Europe

RC tracks, model airfields and boat waters in Ireland

1 RC track and 2 model airfields in Ireland – each entry checked on the club's website, with guest rules and dates.

RC tracks 1

Model airfields 2

Boat waters 0

Status October 2026

In short

In Ireland we have checked 1 RC track and 2 model airfields one by one on the clubs‘ own websites; a model boat water with current evidence is still missing. The EU rules apply to drones and model aircraft, and according to the IAA your registration from another EU country is also valid in Ireland. The IAA does not require liability insurance for recreational flights under 20 kg, but recommends it; the clubs on our list only allow flying with MACI insurance.

Ireland is still thinly covered on our list: many Irish clubs only appear on Facebook, and several club websites blocked access. The two model flying clubs on our list only allow flying with pilot insurance through the Model Aeronautics Council of Ireland (MACI). Ireland’s member of the European RC car federation EFRA is the Radio Controlled Car Association of Ireland (RCCAOI); only its members take part in Irish championship rounds. The aviation authority IAA is responsible for drones and model aircraft, and the EU rules apply.

Where can you drive RC cars in Ireland?

1 RC track with surface, classes and guest rules, sorted by province.

ClubLocationProvinceTrack
ORCA IrelandDublinLeinsterOn-road

ORCA Ireland (On Road Circuit Association)

Dublin 5 (Raheny), purpose-built track in St Anne’s Park; access via the main entrance on Mount Prospect Avenue, the track is on the left behind the rose garden · Leinster

On-road

  • Track: Outdoor tarmac track, around 400 m long with more than 12 corners: fast sweepers, tight chicanes, an S-bend combination in the back section and a hairpin at the end as the main overtaking point; slippery in the wet, especially on the painted kerbs
  • Classes: 1:8 GT (nitro, rubber tyres) and 1:8 GP (nitro, foam tyres) – according to the rules, minimum weight 2,350 g, engine max. 3.5 cm³, 16% nitro fuel (EU) only, tank max. 125 ml; also 1:10 electric touring cars on rubber tyres
  • Guests: Anyone interested should come along on a practice day; according to the home page, there is a club car for newcomers to try out. Membership must be paid for events organised by the club; practice days are free for members. Entry fee according to the home page €10 per race meeting, paid on site via Revolut; according to the Club Rules €10 per class or €15 for two classes (juniors €5 or €10). Only RCCAOI members of an affiliated club may take part in national championship rounds. Under 16s only when accompanied by a parent who is at least an associate member.
  • Dates: 2026 season (“2026 Season” section and race entry on the home page): Timed Practice Session on 05/04/2026, Irish National Round 1 on 12/04/2026, Irish National Round 2 on 10/05/2026; Irish National Championship with 6 rounds, best 4 count
  • Good to know: The home page gives an annual subscription of €50 (under 16s: €25, January to December), whereas the Club Rules state €150 for seniors, €75 for juniors and €200 for families – it is advisable to get in touch via the website before your first visit.

Website: orca-ireland.com

Where can you fly model aircraft in Ireland?

2 club airfields with field details, limits and guest rules.

ClubLocationProvinceModels
Midland Model Flying ClubKilcormacLeinsterPowered, Electric, Gliders, Helicopters, Jets, Large scale
Shankill Radio Flying ClubGreat Sugar LoafLeinsterPowered, Helicopters, Multicopter/FPV

Midland Model Flying Club (MMFC)

