PLANNING permission has been granted for a new 21-metre telecommunications mast at Shannon Airport, replacing an existing 15-metre structure.
Clare County Council has granted permission to Eircom Limited for the replacement monopole at the Eir Exchange within the Shannon Airport campus.
The new structure will carry antennas, dishes and associated telecommunications equipment, along with new ground-level equipment cabinets.
According to the planning report, the development is intended to facilitate improved telecommunications services and network capacity at the airport.
The existing 15-metre monopole, which has an overall structure height of 19.9 metres, will be removed once the replacement infrastructure has been commissioned.
The planner said the proposal was acceptable because the site is zoned for airport-related development and the new mast would be compatible with the existing use of the area.
There were no third-party observations or representations on the application, although submissions were received from Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Shannon Airport Group and the Irish Aviation Authority.
Shannon Airport Group said it had assessed the proposed 21-metre structure in terms of airport safety and confirmed there would be no aviation impacts on communications, navigation or surveillance systems at the airport.
The planning report noted that the replacement mast would be higher than the existing installation but said its visual impact was acceptable given its location within the airport environment, where larger aviation-related infrastructure is already present.
The council also determined that the development would not adversely affect nearby homes, with no residential properties in the immediate vicinity, and would not give rise to significant traffic during construction or operation.
Permission was granted subject to eight conditions.
These include a requirement for the existing mast and all redundant telecommunications equipment to be removed once the replacement infrastructure is commissioned.
The developer must also comply with all aviation safeguarding requirements and recommendations from Shannon Airport Group and the Irish Aviation Authority.
The new structure must not interfere with airport navigation, communications or radar systems, while any aviation warning lighting required by the relevant authorities must be installed and maintained.
If the telecommunications installation becomes obsolete or is no longer required, the structure and associated equipment must be removed and the site reinstated within 12 months.
The council’s decision was made on August 11, 2026.
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