Exchanging money, and is it even needed?

Just use your ATM card to get cash at an ATM in Ireland like you did in BC. You'll get the best rates. Your ATM card should work at any ATM - my credit union ATM card works great everywhere in Europe. Just make sure you understand what your credit union charges you to use the ATM. Many charge 1% currency conversion fee plus perhaps a per-use fee. (My credit union charges 0% and no fee. Every credit union and bank is different.)

You should notify your credit union and credit card company of your travel plans, however.

Otherwise, you can also use credit cards all over Europe in most places, often at machines too. As above, make sure you find out what the foreign transaction fee, if any, is for using a credit card overseas. Rates vary but 0% is common. Sometimes it's as high as 3%.

You need access to cash wherever you go in the world. Just be able to get it when needed and carry a little bit.

As for the public bus (Dublin does not have a metro or subway train service) I paid cash to the bus driver to go from and back to the airport.
That was awhile ago but there is some kind of bus card you probably can buy with credit.
https://www.dublinbus.ie/Fares-and-Tickets/

Actually, Dublin does have a metro system. It’s called Dart and we used it to get from our B&B in the ballsbridge neighborhood to downtown Dublin.

I have a very good credit union in my town, but they are small and claim they cannot risk foreign currency transactions in many countries. It is the only shortcoming I have encountered with them.
As a result, my travel policy includes checking with them regarding debit card use in each country I plan to visit. Often, I discover there will be no access where I plan to visit.
I have gotten into the habit of carrying currency of the realm nearly everywhere I travel. Last spring, I had currency from Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia and Hungary in my possession when I arrived in Bucharest. My final European destination, The Netherlands was on my credit union's approved list, so I could use ATM's, there.
Many will criticize carrying local currency, and for good reasons. I like to have it, so I do it. My local AAA office offers very good exchange rates, although I have learned (on this forum) that not all AAA offices can offer what my local office can. I don't know why that is,.
It seems your travel includes only one country - Ireland. I haven't been there in nearly 50 years, so I cannot address current practices.

I hope you have a wonderful trip. The Irish are very special people. You will love them.

Blue439:

I have a very good credit union in my town, but they are small and claim they cannot risk foreign currency transactions in many countries. It is the only shortcoming I have encountered with them.
As a result, my travel policy includes checking with them regarding debit card use in each country I plan to visit. Often, I discover there will be no access where I plan to visit.

Wow! Time to find a new credit union. I've had several credit union accounts over the years, and I've never had this sort of problem using my credit union ATM cards in numerous countries: Russia, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro...and others.

You don't have to dump your old credit union for regular banking if you like them, but you might consider getting another account somewhere else just for travel purposes. I recommend Andrew's Federal Credit Union in Maryland (you don't need to live in Maryland or physically visit a branch). They have a debit card that charges 0% currency conversion fee and no per-use fee at an ATM and should work in every country. You can also get a chip and PIN visa card from Andrew's with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee. Anyone can join Andrew's, but you may need to join the American Consumer Council (ACC) first for a one-time $5 fee to be eligible (credit unions sometimes having weird eligibility requirements).

Kim, I know card-scanning pay toilets probably exist in some places, but I'd rather have some coin in hand just in case. Seriously, there are always some transactions for which cash is more handy and safe than your cards. Even here at home, my debit card sometimes doesn't work for one reason or another.

Here is Rick's page of money tips. Read all the links, and you'll be an expert: https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money

Short version: For cash, use your ATM card to get euros out of ATM's in Ireland. Do not exchange cash except in an emergency, as you get a much worse rate. You can also use your credit card in Ireland, but there will be some situations when you will need cash.

Street-food vendors amd proprietors of market stalls (food and flea) often do not take plastic in the countries I have visited, which are many but do not include Ireland.

Yes, you will need cash. For small purchases (a bottle of water; a pack of gum). Some B&B proprietors or small shop owners take cards, but prefer cash because it costs them less money. On my 4 trips to Ireland (most recently last month), I paid several B&Bs/shops in cash.

Enjoy your trip!

...wondering about getting money...and if it is even needed?

We always have some local currency with us. Technology is great when it works, but it doesn't always go smoothly. In Italy one time a credit card reader could not read a card. Another machine read it without any problems twenty minutes later. On one occasion in Germany an ATM could not read one of our cards but later another one read the same card without any hint of anything being wrong. In France there was the time when none of the readers in a restaurant could read any of our cards due to a satellite malfunction. Fortunately we had Euros so we didn't have to wash dishes.

In short, we've never had cash refused. No technology -- no problem.

Are you visiting any of Ireland outside of Dublin? We’re going to be in the Northwest for most of our trip this September, and are already preparing ourselves for using cash much more of the time than in recent trips to other countries in Europe. Sounds like many of those small, more rural towns don’t have a single ATM and some B&B’s are cash only. We’ll withdraw funds when we can and get enough to tide us through until the next place that will have an ATM. We’ll ask, of course, if our credit cards are an option when paying, but expect more than 50% of the time to be paying cash.

Kim, here is a great alternative to exchanging money depending on when your trip is planned. Charles Schwab, the brokerage company, offers free checking if you open a free stock brokerage account with them. They issue an ATM card with your checking account, no fees. The ATM card is VISA so is accepted everywhere there is an ATM. Schwab has no transaction fees for use of an ATM or the exchange of money from US dollars to Euros or Pounds or whatever. No foreign transaction fees at all. Schwab also will refund via a deposit into your checking account any fees that the specific ATM may charge for a transaction....usually a few bucks but it is refunded by Schwab if the bank operating the machine dings you per transaction. I use my Schwab ATM card only for travel and have used it seamlessly in the Dublin airport, in Dingle, and over in Kenmare. I used the card as well to get cash in Italy at the Cinque Terre and Lucca. So, if you have a month or so to open a Schwab account (can be done online) it's easy.

Thanks, everyone!!!