Mobile Phone at Dublin Airport?
 

I'm certain this has been asked before, but I searched and couldn't find it. Is there a shop at Dublin Airport where I can buy a cheap mobile, just for calling ahead to B&B's etc? I've heard I can get one for about 20 euro, and add minutes. Can I purchase it when we arrive at the airport or should I wait until I'm in town and find a Tesco outlet? Thanks.

There used to be a Vodafone shop in Dublin Airport Arrivals but has been closed for a while. The only thing you may be able to get is a PAYG SIM card you put into an unlocked phone to have an Irish mobile number to make and receive calls, with credit top-up. While I cannot say you won't find any cheap mobile handset on sale, it's best not to expect it. Once you are in town, it's very easy to buy a cheapish phone with PAYG SIM, in large supermarkets, electric/electronic stores, mobile phone shops etc.

Thanks, Alec. I will look for a mobile phone shop or a Tesco in town. Do all Tescos sell phones? I see there are superstores, express stores etc.

Definitely in larger stores (Tesco Metro, Tesco Extra). Express, which is a local mom-and-pop type, may not. SIM only.

For just a few calls, have you looked into the cost of using your existing phone.

While my phone company wanted $1.49/minute (or $.99 if I paid $5/month up front), my wife's phone company charded only $.20/ minute and nothing for texts.

Thanks for the replies. I have a Verizon android; believe it will be hopeless over there except when I have wi-fi. I do have Skype on it but again, only useful when I have wi-fi.

Azzure,
Whether a Verizon android is "hopeless over there" or not depends on the model. Find a page like this that matches your phone model. For example, for Samsung Galaxy S5 Android phone, it looks like this http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/d...sung-galaxy-s5 , click "Specs".

Look at the "Network" section. See it says <i>Global Network: EDGE/GSM (850/900/1800/1900), HSPA/UMTS(850/900/1900/2100)</i>? It can work in Ireland using the Verizon SIM or a local SIM if the phone is unlocked.

Thanks Greg -- mine is an S4, it says:
Network: LTE, CDMA/1xEVDO Rev. A (800/1900 MHz)
LTE B13/4 700/1700
Global Network: EDGE/GSM (850/900/1800/1900), HSPA/UMTS(850/900/1900/2100)

I will call Verizon and ask about it.