What Currency does Ireland Use

Ireland uses the euro (€) as its official currency. The euro is the common currency for the Eurozone, which consists of 19 of the 27 European Union (EU) member countries.

Transition to the Euro

Prior to adopting the euro, Ireland used the Irish pound (IEP) as its currency. The transition to the euro occurred on January 1, 1999, when the euro was introduced as an electronic currency for banking and financial transactions. Physical euro banknotes and coins entered circulation on January 1, 2002.

Euro Denominations

The euro is subdivided into 100 cents. The euro banknotes come in seven denominations: €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200, and €500. The coins are available in denominations of 1 cent, 2 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, €1, and €2.

Usage in Northern Ireland

While the Republic of Ireland uses the euro, Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, uses the British pound sterling (£). However, euro notes and coins may sometimes be accepted in border areas or tourist locations in Northern Ireland.