Trying to plan ahead so any know if card payments are common at hostels in Ireland or cash is king?
Ireland is one of the easiest places for card payments in Europe. My hostel in Galway City even preferred card and had tap-to-pay terminals. Same in Dublin - no fuss at all. Carry a few euros for buses or remote shops, but when it comes to hostels, you can be confident your card will work. ATMs are common, but hostel check-ins almost never require cash.
I’ve stayed in hostels from Dublin down to Dingle, and all took my card at check-in. I never once had to scramble for euros. The only time cash came up was at some traditional pubs in the countryside. For hostels specifically, Ireland is very modern with payments. Bank of Ireland ATMs were reliable for me, but you likely won’t need them for hostel payments.
My entire backpacking trip in Ireland was cashless when it came to hostels. In Dublin and Killarney, everything was card-first. Even small hostels near the Cliffs of Moher accepted Mastercard. I carried cash out of habit, but it mostly went unused. You’ll find ATMs all over, but for accommodation, you can expect cards to be the standard payment method in Ireland.
Ireland is very card-friendly, including hostels. In Dublin, both Generator Hostel and Abbey Court took my Visa without any problem. Even smaller hostels in Galway and Cork had card terminals. Honestly, I didn’t use cash much except for pubs in rural areas. ATMs from Bank of Ireland and AIB are everywhere. If you’re booking hostels, assume card will work - it’s rare to be asked for cash at check-in.