Roam like at home, in plain English
Since 2017, using your Irish phone in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway is charged at your home rate. ComReg is the Irish explainer. From 1 January 2026, Moldova and Ukraine sit in that same roam-like-at-home area.
It covers calls, texts and data. It does not delete fair-use. An unlimited 5G SIM in Cork can still be 20 GB in Barcelona. That is the whole trick in the ads.
ComReg's page: using your mobile within the EU. Who lists the fattest cap is a different page: best mobile for roaming.
Fair-use GB caps on the plans we list, August 2026
These figures are the lead plan's stated roaming note, not a promise the mast in Split will be fast. Unlimited at home still has fair-use abroad.
| Retailer | Lead plan | From | Stated roaming | UK in the note? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48 | Unlimited 5G | €12.99 | 20 GB EU/UK roaming | Named |
| Clear Mobile | Unlimited 5G | €12.99 | 23 GB EU/UK roaming | Named |
| GoMo | GoMo Mobile | €12.99 | 23 GB EU roaming | Not named |
| Sky Mobile | Unlimited | €12.99 | Free EU and UK roaming | Named |
| Virgin Media | SIM Only €15 For Life | €15 | 37 GB EU and UK roaming | Named |
| Vodafone | Red Unlimited SIM Only 15 | €15 | EU roaming included | Not named |
| Tesco Mobile | €15 Elevate SIM | €15 | Fair use policy | Not named |
| Three | Three SIM Core | €20 | 35 GB EU roaming | Not named |
| Lycamobile | National Unlimited | €12.99 | 20 GB EU, Ukraine and Moldova | Not named |
| Eir Mobile | Connect Plan | €14.99 | 65 GB EU roaming | Not named |
| An Post Mobile | Prepay €18 | €18 | 25 GB EU/UK roaming plus 250 mins and texts | Named |
48 unlimited is 20 GB EU/UK. Clear is 23 GB EU/UK. GoMo is 23 GB EU. Virgin is 37 GB EU and UK if you will take a 12-month €15 SIM. An Post is 25 GB EU/UK plus 250 minutes and texts on 28-day prepay. Eir Connect lists 65 GB, then the bill becomes €29.99. Pay for a fat cap only if you will use it.
The UK is not the EU
Roam like at home does not apply in the UK. Some Irish retailers still include UK gigabytes because they choose to. They are not obliged to. ComReg says check before you travel.
On the lead plans we list, UK is named here: 48, Clear Mobile, Sky Mobile, Virgin Media, An Post Mobile. GoMo's note is EU. Vodafone Red Unlimited 15 says EU roaming included, without a UK line in that note. Sky says free EU and UK roaming.
A Dublin to Liverpool weekend is the trip this section is for. Do not assume the Spanish rule covers Manchester.
Read the welcome text
When you arrive, the operator should SMS the rate, the fair-use data limit, a contact number, and how to reach emergency services. That message beats last month's comparison table. If the cap is lower than you expected, turn data roaming off until you decide.
48's HelloGlobe product is a travel eSIM for outside the EU and UK. It is not an Irish 48 eSIM, and it is not the tool for a Lisbon weekend. Keep the Irish SIM, stay under the GB cap, use hotel Wi-Fi for the heavy stuff.
Switching before a trip: how to switch mobile. Cheap unlimited three-way: 48 vs GoMo vs Clear. Calling home from Ireland is a different job: best for international calls.
