Any VPN with a Dublin server provides an Irish IP address, but Irish streaming services didn’t treat our three VPNs the same way. In October, NordVPN unblocked RTÉ Player, Virgin Media Play, and TG4 on Dublin servers. Proton VPN and ExpressVPN were blocked by one of those services, a result we didn’t expect from either. None of the good free VPNs have an Irish server.
Irish IP Address in 2026: Quick Setup
- Choose a NordVPN subscription and install the app on each device you’ll use.
- Search for Ireland in the app and connect to Dublin.
- Confirm the IP address shows Ireland on a lookup site.
- Sign in to the Irish service, creating a free account where one is required.
Irish Servers and Dublin Speeds
Figures below are Speedtest results against Sky’s Dublin server, on a Windows 11 PC in Europe with a 190.36 Mbps connection.
| VPN | Irish servers | Dublin download | Upload | Ping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | 50+ | 183.60 Mbps | 18.70 Mbps | 57 ms |
| ExpressVPN | 1 location, count not published | 165.19 Mbps | 17.16 Mbps | 57 ms |
| Proton VPN | 161 | 162.09 Mbps | 18.51 Mbps | 56 ms |
Ping was within 1 ms across the three. On download, NordVPN lost 3.6% of the baseline, ExpressVPN 13.2%, and Proton VPN 14.9%. Skip Belfast servers if a VPN lists them: Northern Ireland is part of the UK, so they give UK IP addresses. Our UK IP address guide covers those.
Irish Services That Check Your IP Address
Virgin Media Play and RTÉ Player block foreign IP addresses, and TG4 blocks only TG4+1. Without a VPN, RTÉ One showed “The content is not available in your region,” and only RTÉ News played. Virgin Media Play’s error screen doesn’t mention location, so it can look like an outage.
| Service | No VPN | NordVPN | Proton VPN | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin Media Play | Error screen | Unblocked | Blocked | Unblocked |
| RTÉ Player | Blocked, except RTÉ News | Unblocked | Unblocked | Unblocked |
| TG4 | Plays, except TG4+1 | Unblocked | Unblocked | Blocked |
Its free account requires an Irish county, and the Eircode field is optional. Our pages on watching Irish TV abroad and RTÉ Player outside Ireland cover channel lists and sports.
Best VPNs for an Irish IP Address
1. NordVPN: Best for Unblocking Irish Services
Pros
- Unblocked all 3 Irish services
- Fastest Dublin download
- Threat Protection on Complete
- Quantum-safe NordLynx
Cons
- Fewer Dublin servers than Proton VPN
- Renewal triples the price
NordVPN unblocked every Irish service in our Dublin test, the only VPN to do so. It measured 183.60 Mbps in Dublin and has 50+ servers there. On Windows, NordVPN occasionally failed to connect when a second VPN app was installed, and its diagnostics tool or a new sign-in fixed it. The 27-month Basic plan costs about $94 up front, under $3.50 a month, and current discounts are on our NordVPN coupon page.
2. Proton VPN: Best for Dublin Server Choice
Pros
- 161 Dublin servers
- Leak-free kill switch
- Based in Switzerland
- Tor servers
Cons
- Virgin Media Play blocked it
- Slowest Dublin download
Proton VPN lists 161 servers in Dublin, compared with NordVPN’s 50+. RTÉ Player and TG4 unblocked on it. Virgin Media Play detected it on every Dublin server we tried, and its 162.09 Mbps download was the lowest of our Irish results. Proton VPN’s two-year VPN Plus bill is about $72, or just under $3 a month.
3. ExpressVPN: Best Irish IP Alternative for Virgin Media Play
Pros
- tvOS app for Apple TV
- Virgin Media Play unblocked
- Browser extension included
- Router app
Cons
- TG4 blocked every program
- Single Irish location
ExpressVPN unblocked Virgin Media Play, live and on demand, where Proton VPN failed. RTÉ Player unblocked on it too. Its Dublin location measured 165.19 Mbps. TG4 detected it on every program we tried, and there’s only one Irish location to fall back on. The Basic plan’s first 28 months cost about $84, below $3 monthly. Our ExpressVPN vs NordVPN comparison covers the two in more depth.
Can You Get a Free Irish IP Address?
Not from a free VPN we’d recommend. Windscribe, PrivadoVPN, and Hide.me don’t include Ireland on their free plans, and Proton VPN’s free plan doesn’t let you choose a country. The closest thing is NordVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee.
Summary
NordVPN had the only clean result on Irish services, with the fastest Dublin download too. Proton VPN offers the most Dublin servers but failed Virgin Media Play. TG4 was the one service ExpressVPN couldn’t unblock. Viewers who only want RTÉ Player can use any of the three. More VPNs are ranked in our top VPN list.
Get Irish Servers With NordVPN
FAQs
Does a Belfast server give an Irish IP address?
No. Northern Ireland belongs to the UK, and Belfast servers provide British IP addresses. Irish services such as Virgin Media Play check for an IP address in the Republic.
Which VPN has the most servers in Ireland?
Proton VPN leads with 161 Dublin servers. NordVPN lists 50+, and ExpressVPN offers one Irish location in Dublin without publishing its server count there.
Does Virgin Media Play require an Eircode?
No. Virgin Media Play lets users leave the Eircode blank, but its free account requires a county. Streaming also requires an Irish IP address, or the site shows an error screen.
Does TG4 work outside Ireland?
Yes, mostly. TG4's live channel and most programs played on desktop and Android with no VPN in our test from Europe. TG4+1 was the only channel that required an Irish IP address.
Is there a free VPN with Irish servers?
No. Windscribe, PrivadoVPN, and Hide.me, and Proton VPN's free plans don't offer an Irish server. A paid VPN with a 30-day money-back guarantee is the closest free option.
Is using a VPN legal in Ireland?
Yes. Ireland has no law against VPNs. Illegal activity stays illegal with a VPN connected, and streaming services can block VPN connections under their terms of service.