Banknotes of The Republic of Ireland - The Euro

The Euro

The Central Bank of Ireland, as an agency of the European Central Bank, produces euro banknotes at its Currency Centre in Sandyford Industrial Estate, Dublin.

Generally, central banks in the Eurozone provide banknotes of one specific denomination each year, according to demand and a rotating allocation (determined by the ECB). Prior to the introduction of the euro in 2002, national banks produced several of the lower denominations to build up stockpiles. Since 2002 however, the Central Bank of Ireland has only printed €10 notes, as of 2005. Although notes produced in other Eurozone states circulate alongside domestically produced notes, the country of origin for any euro banknote can be identified by a one-letter prefix preceding the serial number. Banknotes issued in Ireland can be identified by the prefix "T" on the serial number.

A further complication is that the actual printing of banknotes is not necessarily undertaken in the country in which banknotes are given a serial number and released. The Central Bank of Ireland is the sole Irish printer of euro banknotes (in some other Eurozone countries, notes are printed by a private company commissioned to do so by the central bank, rather than the central bank itself). Any notes printed by the Central Bank of Ireland will have the prefix "K" before the series code in a small star on the front of the banknote.

The Central Bank of Ireland does not currently introduce €200 and €500 notes into circulation, although these are legal tender in the country. If spent (by people coming from another Eurozone member state) they are unlikely to be passed to other consumers, and will find their way back to the banks (which usually only dispense notes up to €100).