Destinations
Internet in Ireland: European roaming and a border you cross without seeing it
Ireland is inside European roaming and the north is not. What happens when you cross without checks, where coverage fails and what to check if you drive.
Irene Salazar 5 min Photo by Jesse Gardner on Unsplash The Republic of Ireland is in the European Union, so if your line is European your gigabytes travel with you on your plan. The detail to keep in mind is geographical: the border with Northern Ireland is crossed by road with no checks at all, and the phone does notice.
The invisible border
Northern Ireland is the United Kingdom, which left the Union. If your plan does not include the UK, crossing without realising can mean international roaming usage for a few hours.
And you do not even have to cross: in the border area the phone can latch onto a mast on the other side. Pinning the network by hand there solves it.
How to check whether your plan includes the United Kingdom is in roaming in the United Kingdom.
Coverage
Good in Dublin, Cork, Galway and on the main roads. Where it weakens is on the west coast, in the inland valleys and on stretches of the scenic routes, which is exactly where the typical trip goes.
Driving in Ireland
- You drive on the left, and the secondary roads are genuinely narrow.
- GPS works without data once the map is downloaded, and here you appreciate that.
- Rural addresses can be imprecise: the national location code is more reliable than the street.
- And the weather turns fast, so the forecast gets checked often.
What you will use
Between 300 and 600 MB a day. It is a destination of maps, photos and searches, not of video.
Frequently asked questions
Is roaming included in Ireland?
In the Republic of Ireland yes, because it is in the European Union. Northern Ireland is the United Kingdom and it depends on what your plan includes.
Can I be charged roaming without crossing the border?
Yes, in the border area the phone can latch onto a mast on the other side. Pinning the network by hand prevents it.
Is coverage good?
Yes in cities and on main roads; it weakens on the west coast, in inland valleys and on scenic routes.
Do I need data to drive?
With the map downloaded it works offline, and in Ireland you appreciate that because rural addresses are imprecise.
