Green light for school's floodlights amid geese concerns

Dublin City Council has approved a new flood-lighting system for St Michael's College, a private school in the area, despite concerns from residents about the impact on Light-Bellied Brent Geese and their own quality of life. The college, located near Ailesbury Road and Nutley Avenue, serves 1,000 students and 100 staff. The planned system includes five 18.3-meter high lighting poles for the main synthetic pitch, six poles for the main grass pitch, and four poles for a synthetic training pitch.

The objection on behalf of 29 Nutley Avenue residents argues that the proposal would irreversibly harm the residential amenity and fail to comply with Dublin City Development Plan and EU environmental law. In response, council has set a condition that floodlight operational hours be limited to 9:30 pm. Previous reports indicate that Light-Bellied Brent Geese did use the pitch as a feeding area before 2026, as confirmed by field ecologist John Fox.

To avoid any impact, all mitigation measures identified in the submitted Natura Impact Statement will be fully implemented. Construction works at the pitch will not occur during the wintering bird season from October to March inclusive.