What Currency Does Ireland Use? A Friendly Guide to Ireland’s Money, History & Travel Tips

If you’ve ever packed your bags for Dublin—or even daydreamed about walking along those misty Irish cliffs—you’ve probably wondered at some point: What currency does Ireland use? And honestly, it’s a super common question. Even friends of mine who travel a lot still mix up Ireland, Northern Ireland, the U.K., the euro… you get the idea.

So let’s clear this up once and for all. And while we’re at it, we’ll dig into a few related questions travelers ask every single day, like:

• Dublin Ireland currency
• Ireland currency to USD
• Does Dublin use pounds or euros?
• What currency did Ireland use before the euro?

Plus a bunch of little details that help when you’re at the airport currency counter trying not to panic.

Grab a cup of tea (or, you know, a cold Irish cider). Let’s get into it.

So… What Currency Does Ireland Use?

Ireland—meaning the Republic of Ireland, not Northern Ireland—uses the Euro (€) as its official currency.

✔ Currency: Euro
✔ Symbol: €
✔ International Code: EUR
✔ Used Since: 2002 (after leaving the Irish Pound, or “Punt”)

That means if you’re strolling through Dublin, Galway, Cork, Limerick… the currency everywhere is the euro.

A lot of travelers confuse Ireland with the U.K., but nope—Ireland is not part of the United Kingdom, and it does not use British Pounds (GBP).

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Does Dublin Use Pounds or Euros?

This is probably the biggest confusion out there.
So here’s the clean, simple answer:

👉 Dublin uses Euros, not Pounds.

British Pounds (GBP) are only used in Northern Ireland, which is part of the U.K. Cities like Belfast, Derry, and Newry use pounds—but once you cross the border into the Republic of Ireland, you’ll switch to euros.

And honestly, because the border is so open, it’s easy to forget which currency belongs where. I still catch myself double-checking when driving north.

Ireland Currency to USD: What’s the Conversion Like?

Exchange rates move around all the time (kind of like my mood when my phone battery hits 10%).

But the general idea is:

• 1 Euro (€1) ≈ $1.05–$1.15 USD
• 10 Euros (€10) ≈ $10.50–$11.50 USD
• 100 Euros (€100) ≈ $105–$115 USD

You should check a live converter before traveling, but it usually stays in that ballpark.

Where to exchange?

• ATMs in Ireland (often best rates)
• Major banks
• Airport exchange counters (more convenient but usually worse rates)
• Your home bank before you travel

A quick tip: avoid airport currency desks unless you absolutely need to—they mark up the rates like crazy.

Do They Speak English in Switzerland—Oops Wrong Tab—Back to Ireland Currency!

Just kidding. But this kind of moment actually makes sense when talking about Ireland because travelers tend to mix up Eurozone countries all the time.

What Currency Did Ireland Use Before the Euro?

Before 2002, Ireland used its own currency: the Irish Pound, also known as the Punt (IEP).

A few fun bits about the old Irish Pound:

• It was pegged to the British Pound early on but later became independent.
• People actually loved the colorful punt notes.
• You can still exchange old Irish Pounds for Euros—yes, even today—through Ireland’s central bank.

1 Irish Pound became 1.27 Euros when the conversion happened.

Imagine cleaning out a drawer and finding old notes… free money upgrade!

Why Did Ireland Switch to the Euro?

There were a few reasons, but they basically come down to:

✔ Trade

Ireland does massive business with European countries. A shared currency made everything easier.

✔ Travel

Tourism and cross-border mobility skyrocketed.

✔ Economic Stability

Joining a major economic bloc was a smart long-term play.

✔ Breaking Away from the U.K.’s Currency Shadow

Using the euro emphasized Ireland’s independence—economically and politically.

Where Is the Euro Used Besides Ireland?

If you’re curious:
The euro is used by 20+ European countries, including Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Greece.

So if you’re traveling around Europe, sticking to Eurozone countries makes life much simpler.

How to Pay in Ireland: Cash or Card?

Ireland is modern, super card-friendly, and loves contactless payments. I swear even tiny cafés in rural towns have tap-to-pay systems that put some U.S. stores to shame.

Cards Accepted Everywhere:

• Visa
• Mastercard
• Revolut
• Apple Pay
• Google Pay

American Express works in some places, but not all.

Cash Is Still Handy For:

• Taxis
• Small pubs
• Farmer’s markets
• Rural areas
• Tipping musicians (trust me, you’ll want to)

What Does Irish Money Look Like?

(Cue me remembering the first time I saw those bright euro bills and thought, “Wow, monopoly money—but fancy.”)

The euro has:

Coins

1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, €1, €2
(Each country’s coins have their own designs on one side.)

Banknotes

€5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200, €500
(Though €500 notes are super rare and basically extinct because… crime.)

Ireland’s notes look the same as other euro notes—they’re standardized across Europe.

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Common Questions About Ireland’s Currency (FAQs)

Final Thoughts: Ireland’s Currency Is Simple—But Easy to Mix Up

If you remember just one thing, make it this:

👉 Ireland = Euro (€)
👉 Northern Ireland = British Pound (£)

Once you lock that in, everything else feels easy. And honestly, the euro is super convenient, especially if you’re hopping between European countries.