Since 2017, EU roaming charges have been abolished—you can use your Irish mobile plan across Europe at no extra cost. But there are limits. Here's how EU roaming actually works.
The Basics: Roam Like at Home
When travelling in the EU, you can use your Irish plan as if you were at home:
- Make calls at Irish rates
- Send texts at Irish rates
- Use data from your allowance
This applies to all 27 EU countries plus Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein.
The Catch: Fair Use Limits
While calls and texts are genuinely unlimited, data has fair use limits. Networks can cap how much data you use while roaming.
Current Roaming Data Limits
| Network | Irish Data | EU Roaming Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Virgin Media | Unlimited | 27GB |
| Clear Mobile | Unlimited | 19GB |
| 48 | 200GB | 17GB |
| GoMo | 120GB | 16GB |
| Lycamobile | Unlimited | ~12GB |
| Tesco Mobile | 30GB | ~7GB |
Why the Limits?
EU regulations allow networks to set a "fair use" roaming cap to prevent abuse (e.g., buying a cheap Irish SIM to use permanently in Germany).
The formula is based on the wholesale cost networks pay each other for roaming data.
Which Network Is Best for Roaming?
Most roaming data: Virgin Media (27GB)
Best reliability: Clear Mobile (Vodafone network has strong EU partnerships)
Avoid if roaming matters: 48 (many user complaints about patchy roaming)
UK Roaming After Brexit
The UK is no longer in the EU, but most Irish networks still include UK roaming:
| Network | UK Included? |
|---|---|
| GoMo | Yes |
| 48 | Yes |
| Clear Mobile | Yes |
| Virgin Media | Yes |
| Eir | Yes |
| Three | Yes |
| Vodafone | Yes |
Check your specific plan terms—some networks treat UK differently.
Roaming Outside the EU
Roaming outside the EU (USA, Australia, etc.) is not included in standard plans. You'll face high charges:
- Calls: €1-3/minute
- Data: €5-15/MB
Options for non-EU travel:
- Buy a local SIM at your destination
- Use an eSIM travel provider (Airalo, Holafly)
- Buy a roaming add-on from your network
- Use WiFi only
How to Avoid Roaming Surprises
- Check your limit before travelling
- Monitor usage in your network app
- Connect to WiFi when available
- Download maps/content before leaving
- Disable data roaming if approaching limit
What Happens If You Exceed the Limit?
If you exceed your fair use roaming limit, networks can:
- Charge you extra (typically €2-5/GB)
- Reduce your speed
- Cut off roaming data
You'll usually get a warning text before this happens.
Roaming Tips
Download offline maps: Google Maps and Apple Maps both support offline downloads.
Use WiFi calling: If your network supports it, make calls over hotel/café WiFi.
Disable auto-updates: Prevent apps downloading updates on mobile data.
Check your roaming is enabled: Some phones have roaming disabled by default.
Summary
EU roaming is included with all Irish networks, but data limits apply. If you travel frequently:
- Best choice: Virgin Media (27GB) or Clear Mobile (19GB)
- Avoid: Tesco Mobile (7GB) or 48 (reliability issues reported)
- Outside EU: Get a local SIM or travel eSIM
Last updated: January 2026