busiest airport, handling around 35 million passengers per year on two parallel runways. The airport sits 10 km north of Dublin's city centre in the suburban towns of St. Margaret's and Swords. The corridor extends through northern Dublin suburbs and the coastal towns east of the airport: Portmarnock, Malahide, Sutton. Central Dublin (Temple Bar, the Docklands, Stoneybatter) sits well clear of the corridor. The opening of the new north runway (10R/28L) in 2022 expanded capacity but also redistributed noise across previously-unaffected areas, leading to ongoing community disputes.
Which Dublin neighborhoods are quietest for aircraft noise?: Most of central and southern Dublin sits clear of the corridor: Temple Bar, Trinity College area, the Docklands/Silicon Docks (Grand Canal area), Stoneybatter, the Liberties, Christchurch, Ringsend, Dolphin's Barn, Crumlin, Rathmines, Rathgar — all catch only altitude overflight. Dún Laoghaire and the south coastal suburbs are essentially aircraft-noise-free. The most affected areas are concentrated north of the city: Swords, Malahide, Portmarnock, St. Margaret's, Santry, Coolock, and parts of Glasnevin/Drumcondra catch consistent overflight.
Is the Silicon Docks loud from planes?: No — the Docklands / Grand Canal area (where Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Airbnb and other tech companies are based) sits ~10 km south of Dublin Airport and well clear of the corridor. Aircraft pass overhead at altitude (~3000-5000 ft) on certain departures heading south-east, which is audible but not impactful. For nomads choosing the Docklands or Grand Canal area, aircraft noise is essentially not a factor.
Is Malahide loud from planes?: Yes — Malahide, the affluent coastal village ~7 km east of the airport, catches consistent approach noise from runway 28R arrivals at low altitude (~1000-1500 ft). The new runway opening in 2022 changed the approach patterns and increased noise impact on Malahide and Portmarnock — leading to active community opposition and ongoing legal proceedings. Drop a pin on the map above to see your specific street.
What's the impact of the new north runway?: Dublin's new north runway (10R/28L) opened in August 2022 after decades of planning and construction. It added significant capacity but also introduced new flight paths over previously-quiet areas, particularly affecting Portmarnock, Malahide, Donabate, and parts of north county Dublin that hadn't previously been under approach corridors. Operating restrictions on the new runway have been the subject of ongoing legal and regulatory dispute between residents' associations, the DAA (Dublin Airport Authority), and the IAA (Irish Aviation Authority). Procedures continue to evolve.
How do I report aircraft noise in Dublin?: Submit complaints to the DAA (Dublin Airport Authority) via dublinairport.com/community-noise. The IAA (Irish Aviation Authority) handles regulatory complaints. Fingal County Council (which contains most of the affected suburbs) operates a noise monitoring and complaint channel. Various residents' associations (Portmarnock Community Association, FORUM — Fingal Organised Resistance Under Mounting Noise, and others) coordinate community advocacy.
Does coverage on this map include all aircraft?: Yes — commercial Irish and international fleets at Dublin have near-100% ADS-B coverage. The heatmap and density layers reflect actual traffic accurately. The Irish Air Corps operates from Casement Aerodrome (EICM), separate from Dublin Airport — their traffic doesn't appear on the DUB corridor.

Sources and further reading

Dublin Airport — Wikipedia — Wikipedia
DAA — Dublin Airport Authority — daa plc (Dublin Airport Authority)
IAA — Irish Aviation Authority — Irish Aviation Authority
Fingal County Council — Fingal County Council

Data updated 2026-10-18 — live ADS-B monitoring, rolling 30-day statistics (methodology). Article text revised 2026-05-23.

30 dB	Whisper
45 dB	Quiet residential
55 dB	Normal conversation
65 dB	Busy road
75 dB	Vacuum cleaner
85 dB	Heavy traffic
95 dB	Motorcycle nearby

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Dublin Flight Path Noise Map – Dublin Airport (DUB)

Aircraft noise around Dublin in October 2026

Does Dublin Airport have a curfew?

Which neighborhoods are quietest — and which aren’t

Flight patterns and runway use

When is it quietest?

How to check noise at your specific address

Frequently asked questions

Sources and further reading

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