This topic has been covered a lot - I just did a quick search and found some good answers (mostly from Italian Chauffeur):

http://ireland.activeboard.com/index.spark?forumID=65127&p=3&topicID=10741104

http://ireland.activeboard.com/index.spark?forumID=65127&p=3&topicID=11532735

http://ireland.activeboard.com/index.spark?forumID=65127&p=3&topicID=27340605

What we did last month was to buy a SIM card for 10 Euro (from Vodafone - I was in Dublin but they have stores all over the country) that went into my existing cell phone.  It worked perfectly and I had an Irish mobile for 2 weeks!  You do need to have a quad band GSM phone that is unlocked - that is, your cell phone company hasn't set it so that it only works within their network.   If that's not practical for you, then other options include 1) buying such a phone once you are in Ireland - might be useful in the future if you do other international travel, 2) buying a phone card for use in public phones, 3) renting a phone or 4) buying an international phone - (e.g.  the Mobal phone - $49 phone - on Michele's  Tips and Tricks page). 

Although many people travel happily without any of the above, I felt a lot more comfortable with it and we used it a lot.  (We did have a flat tire on a Sunday afternoon and I was quite greatful to have the phone then!)  The 10 Euro credit that came with the card was plenty for the 2 weeks, including 3 US calls. 

Have a great trip!

Barb



-- Edited by Fotobug on Sunday 14th of June 2009 09:36:36 AM