Irish phone numbers consist of a 2-4 digit area-code and a 5-7 digit local number. The international prefix for Ireland is 353 and when dialling from abroad the initial zero of the area code is always dropped. So to dial Dublin number 01-123 4567 from the UK you would dial 00 353 1 123 4567. To call abroad the international prefix is 00, so to call New York 212-555 1234 from Ireland you dial 00 1 212 555 1234.
Mobile phones are almost universal, with as many phones as inhabitants. The GSM system is used and any GSM 900/1800 phone will work subject to roaming agreements. North American visitors should make sure that their phone will work on GSM 900/1800. There are 4 mobile networks: Vodafone, O2, Meteor and 3. Note that 3 is a 3G network and not all phones will be compatible.
As mobile phones are so widespread payphones are not so popular and some have been withdrawn. Many of those that remain take credit cards as well as coins. It is also possible to use prepaid calling cards and call offices. The latter are generally cheaper than on-street payphones and are often combined with internet cafes.
Internet cafes are common in areas popular with tourists and immigrants. Wireless LAN access is available in many hotels and some cafes and bars but in general access points are not as common as in other western European countries or North America. There is generally a charge of a few euros for access but many bars and cafes provide free access for customers.
Calls from the Republic of Ireland landlines and mobiles to landlines in Nothern Ireland are charged at national, not international rates. Note that you can dial from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland by using the area code 048 followed by the 8 digit local phone number, e.g. Belfast City Airport would be 048 9093 9093 instead of 0044 28 9093 9093. Calls from Northern Ireland landlines to landlines in the Republic are also charged at national rather than international rates, although the full international code is used.
Useful Info
Ireland Standard Time is GMT. GMT is Greenwich Mean Time.
Ireland Summer (Daylight-Saving) Time is GMT +1 hour.
Daylight Saving (Summer) Time is observed in Ireland. Clocks are put forward one hour in March and back one hour at end of October.
00 is the International Access Code that you use to dial an overseas number from within Ireland.
353 is the International Telephone Country Code for the Republic of Ireland.
These are a few commonly used country codes.
- 1 for USA and Canada..
- 44 for Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.
- 61 for Australia.
- 64 for New Zealand.
Ireland City Area Telephone Codes
- 1 Dublin
-
402 Arklow
21 Cork
66 Dingle
73 Donegal
42 Dundalk
65 Ennis
91 Galway
45 Kildare
64 Killarney
61 Limerick
71 Sligo
62 Tipperary
506 Tullamore
51 Waterford
53 Wexford
Ireland Mobile Telephone Codes
-
086 (but also 087, 085 or 083) - O2
087 (but also 083, 085 or 086) - Vodafone Ireland
085 - Meteor
Ireland Emergency Telephone Numbers
- 112 - Emergency (all)
Eircom official website: www.eircom.ie
