Is Ireland 220 V or 230 V?

Ireland is 230 V at 50 Hz, harmonized with the UK and the rest of Europe. Voltage is stable across the country and matches what you'd find in London or Manchester.

Can I use my UK plug in Ireland?

Yes, directly with no adapter. UK Type G plugs and Irish Type G plugs are identical. The countries have always shared the same electrical standards.

What about Northern Ireland vs the Republic of Ireland?

Both use Type G plugs at 230 V mains. The political border doesn't change the electrical infrastructure. A plug works on both sides without modification.

Do Irish hotels provide adapters?

Most do at reception, similar to UK hotels. The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland both use the same Type G sockets, so a single adapter handles the entire island.

Travel Adapter for Ireland: Same as the UK

Q: What plug does Ireland use?

Ireland uses Type G plugs, the same as the UK. The Irish standard IS 401 is essentially identical to British BS 1363, with three rectangular pins, a built-in fuse, sleeved live pins, and socket shutters. There is no Ireland-specific variant.

Ireland is the easiest international destination for UK travelers and a straightforward stop for everyone else. The country uses identical electrical standards to the UK: Type G plugs, 230 V mains, 50 Hz frequency. If you've packed for London, you've packed for Dublin, Cork, Galway, and Belfast.

Quick answer by origin:

From the United Kingdom: Nothing needed.
From the United States or Canada: Adapter required. Voltage check required.
From the EU (Schengen): Adapter required. Voltage match is fine.
From Australia or NZ: Adapter required. Voltage match is fine.

What plug does Ireland use?

Ireland uses Type G plugs under IS 401, the Irish national standard that's essentially a direct adoption of British BS 1363. The plugs have:

Three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern
A built-in fuse rated 3 A or 13 A
Sleeved live and neutral pins
Compatibility with British Type G outlets in both directions

You'll find Type G sockets everywhere in Ireland: hotels, B&Bs, holiday lets, airports, public charging stations, museums, churches, and even older traditional pubs.

Ireland's voltage and frequency

Ireland runs at 230 V, 50 Hz, identical to UK mains and harmonized with the rest of Europe. The grid is operated by EirGrid in the Republic and SONI in Northern Ireland. Voltage is stable across the island.

For US and Canadian travelers, this is roughly double your home 120 V mains. The dual-voltage check matters.

For UK, EU, and Australian travelers, voltage matches and only the plug shape changes (or in the UK's case, nothing changes).

Do I need a travel adapter for Ireland? By origin country

From the United Kingdom

Nothing needed. Your Type G plug fits Irish sockets directly. Voltage matches. Cross-border travel between the UK and Ireland involves no power gear changes.

From the United States or Canada

Adapter required. US plugs don't fit Type G sockets. Buy a US-to-UK adapter ($5-15) which works in Ireland identically.

Voltage check: every device needs 100-240 V on the brick. Single-voltage US appliances will burn out on Irish mains.

From the EU (Schengen area)

Adapter required, voltage match is fine. Europlugs, Schuko, French Type E, and Italian Type L all fail in Type G sockets. Buy any EU-to-UK adapter.

From Australia or New Zealand

Adapter required, voltage match is fine. AU Type I doesn't fit Type G. AU-to-UK adapters cover the gap.

Republic of Ireland vs Northern Ireland

Both use the same Type G plugs at 230 V mains. The political border doesn't affect electrical infrastructure. A British plug works in Dublin, a Belfast plug works in Cork, and a US adapter purchased for one works in the other.

The only practical difference: Northern Ireland uses pounds sterling, the Republic uses euros. So adapter prices are quoted in different currencies, but the products are identical.

Practical answers for common Irish travel situations

Will my MacBook charger work in Ireland? Yes. All Apple chargers are dual voltage. Add a US-to-UK adapter if flying from the US.

Are Irish hotels reliable for power? Yes. The grid is among the most stable in Europe. Even small B&Bs in rural Donegal or Kerry have modern Type G outlets.

Can I buy an adapter at Dublin (DUB), Shannon (SNN), or Cork (ORK) airport? Yes, at airport markup: €10-15 for adapters that cost €3-5 at any SuperValu, Tesco Ireland, or Boots Ireland.

What about the Aran Islands and other remote islands? Same Type G standard, same 230 V mains. The grid extends to all inhabited Irish islands.

Will my UK shaver charge in Ireland? Yes, directly. No adapter needed crossing the Irish Sea.

Charging multiple devices at once

Irish outlets typically come in pairs per faceplate in modern hotels, often with switches like the UK. For travel charging:

A GaN multi-port charger with a Type G plug, charges 4 devices off one socket
A Type G-input travel power strip with 2-3 universal sockets
A USB-C hub charger that plugs into Type G

Irish sockets deliver 13 A per outlet (3,000 W at 230 V).

The bottom line

Ireland is the easiest destination for UK travelers and a simple one for everyone else: standard Type G sockets, standard 230 V mains, stable grid.

For UK and Irish travelers: nothing changes. For everyone else: one Type G adapter handles the whole island, north and south.