Dublin Drone Delivery Revolution Reaches Austrian Radio

In Dublin, coffee sometimes falls from the sky via drone delivery

Earlier this autumn I spoke with ORF Radio Austria for their technology programme Digital.Leben about something that’s already part of everyday life in parts of Dublin: coffee, groceries, and takeaways delivered by drone. The short feature, broadcast on 29 October 2025, looked at how Irish company Manna Aero has turned what began as a pilot project into a real delivery service.

The interview came about after meeting Franz Zeller, Head of Science and Innovation at ORF’s Wissenschaft Unit, during Maker Faire Rome 2025. I was reporting for Irish Tech News as part of an international press group supported by the Italian Trade Agency and Innova Camera, the Rome Chamber of Commerce agency that runs the fair.

How the Interview Happened

Maker Faire Rome is Europe’s largest festival of invention and creativity, bringing together researchers, artists, and small startups to show how technology can be practical, playful, and shared. Franz and I were part of the same international press delegation, invited by the Italian Trade Agency to visit the fair.

In conversation with him, I mentioned that drones now deliver coffee to my home in Dublin, , and showed him a short video on my phone. He was intrigued. Austria has been cautious with drone trials, and the idea of receiving a flat white from the sky was something new.

The interview took place one morning on the Gasometro Ostiense site, a former industrial complex turned innovation hub, just before the fair opened fully to visitors.

“In Dublin fällt der Kaffee manchmal vom Himmel”

“My name is Billy Linehan. I am a journalist with Irish Tech News. We have a home delivery service from Manna Aero, and every morning I can order a flat white dropped into my garden. When it arrives, there’s a noise, you can hear the propellers overhead. It’s cheaper than a car delivery and more environmentally friendly than using a van or motorbike. Whatever you want, your Chinese takeaway or whatever, you just order on the app, choose the item, and the drone arrives overhead. It lowers the package gently on a little string, and you can even watch the approach live on the map.”

That short exchange, broadcast nationally on Ö1 Radio Austria, reached a wide audience. It showed how Manna Aero has normalised drone delivery in the suburban area of Blanchardstown in Dublin, something that once sounded like science fiction.

Listen to the short ORF interview here

Audio © ORF Radio Austria, Digital.Leben, 29 October 2025. Used for journalistic reporting.

Why It Matters

The interview was brief but said a lot about how technology travels. A conversation at an Italian innovation fair became a science-radio feature in Vienna. It reminded me how closely connected Europe’s research and creative communities are.

It also showed how public curiosity about practical innovation remains strong. Drone delivery may still be local, but its implications for sustainability, logistics, and convenience are global.

A more detailed article on Manna Aero’s work in Dublin 15 will follow soon here on Irish Tech News.

Maker Faire Rome 2025

The fair itself was a vibrant showcase of science, engineering, and creativity at every scale – from university research to garage-built inventions. Exhibitors included Arduino, Seeker, research teams from Sapienza University of Rome, and start-ups supported by the Lazio Region Innovation Programme. As part of the international Maker Faire movement, the Rome edition has become Europe’s largest, celebrating hands-on problem-solving, open-source collaboration, and sustainable design.

For three days, the Gasometro Ostiense buzzed with energy as school groups, engineers, artists, and the public explored and discussed what people are making – and why “making” matters.

My thanks to Franz for the interview, and to the Italian Trade Agency and Innova Camera for their invitation and hospitality during the three-day visit to Maker Faire Rome.

(Photo: Franz Zeller, ORF Radio Austria, with Billy Linehan, Irish Tech News, taken just after the interview at Maker Faire Rome 2025.)

For more on Maker Faire Rome 2025, visit the Irish Tech News feature: Maker Faire Rome – Festival of Innovation

Billy Linehan

Billy writes for Irish Tech News on innovation, tech-for-good and entrepreneurship, covering events in Ireland and abroad. Alongside journalism, he’s a business mentor and consultant at Celtar Advisers and has advised hundreds of owners of SMEs and startups. He also co-founded and organises StartUp Ballymun, Dublin’s longest-running  entrepreneurship series.