When you travel outside your country, you may automatically lose access to local-based streaming services. That’s due to regional geo-restrictions, which keep certain content exclusive. You may even be locked from using the platforms entirely. If you’re from Ireland, that includes streamers like TG4 and RTÉ Player. You’d need an Irish IP to follow your favorite channels and shows. And if that’s your thing, you’ll also need it to access gambling sites from abroad.
Good thing a VPN lets you get an Irish IP address. This article will discuss how you can get about doing this. Let’s get down to it.
How a VPN Gets You an Irish IP
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a service that encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a tunnel to a server in another location.
If you connect to a VPN server in Ireland, your device establishes an encrypted connection with that server. Then your data gets routed through that secure tunnel before reaching its destination.
The server will assign its Irish IP address to your device. This effectively conceals your actual location. It grants you the anonymity of appearing as an Irish visitor to websites and online platforms.
What Are The Benefits?
Most people searching for VPNs with Irish IP addresses are looking for an effective way to bypass geo-restrictions. This can be from watching exclusive content on Netflix Ireland to just about anything on regional platforms like Sky Go.
But it goes beyond location masking. A VPN also employs robust encryption protocols, ensuring data security between your device and the remote server. This encryption provides a formidable layer of protection against cyber threats and unauthorized access.
It protects sensitive information like online activity, credit card details, and passwords. Furthermore, it fortifies your connection against malware.
A reputable VPN goes beyond protecting your data at home. It also acts as a shield against potential hacking risks when you have to rely on public Wi-Fi networks.
How to Get an Irish IP With a VPN
These are the steps to get an IP address located in Ireland with a VPN service. To demonstrate, we will use ExpressVPN, the best provider with Irish servers.
- Go to the ExpressVPN website and subscribe to a plan.
- Download and install the app on your device.
- Launch the app and log in with your account credentials.
- Click the menu button and then the “All Locations” tab.
- Select “Ireland” from the list of countries and click to connect to an Irish server.
- Once connected, verify your IP address to ensure it matches an Irish IP. You can do this by using an online tool like IPLeak.net.
Once you have verified your IP address, you can enjoy unrestricted access to Irish content and websites.
The Best VPNs to Get an Irish IP Address in 2024
Here’s the thing. Yes, you can get an IP located in Ireland with a VPN — but not with all providers. That’s because many of them don’t have servers in the country. Plus, some of those who do are not quality enough to entrust the safety and privacy of your data to.
Here are the best VPNs for Ireland. Later, we’ll highlight our criteria to arrive at this selection.
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN snags the top spot on this list due to the optimal combination of features, performance, and reliability.
The provider offers 3000+ servers spanning 160 locations in 94 countries. Some of those locations are in Ireland, meaning you have extensive options.
Optimized servers and high-quality infrastructure deliver consistent speeds, even for bandwidth-intensive activities. It’s what makes the provider an excellent choice for streaming high-definition content, gaming, or downloading large files without interruptions.
Speaking of streaming, ExpressVPN consistently delivers reliable and effective unblocking capabilities. So far, we’ve not had a single streaming platform rebuff its efforts to access restricted content. And that includes Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and Hulu.
ExpressVPN uses 256-bit AES encryption to protect your data. This is the same encryption that banks and governments use. What’s more, a strict no-logs policy, backed by RAM-based servers, means it does not track your online activity. And if your connection fails, a kill switch keeps your data from getting exposed.
Several other features are available, including an array of tunneling protocols, split tunneling, and Private DNS.
ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee to try the service risk-free. If unsatisfied with the experience, you can request a refund within the specified period, no questions asked. You can install the provider on a wide range of devices and platforms and use it simultaneously on five devices.
Get an Irish IP with ExpressVPN
2. CyberGhost
With over 9,800 servers across 91 countries, CyberGhost boasts an extensive network infrastructure for reliable and widespread coverage. Interestingly, more than 100 are in Ireland, so you can easily get an Irish IP and switch when you want.
And if you’re a business or individual who needs a static IP address located in Ireland, CyberGhost also offers dedicated IPs.
Don’t expect ExpressVPN speeds, but CyberGhost doesn’t disappoint in this area. While actual speeds may vary depending on your location and server load, it generally provides fast and stable connections, allowing for smooth browsing, streaming, and downloads.
