Connectivity — Ireland
What travelers need to know about connectivity in Ireland. What is legal at home can be a serious crime here — each rule links to its official source.
Connectivity in Ireland: restricted — there are real limits travelers must follow.
In Ireland, simply HAVING unlicensed radio equipment is the offence - you do not have to switch it on. The Wireless Telegraphy Act 1926 makes it a crime to "keep or have in your possession" any wireless telegraphy apparatus without a licence, and the fine reaches EUR 5,000 in the District Court or EUR 250,000 on indictment, plus forfeiture of the gear. US FRS/GMRS walkie-talkies (462/467 MHz) are NOT on Ireland's permitted list; European PMR446 handsets (446.0-446.2 MHz) are. Ordinary phones, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are fine.
Wireless Telegraphy Act 1926 s.3(3), as substituted by the Broadcasting Act 2009 (18/2009) s.181(2): on summary conviction a fine not exceeding EUR 5,000 (a class A fine under the Fines Act 2010), or on conviction on indictment a fine not exceeding EUR 250,000. s.3(3A) adds that on conviction ON INDICTMENT the person's interest in the apparatus "shall stand forfeited as a statutory consequence of conviction", and s.3(3B) lets the Minister direct that it be destroyed or sold. Television sets are expressly carved out of s.3(3) because they fall under the separate TV licence regime.
§ Law Reform Commission Revised Acts - Wireless Telegraphy Act 1926 s.3 (in-force text); with S.I. No. 405/2002 (irishstatutebook.ie) and ComReg Document 02/71 R17, Permitted Short Range Devices in IrelandVerified Sep 11, 2026