Boora near Kilcormac, Co. Offaly, club-owned flying field · Leinster

Powered Electric Gliders Helicopters Jets Large scale

  • Field: Club-owned site of around 4.5 acres (approx. 1.8 ha); main runway east–west approx. 160 m, secondary runway north–south approx. 70 m; barbecue area, electricity for lighting and for charging batteries.
  • Limits: Models over 25 kg only with a letter of permission from the IAA (copy required); large model certificates in line with MACI requirements are compulsory and strictly checked. For 35 MHz there is a permanently installed frequency board; 2.4 GHz pilots must be in full command of their equipment. Low passes near the access road only when a spotter gives the all-clear.
  • Guests: As a rule, only paid-up members may fly. Exception: a MACI-insured pilot may fly by invitation and when accompanied by a full member. All pilots need valid MACI membership with insurance; a copy of the registration card must be shown or dropped into the letterbox at the club hut. At the Family Weekend 2025, MACI membership and IAA registration were compulsory.
  • Dates: Family Weekend 2025 (three-day fun fly with camping, raffle and barbecue evening) from 01/08/2025 to 03/08/2025, with Monday 04/08/2025 as a reserve day in case of bad weather; membership form for the club year 01/04/2025–31/03/2026.
  • Good to know: Flying mostly takes place on Saturdays and Sundays all year round (weather permitting); since 2014 the club has held a multi-day fun fly every year with a bring and buy sale.

Website: midlandmodelflyingclub.org · Source

Shankill Radio Flying Club (SRFC)

Co. Wicklow, flying field right beside the Great Sugar Loaf · Leinster

Powered Helicopters Multicopter/FPV

  • Guests: Visitors and spectators are welcome. Flying is only possible with MACI insurance: the club requires proof of this pilot insurance before flying at the field. Pilots must also be registered with the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA); the EU rules for unmanned aircraft apply in Ireland (Regulation (EU) 2019/947).
  • Dates: 2026 club events: Open Club Fly-In on 30/05/2026, two-day Open Club Fly-In on 11/07/2026 and 12/07/2026, Aerobatic Fun Fly on 22/08/2026, Winter Fun Fly on 03/10/2026 and 07/11/2026, Christmas party on 04/12/2026; membership form 2025/26
  • Good to know: Flying takes place almost every Saturday and Sunday all year round (weather permitting); experienced instructors look after beginners of all ages, and the annual subscription for adults is €180 (club) plus €100 (MACI).

Website: srfc.net · Source

Where can you sail model boats in Ireland?

We have not yet found a model boat water in Ireland with current evidence on the club’s own website.

What are the rules in Ireland?

These associations are responsible in Ireland:

  • Radio Controlled Car Association of Ireland (RCCAOI): According to EFRA, the European federation for radio-controlled model car racing, the Radio Controlled Car Association of Ireland (RCCAOI) is its member federation for Ireland.
  • Model Aeronautics Council of Ireland (MACI): The Irish Aviation Authority refers model flyers to the Model Aeronautics Council of Ireland (MACI) for information on how the EU drone regulation affects model aircraft. Its website introduces the branches of aeromodelling: RC trainers, scale and aerobatic models, gliders, helicopters, control-line and combat flying.

The key points from the law and official pages (retrieved 11/10/2026):

