Currency

The local currency in Ireland is the Euro €. Your dollar (USD) currently buys a bit less than one Euro (EUR). Check the current exchange rate so you can get a sense for your anticipated cost of living as you look into various on-site expenses at xe.com – USD to EUR.

Euros (symbolized by € or EUR) are issued in €500, €200, €100, €50, €20, €10, and €5 notes, and the coins are issued in €2, €1, 50c, 20c, 10c, 5c, 2c, and 1c denominations. The Euro is also used throughout most of Europe, so you can easily travel from country-to-country with at least enough to get around upon arriving.

Currency & Exchange Rates

Before You Leave Your Home Country

• Contact your bank
  
  • Before getting on the plane, make sure you call your bank. There are a few reasons for doing so. If you plan on using your home country's debit or credit card, ensure that you notify your bank of your travel dates before you leave. If you don't, your bank may think your information has been stolen and block your card.
  • It is also important to know about any foreign transaction fees your bank of choice may have for using your card in another country. It is important that you are aware of your bank's foreign travel policies for card usage before making purchases abroad. This could save you a lot of money during your time in Ireland.
• Get an understanding of the exchange rate
  • The exchange rate determines how many euros you’ll get for your dollar, before transaction fees are deducted. Be warned: not all financial institutions offer the same rate.
  • Dollars can be exchanged for euros at most banks. You’ll probably only need to do this once, since it’s not wise to bring your whole trip’s worth of funds (unless it’s a short one) in dollars. Once you have exchanged any cash you arrived with, if you need any more cash, you can withdraw it from ATMs like normal (see below).

There are a few things to keep in mind: 

• The exchange rate may vary among institutions. 
• You will need to bring your original passport in order to complete a currency exchange.
•  Traveler's checks are not commonly accepted.
  
  

Banks and ATMs

• Banks in Ireland will NOT exchange dollars for euros. 
• Using ATMs in Ireland may come with additional fees from your home bank, usually around 2-3% for international withdrawals and a set fee for using ATMs not affiliated with your bank.
• Check with your bank for details on these fees and withdrawal limits. 
• To minimize the fees, you can withdraw larger amounts less frequently, and make sure that the ATM card you use is linked to a checking or money market account, not a savings account. 
• Verify that your PIN is a four digit number. Keep in mind that the keypad on Irish ATMs does not have letters, and you will need to use a 4-digit number as a password.
•  If you're having trouble finding an ATM that works with your card, ask your home financial institution for the location of a machine that functions on your network. 
• Avoid ATMs that are not attached to a bank. If your ATM card gets stuck in one of these machines, you will not be able to walk into the bank and request your card back. They also tend to charge high fees. 
  
  

Cash Advances 

Credit and Debit Cards 

In Ireland many people use their credit and debit cards for purchases or else use their phone with Apple Pay or Revolut.

It may be handy to have some cash at times but for the most part it is becoming a cashless society.

• Be aware of fees: Make sure to ask your bank about their international transaction fees. They may add an additional 2-3% onto the cost of your purchase
• Notify your bank of travel: Let your bank know that you will be traveling and are planning to use your card/s abroad. If your bank notices activity on your account in Ireland and you haven't notified them of your travel plans, they will place a hold on your account. Avoid this headache by calling ahead or notifying them via their website of your travel dates and all the countries you plan to visit.
  
  

Tipping

• Tipping is not an Irish custom but has crept in over the last few years.  It is polite to tip at least 10% in a restaurant and for large groups a tip would be added to the bill.  People do not tip at bars however unless you are eating there. Taxi drivers do not expect tips, but do appreciate it if you let them keep the change.  If they help with baggage it would be considered polite to tip. 
  
  

Wiring Money

If you find yourself in an emergency and need to access money, the best option is to use an international wire transfer service such as Moneygram or Western Union. Both these services provide general information and FAQs on how to perform an international wire transfer on their websites, which can be useful for you to understand the process and fees involved. This method can be a bit slower than an ATM withdrawal but it is an option available to you.