Cash in Ireland?

Pretty much the same as anywhere else.

In cities, in large, established businesses, credit cards are widely accepted. In smaller places, particularly little mom-and-pop businesses, for small purchase (buying a gelato, a newspaper, a drink, etc.) they may prefer (or require) cash. Same as where I live (and probably same as where you live, too). Credit cards are widely accepted in most of the world (Visa/MasterCard, but leave the Amex at home), and Ireland's no different. But wherever you go, it's always smart to have a little cash on hand for those places that want cash.

Hi from Wisconsin,
Don't forget to look for the pots of gold at the rainbow's end.

wayn einWI

One thing you will need cash for is if you are taking a tour, sometimes they will want to be paid in cash.

And remember if you do get cash Ireland’s Currency is Euros. England’s currency is pounds.

And if you go to Northern Ireland, the currency will be pounds.

Slainte and Cheers

I left Ireland yesterday. Besides our B&B in Dingle and a walking tour in Kinsale I could have paid for everything else with my Visa card. Some smaller places require cash for small purchases. Even if your card is contactless you are required to sign for anything over €50.

Do many places take Apple Pay?

Just got back from Scotland (Heart of Scotland tour on Wee Red Bus and Heart of Scotland RS tour), England, and Ireland (including Northern Ireland). We needed cash more in Ireland than we did in other locations - hop on/hop off bus, public buses, tour guides.

Leaving my credit card in my money belt and using Apple pay worked out perfectly.

I just got home yesterday. I only needed cash at 2 B&Bs, who are small and did not use card readers or other electronic payment methods. Every restaurant, pub, gas station mini Mart and knitwear retailer took my tapped card, which I paid for in USD, which was cheaper than Euros.

Every restaurant, pub, gas station mini Mart and knitwear retailer took my tapped card, which I paid for in USD, which was cheaper than Euros.

I suspect it wasn't cheaper when dynamic currency conversion rates are taken into account. It is always cheaper to pay in the local currency when paying by card or other contactless methods.

You can use your credit card/Apple pay for pretty much everything in Ireland. Even the pubs in the small towns took card. Tour operators even had a portable device to pay with card. There was only one B and B that we stayed in that required cash only. I left Ireland with most of my money in my savings account which I then transferred to pay of my credit card. It was nice to have some cash on you to tip tours, I found some of the portable credit machines didn't have a tip option but maybe I just missed it.

Do many places take Apple Pay?

There's nothing special about Apple Pay, it's just an electronic wallet. If the POS device accepts Contactless Pay, then it accepts Apple Pay.