  • In Ireland, as across the EU, drones and model aircraft are governed by Regulations (EU) 2019/947 and 2019/945; the competent aviation authority is the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA). The rules apply everywhere in Irish airspace – including over private property and national monuments (Irish Aviation Authority – Drones FAQs: Safety & Regulations).
  • The EU regulation is supplemented by the Irish Aviation Authority (Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Drones)) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 24/2023), which revoked the 2015 drone order. Under it, the IAA may by direction require third-party liability insurance and set minimum heights to protect privacy; you must immediately report accidents and serious incidents to the IAA’s UAS Division, An Garda Síochána and the Air Accident Investigation Unit (Irish Statute Book – S.I. No. 24/2023 – Irish Aviation Authority (Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Drones)) Order 2023).
  • In Ireland, model aircraft and drones are both considered unmanned aircraft, and the same rules apply to their operation. Model aircraft clubs and associations, for example those organising drone races, may have received an operational authorisation from the IAA under Article 16 of Regulation (EU) 2019/947; if you fly a race outside a club or association and without spectators, you fall under the open category, subcategory A3 (Irish Aviation Authority – Drones FAQs: Model Aircraft & FPV).
  • If your drone weighs more than 250 g or has a camera, you are legally required to register as an operator – online via MySRS, the IAA’s digital platform. You register as an operator, not the individual drone; the registration is valid for two years (Irish Aviation Authority – Drone Operator Registration).
  • Toy drones are exempt from registration; you must apply your operator ID to every drone flown by you or by remote pilots operating for you. Operators must be at least 16 years old – for younger pilots, a parent or guardian registers as the operator on their behalf and makes sure they are trained and supervised (Irish Aviation Authority – Drones FAQs: Registration).
  • According to the IAA schedule of fees (effective 1 January 2026), operator registration costs €41 for 2 years, the proof of completion of the online training for A1/A3 €51 for 5 years and the remote pilot certificate of competency for A2 €128 for 5 years. All fees are VAT exempt (Irish Aviation Authority – Schedule of Fees, Schedule No. 6: Unmanned Aircraft Systems).
  • For subcategories A1 and A3 you complete the ‚UAS Proof of on-line Training‘ course on MySRS (about 15 minutes, 40 questions, pass mark 75 %) and renew it every 5 years. For A2 you also need the ‚UAS Remote Pilot Competency Certificate‘ from a drone training organisation, with a theoretical examination (30 questions, 75 %) and a practical test (Irish Aviation Authority – Drone Training – Remote Pilot Competency).
  • Regulation (EU) 2019/947 sets the minimum age for remote pilots in the open and specific categories at 16. No minimum age applies if you fly a class C0 toy in subcategory A1, operate a privately built drone under 250 g or fly under the direct supervision of a remote pilot who meets the requirements (EUR-Lex – Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 of 24 May 2019, Article 9).
  • In the open category you may only fly within visual line of sight and no higher than 120 m (400 ft) above ground level. It is your responsibility as the pilot to check whether an aerodrome is nearby; before flying, check airspace restrictions on the IAA’s UAS geographical zones map (Irish Aviation Authority – Drones FAQs: Geographical Zones).
  • The IAA publishes Ireland’s UAS geographical zones under Article 15 of Regulation (EU) 2019/947 as a file in the common unique digital format and on an online map, which is for reference only and not to be used for navigation. Before each flight, check the published temporary restricted areas (TRAs), NOTAMs and the geographical zones data; zones may overlap (Irish Aviation Authority – UAS Geographic Zones).
  • According to the IAA, you always need insurance for your drone unless you fly for recreational purposes and it weighs under 20 kg. The IAA also recommends third-party insurance for lighter drones (Irish Aviation Authority – Drones FAQs: Safety & Regulations).
  • If you are registered with the national aviation authority of another EU state, you may also fly in Ireland; likewise, an Irish registration is valid across Europe. If you live in the United Kingdom or another non-EU country, you register in the first EASA Member State you wish to operate in – training or qualifications from your country of residence are not accepted, as there is no mutual recognition, so you need certificates from an EASA Member State (Irish Aviation Authority – Drones FAQs: Registration).

Note

I am not a lawyer: this is a summary of the linked sources, not legal advice.

Missing an entry?

For Munster, Connacht and Ulster we have not yet found a club with current evidence on its own website, and there is no water for model boats on the list yet. Do you know an active club that is missing here? Write to us via the contact page (in German) – we check the tip on the club’s website and add it to the list.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I find an RC track in Ireland?

This page currently lists 1 verified track: the ORCA Ireland tarmac track in St Anne’s Park in Dublin. ORCA requires paid membership for events organised by the club, and only RCCAOI members of an affiliated club take part in Irish championship rounds.

Can I fly at an Irish club field as a visiting model pilot from abroad?

The clubs on our list only allow flying with pilot insurance through MACI, and the Midland Model Flying Club additionally only by invitation and when accompanied by a full member. We have not found out whether MACI also insures guests from abroad – it is best to ask the club beforehand.

Do I need to register again in Ireland?

No. If you are registered with the aviation authority of another EU country, according to the IAA you may also fly in Ireland with that registration. Put your operator registration number on every model.

How high can I fly in Ireland?

In the open category, no higher than 120 m (400 ft) above ground level and only within visual line of sight. Before flying, check the UAS geographical zones on the IAA map as well as temporary restricted areas and NOTAMs.

Is insurance compulsory in Ireland?

Not according to the IAA if you fly recreationally and your model weighs under 20 kg; it does, however, recommend liability insurance. At the club fields on our list, in practice you need MACI insurance.

Sources