Mobile data in Ireland: Dublin, the west coast and the border
Ireland is in the EU, so an EU plan works at home prices. The catch is thirty kilometres wide: Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, which left the EU roaming rules, and the border is invisible from the car.
At a glance
- Does an eSIM work in Ireland?
- Yes. It connects to Eir (5G).
- Price
- From 4,49 € (3 GB, 15 days).
- For a one-week trip
- 5 GB for 30 days: 7,29 €.
- Does an EU phone plan work there?
- Yes: Ireland is in EU roaming, so a plan from an EU country usually works at no extra cost, within your operator's fair-use limit. If your plan is from outside the EU, it charges international roaming.
- When does the plan start?
- When your phone first connects to a network in Ireland. The QR code arrives by email within minutes.
Is roaming free in Ireland?
- Plans from the EU and the EEA: yes, roam like at home applies, within your operator’s fair use limit.
- UK plans: it depends on your operator since Brexit.
- Plans from outside Europe: usually international roaming or a daily pass.
The EU roaming calculator works out how many gigabytes that is for your plan.
eSIM for Ireland
Data on your phone the moment you land in Ireland. No account, no app, no shop.
Choose your data
For one to two weeks of maps, messaging and the odd video.
Nothing is charged now · When we are done improving, we will email you 30% off
Will it work on my phone?
On iPhone: Settings → General → About, and scroll to EID. If there is an EID, your phone takes eSIMs. Every iPhone from the XS (2018) onwards does.
On Android: Settings → About phone → Status, and look for EID. If there is an EID, your phone takes eSIMs. Most Galaxy S20, Pixel 3 and later do.
It also has to be carrier-unlocked. If you bought it outright or your contract is over, it almost certainly is.
Not sure about your model? Ask us before you pay and we will tell you — a person answers within 24 hours.
How it works
- 1Choose and payCard, Apple Pay or Google Pay. No account.
- 2Install it at homeThe QR arrives by email. Scan it on wifi in a minute.
- 3Connect when you landTurn on data roaming for the eSIM and you are online.
Dublin to Belfast: where the rule stops
Northern Ireland is in the UK, so once you cross, the EU rule no longer applies and your operator charges whatever its tariff says. There is no checkpoint to remind you. Worse, within a few kilometres of the border on either side the phone can attach to a network from the other jurisdiction while you are still where you started.
If you plan to cross, check what your tariff charges for the UK, or pick the network by hand near the border. The UK roaming guide covers the British side.
Which eSIM works in Ireland?
An Ireland eSIM runs on the local networks, Eir (5G). Data only: your number stays on your usual SIM. Note that a plan for the Republic does not cover Northern Ireland unless it lists the UK.
Coverage: Dublin, the Wild Atlantic Way and the islands
Dublin, Cork and Galway have strong coverage. Along the Wild Atlantic Way, in Connemara, Donegal and on the smaller islands it varies a lot with the terrain, and on some stretches it goes altogether. Download maps and ferry times before you drive west.
How much data for a trip to Ireland?
- 3 GB: a long weekend in Dublin.
- 5 GB: a week driving with maps and photos.
- 10 GB: two weeks, or a road trip with video calls.
- 20 GB: a month, or sharing data with a laptop.
The data calculator gives an estimate in five questions.
Prices for Ireland
Ireland data eSIMs: 3 GB for 4,49 €, 5 GB for 7,29 €, 10 GB for 11,99 € and 20 GB for 20,29 €. The plan starts on the first connection in Ireland.
Travelling later?
Going to Ireland later? We remind you before you fly
Tell us the day you leave. We email you a week before and the day before with the steps to install the eSIM on Wi-Fi at home. Nothing else.
We only write about this trip, and every email has a one-click unsubscribe. Privacy policy
Does my Irish or EU plan work in Northern Ireland?
Not under the EU rule: Northern Ireland is in the UK, which left it with Brexit. Your operator decides what it charges there, so check before you cross.
Does an Ireland eSIM cover Belfast?
Only if the plan lists the United Kingdom. A Republic-only plan stops at the border.
Is there coverage on the Wild Atlantic Way?
It varies with the terrain and disappears on some stretches, on every network. Download offline maps before driving west.
Do I need ID for a data eSIM?
No. A data eSIM bought online needs only an email address.
Get your eSIM before you fly: the QR arrives by email in minutes and the plan only starts when you connect at your destination.
See eSIMs for Ireland