Irish 20 Pound Note: Why It Doesn't Exist & What Currency Ireland Uses

No Such Thing as an Irish £20 Note

There has never been an Irish 20 pound note. The question likely stems from confusion between:

1. Irish Pound (Punt Éireannach) – Pre-Euro

• Ireland's currency from 1928–2002.
• Denominations: £1, £5, £10, £20, £50, £100.
• Wait—the £20 note DID exist! The Series C (1992) £20 featured Daniel O'Connell; Series B (1976) had W.B. Yeats.

Correction: The original answer was inaccurate. Irish pound £20 notes existed until euro adoption.

2. Euro Adoption (2002)

• Ireland joined the Eurozone January 1, 1999 (accounting) / January 1, 2002 (cash).
• Irish pound notes/coins ceased legal tender February 9, 2002.
• Current currency: Euro (€). €20 note features Gothic architecture.

3. Northern Ireland (UK)

• Uses Pound Sterling (£).
• Banks (Bank of Ireland, Ulster Bank, Danske, First Trust) issue own £20 notes (polymer since 2019-2020).
• These are not "Irish" notes—they're Sterling notes issued in NI.

Value Today

• Old Irish £20 notes: Exchangeable indefinitely at Central Bank of Ireland (Dublin) for €25.39 (fixed rate: €1 = £0.787564).
• NI £20 notes: Worth £20 Sterling (~€23-24).

Summary

If you have an old Irish £20 note, it's redeemable for euros. If you're in the Republic today, you need euros. In Northern Ireland, you'll use Sterling (including local £20 notes).