How to Get an Irish IP Address in 2020 So You Can Watch the Hurlin’

By Sandra PattisonAssistant Editor
— Last Updated:
2019-05-17T16:43:45+00:00


You may think that being connected to the internet means you have access to everything, but that’s not the case. If you’ve been trying to get to Irish content from outside the country, chances are you’ve encountered an error message. In this article, we’ll show you how to get an IP address in Ireland, so you can view the content you want.

Many websites and online services are restricted to their country of origin, so anyone outside that country gets blocked from trying to view them. Your IP address holds a lot of information, including your location. That means the only way to get access to geoblocked content is to change your IP address to one in the given country.

If you’re an Irish expat or you’re traveling, you may be missing shows from home. You might want to watch RTE Player or TV3, but find you can’t. Perhaps you’re feeling homesick and want to hear the familiar sound of Irish on TG4 or tune in to the hurling or Gaelic football.

Thanks to licence restrictions, you’ll only be able to access those channels if you do so with an Irish IP address. For example, Netflix is available in many parts of the world, but each library is different. A lot of people want to get into the U.S. version because it has the largest library. Read our piece on the Netflix ban for more information.

If getting into Netflix is one of your primary reasons for getting an Irish IP address, you can take a look at our best VPN for Netflix for more recommendations.

Another reason you might need an Irish IP address is to access your bank account online. Some banks only let users log in to their online accounts from within the country.

How to Get an Irish IP Address

There are a couple of routes you can take to get an Irish IP address. Using a proxy is the easiest — you can find our top picks in our best free proxy guide — but they can be unreliable and they don’t always work. Plus, they’ll leave you vulnerable because there is no security included with them. Your real IP address will remain unprotected, too, so it would be quite easy to trace it back to you. Read our VPN vs. proxy vs. Tor article for more.

The best option is to use a virtual private network. Using one will keep you safe from online dangers and anonymous. Our best VPN reviews have good options, but you need to make sure you pick one that’s suited for Ireland. It needs to have servers there and the more there are the better. Without those, you’ll still be stuck.

If you want to access Netflix, you’ll need a VPN that can get past its state of the art VPN detection system. There are only a few that can do it, so choose wisely. Read our article on the Netflix proxy error for more.

NordVPN

A good choice for getting an IP address in Ireland is NordVPN. It has a huge server network, including 35 in Ireland. It has some of the best security on the market and honors your privacy with a strict no-logs policy. You’ll have no problem getting into Netflix or other streaming services, its speeds are decent and there are no bandwidth limits.

You can install its easy-to-use clients on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. You can also use it on up to six devices simultaneously. A 30-day refund is included, so you can be sure you like it. We’re sure you will, but read our NordVPN review to see why.

CyberGhost

CyberGhost is another good option. It has more than 3,000 servers worldwide, and 20 of them are in Ireland. Its security is good and there’s a solid no-logs policy, too. It has good speeds and unlimited bandwidth and it will get you into Netflix, as well as other streaming services.

CyberGhost-Slider1
CyberGhost-Slider2
CyberGhost-Slider3
CyberGhost-Slider4
CyberGhost-Slider5

It’s compatible with most major operating systems and you can connect up to seven devices at the same time, which is why it’s one of our best VPNs for multiple devices. There’s a seven-day trial you can make use of, as well as a money-back guarantee. Have a look at our CyberGhost review for more on the service.

Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access is also a fine choice for getting an Irish IP address. It has good security, but you’ll need to manually change the encryption setting to 256-bit because it’s set to 128-bit by default. It doesn’t record your online activities. Plus, it has unlimited bandwidth and decent speeds, though it’ll slow down when you increase the security.

It has many servers available, with 10 in Ireland. It can be used on most popular operating systems, as well as Linux. In fact, it came in first in our best VPN for Linux piece. There’s a seven-day money-back guarantee, so you can make sure you like it.

PIA is based in the U.S., which isn’t a huge issue, but if you’re in to some risky business, you might want to choose another provider. You can read our article about government surveillance to get an idea why and our PIA review for a more detailed view of the company.

Dangers of Using an Irish IP Address

There isn’t any issue with having an Irish IP address, but there are a few things you should know that will give you more reason to make sure you’re secure. Some countries value privacy, as you can read in our privacy laws guide. That said, others have invasive surveillance and legislation.

Ireland has laws that allow authorities to intercept your emails and other means of communication, which it says are to combat crime and protect the state. Plus, a judge is only needed for authorization when surveillance devices, such as cameras, are used. That means authorities can monitor almost anybody without consequences.

There is also evidence that Irish Defense Forces was talking to a company called Hacking Team, which sells spyware to authorities worldwide. The military denied buying their products, but that may not be true. You can read more about the country in our best VPN for Ireland guide.

Final Thoughts

We hope this guide has helped you get an Irish IP Address. Regardless of what you need it for, a VPN is the best way to get it. They’re simple, yet you’ll be protected and have many other options to choose from as well.

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter for the latest on reviews, articles and investigations.

All our recommendations will get you an Irish IP address, but NordVPN is a top choice as it has great security and will get you into many streaming services, including Netflix. It’s 30-day refund period will give you enough time to try it, too.

If you have suggestions for getting an Irish IP address, let us know in the comments below. Thank you for reading.