How Irish telephone numbers work.

Welcome to Irish Property World, where we aim to explain the intricate workings of the Irish telephone system.

International direct dialling This is available from all locations in Ireland to over 220 countries. The IDD access code 00 should be prefixed to the country code followed by the area code and number. (eg to call 212 999 9000 in the USA dial 001 212 999 9000). International phone calls can be dialled from all payphones, without operator assistance. The minimum payphone charge for all calls (local, national or international) is 1 unit, which costs 20 pence from an eircom coin phone, and between 15 and 20 pence from a card phone. The time purchased by one unit varies from a few seconds for an intercontinental call to several minutes for a local call.

Carrier Selection Call by call carrier selection is available using the 5 digit code beginning with 13 allocated to the carrier in question. The 141 and 142 CLIR / CLIP code should be entered before the carrier selection code. Default carrier selection is also available.

Operator Services
Operator service is also available - 114 for international operator and 10 for national calls. Directory assistance codes are: Ireland 11811, Rest of the world 11818. Most operator connected calls are surcharged over self-dial rates.

Emergency = 112
The emergency number is 112 for police, fire department, ambulance, coast guard, and mountain rescue. The 112 emergency service number also operates in most other European states. (This is the equivalent of 911 in North America.)

Coin and card payphones
Eircom payphones take coins, credit cards and prepaid phonecards.

Coin phones on private property
Some locations provide their own coin phone service. In such cases charges imposed by the building owner apply, and these will usually be higher than eircom provided payphones. In some cases calls to 1-800 numbers are blocked and information calls are not free or blocked completely.

Calling the Republic of Ireland:
Including counties Carlow, Cavan, Cork, Clare, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Westmeath, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow.

From outside the Republic of Ireland
You should dial the full international number as displayed.
e.g. a Dublin number, 353-1-5555555
353 is the country code for the Republic of Ireland, follow your local countries guidelines for making international calls if you require any assistance.

From within the Republic of Ireland
You may drop the country code ("353") but you must add a 0 before the area code.
e.g. a Dublin number, 353-1-5555555 becomes 01-5555555.
If you are calling from the same area code you may also drop the area code.
e.g. a Dublin number, 353-1-5555555 becomes 5555555.

Mobile phone numbers
Mobile phone codes for the Republic of Ireland are 085, 086, 087 and 088.
e.g. 353-85-5555555 or 085-5555555 from within the Republic of Ireland.

Special phone numbers
There are some special phone numbers that you may come across.
e.g. 1800 (freephone), 1890 & 1850 (savings rates) and 1550 (premium).
You cannot always call these numbers from outside the Republic of Ireland and if you do charges may vary.

Calling Northern Ireland:
Including counties Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry ("Derry") and Tyrone.

From outside Ireland & the United Kingdom
You should dial the full international number as displayed.
e.g. a Belfast number, 44-2890-555555
44 is the country code for the the United Kingdom which includes Northern Ireland, follow your local countries guidelines for making international calls if you require any assistance.

From the Republic of Ireland
All Northern Ireland area codes start with 28. If you are calling from the Republic of Ireland you may replace the 28 with 48, ignore the country code ("44") and prefix the number with 0.
e.g. a Belfast number, 44-2890-555555 becomes 04890-555555

From within Northern Ireland & the United Kingdom
You may drop the country code ("44") but you must add a 0 before the area code.
e.g. a Belfast number, 44-2890-555555 becomes 02890-555555.
If you are calling from the same area code you may also drop the area code.
e.g. a Belfast number, 44-2890-555555 becomes 555555

Mobile & Personal phone numbers
Mobile & personal phone codes for the United Kingdom which includes Northern Ireland start with 07.
e.g. 44-7074-5555555 or 07074-5555555 from within the United Kingdom which includes Northern Ireland.

Special phone numbers
There are some special prefixes that you may come across.
e.g. 08 (special services like freephone or local rates) and 09 (premium rates).
You cannot always call these numbers from outside the the United Kingdom which includes Northern Ireland and if you do charges may vary.