Before you start

Unlocked handset
Passport or photo ID for registration
Irish bank account, for bill-pay contracts

Step-by-step

1
Use EU roaming as a bridge
Arriving from another EU country, roam-like-at-home means your existing SIM works in Ireland at no extra charge for a reasonable period. There is no rush on day one.
In personWho: You
2
Buy a prepaid SIM
Available in supermarkets, phone shops and online. Registration requirements are light compared with most countries.
In personWho: YouCommonly EUR 10–25 including initial credit
3
Consider a reseller for value
Brands such as 48 and GoMo run on the major networks at noticeably lower prices, generally on rolling 30-day terms rather than contracts.
OnlineWho: You
4
Test coverage where you will actually be
If the job takes you into West Cork, the Beara or Mizen peninsulas or the harbour's outer edges, ask colleagues which network works there. Inside the city all three are fine; a hundred kilometres west they are not interchangeable.
In personWho: You
5
Move to bill pay if you want a handset deal
Contracts need an Irish bank account for direct debit and may involve a credit check. Most newcomers stay on prepaid or SIM-only for the first months.
OnlineWho: You

Documents you’ll need

Photo ID for registration
Irish bank account and IBAN, for bill pay
Proof of address, sometimes for contracts

Things most newcomers don’t know

EU roaming removes the day-one urgency.

Arriving from another EU country, your existing SIM keeps working at domestic rates. That is unusual among the cities here and means you can choose a plan calmly instead of buying at the airport.

Source: EU roam-like-at-home rules

Network choice matters more in Cork than in Dublin, because of the county.

Cork is by far the largest Irish county and much of it is rural, coastal and mountainous. A network that is indistinguishable from the others on Patrick Street can be unusable in Ballydehob. If any part of your life is west of Bandon, ask first.

Source: community-reported, widely corroborated

The reseller brands are the same networks for much less.

48 and GoMo run on the major networks at a fraction of the headline price with no contract. In a small, well-covered country the premium buys very little inside a city.

Source: ComReg — advice and information

Common mistakes to avoid

Buying an expensive airport SIM when EU roaming already covers you.
Signing a 24-month bill-pay contract before you know your address or bank situation.
Choosing a network on Cork city coverage when the job is in West Cork.

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.