CyberGhost places a strong emphasis on security and privacy. Military-grade encryption scrambles your data, ensuring your online activities remain secure and private.
The provider also packs features like an automatic kill switch, DNS, and IP leak protection. Its no-log policy has undergone independent verification to ensure that it’s watertight.
One of its strengths lies in its streaming unblocking capabilities. CyberGhost comes with dedicated servers optimized for streaming on various platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer. It will just as easily unblock Irish websites and platforms so you can enjoy them from anywhere.
CyberGhost offers an industry-leading 45-day money-back guarantee on plans of 6 months or more.
Get an Irish IP with CyberGhost
3. NordVPN
Our last pick is a feature-rich VPN service offering a wide range of features: NordVPN. For instance, there are over 50 servers in Dublin, so getting an Irish IP is pretty simple. They’re part of its impressive network comprising 5,700+ servers in 60 countries.
A large number of servers doesn’t always mean they perform. Good thing that’s not the case with NordVPN, which constantly produces blazing-fast connection speeds. You’ll have no buffering or lagging issues while streaming or downloading, even in 4K video quality.
It’s great for watching videos online. A SmartPlay feature, seamlessly integrated into its apps, lets you access all kinds of content. There’s also a dedicated server list that makes it easy to find optimized servers for streaming and other activities.
On top of that, NordVPN is widely known for its unblocking abilities. The provider will unblock restricted libraries on virtually any platform, including tough ones like Netflix and Hulu.
NordVPN is also very secure. There are loads of standard and advanced features, like a strict no-logs policy, automatic kill switch, DNS leak protection, and a CyberSec feature that blocks ads and malware. Bank-level encryption, Double VPN, and split tunneling also come along.
NordVPN has a 30-day refund policy, so you can try out the service before committing.
How We Picked the Best VPN With Irish IP
Lots of VPN providers have server locations in Ireland that will give you an Irish IP. However, they are not all on the same level in terms of the value you get for your money.
To arrive at this list, we considered various factors that we deem essential for reliable service. Our testing methodology evaluates providers based on the following criteria:
- Servers in Ireland: We made sure that the VPNs we recommend have servers in Ireland so that you can get an Irish IP address. We also looked for VPNs with a good number of servers there, so you have plenty of options to choose from.
- Fast connection speeds: VPNs that slow down internet connection are frustrating and will get on your nerves. So, we tested the connection speeds of all the VPNs we considered. We only recommend services that are as close to the base connection speed as possible.
- Strong privacy and security features: Privacy and security are non-negotiable factors to watch out for when deciding on a VPN. So, we looked for VPNs that offer strong encryption, a kill switch, leak protection, and a clear no-logs policy. We considered providers with advanced security features like MultiHop servers, obfuscation, split tunneling, and port forwarding.
- Ability to access streaming services: Many people use VPNs to access streaming services blocked in their region. So, we tested all the VPNs with the most popular streaming services, such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu, and considered those that bypassed their restrictions. And because it’s an Ireland-focused article, we tested them with exclusive platforms like RTE Player.
- Money-back guarantee: It’s a solid selection, but you may decide to switch from one service to an alternative. The VPNs on this list give users a risk-free period to assess the service.
How to Get an Irish IP With a Proxy Server
A proxy server is an intermediary server that acts as a bridge between your device and the internet. When you access a website or online service through one, your internet traffic is routed through that server before reaching the destination.
Sounds just like a VPN, right? While they have things in common, there are many differences between a VPN and a proxy.
Here’s how you can get an IP in Ireland with a proxy.
- Choose a reliable proxy server provider offering Irish IP addresses.
- Obtain the IP address and port number.
- Configure your device’s network settings.
- Enter the proxy server details in the proxy settings.
- Save the settings to apply them to your device.
- Verify your Irish IP address using an IP lookup website.
Note that this is not the method we recommend, as performance will be lower than with a VPN, as will the protection offered.
Conclusion
An Irish IP address can significantly boost your online experience, granting access to region-restricted content and services specific to the country or region. It can be pretty handy if you’re out of the country on a trip and still need to tune into your favorite show on Netflix Ireland.
The best VPN to get an Irish IP address is ExpressVPN. You can take advantage of a discount to enjoy three extra months on its yearly plan.
