ESPN, hands down, is the most-watched sports channel that streams almost every sport on the face of the earth.
But there is a bummer! The full version of ESPN is only available in the US. If you want to unblock ESPN in Ireland (full version), you will need to use a reliable VPN and connect to the US server.
And even if you watch ESPN through other US Live TV streaming services (Now TV, FuboTV), you will need to unblock them through VPN as well.
Even if you try your luck to watch ESPN online while in Ireland, it is going to give you a geo-restriction error that says:
“The video is either unavailable or not supported in this browser”
I was able to watch ESPN in Ireland with the help of ExpressVPN and the other best VPNs that I have mentioned in this guide.
Our Recommended VPN – ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is our recommended choice when it comes to unblocking ESPN in Ireland as it easily bypasses its geo-restrictions and keeps your online identity safe while streaming.
Get yourself ExpressVPN today and enjoy 3 extra months for free. You also get a 30-day money-back guarantee so use all of its features risk-free for 30 days.
How to Unblock ESPN in Ireland
To begin, if you want to subscribe to ESPN, it requires your banking details. Apart from that, you can use a VPN to bypass restrictions on ESPN in Ireland.
This takes very little time and is accomplished by following these steps:
Step 1: Subscribe to a reliable VPN (ExpressVPN here as an example)
Step 2: Download and Install the ExpressVPN app on your device of choice
Step 3: Connect to a US Server (e.g. New Jersey)
Step 4: Open the ESPN website and click on the “profile” icon at the right corner of the menu bar
Step 5: It will ask you to sign up or log in to ESPN
Step 6: Fill in the required info and sign up
Step 7: Once done, log in adding your credentials
Step 8: Choose what match-related news you want to watch, e.g. NFL, NBA, etc. from the top menu bar
Step 9: Enjoy streaming
2 Ways to Watch ESPN with Live TV Services
Aside from signing in to ESPN directly, you can watch ESPN through some Live TV streaming services as well if you have a subscription to those channels. They are:
1. FuboTV
One of the most well-liked streaming services with a sports and entertainment focus is Fubo TV. Only a few regions, notably the United States, Canada, and Spain, offer the service.
Due to geo-restrictions, FuboTV is not available in any other European countries other than Spain, which means it is geo-restricted in Ireland as well. By connecting to the US server and using a VPN, you may watch ESPN in Ireland on FuboTV.
Other than that, FuboTV requires a subscription that can be as low as $24.99 a month and as high as $94.99 a month, depending on which one of the 4 packages you’re opting for.
Read More: Watch FuboTV in Ireland
2. NowTV
Sky offers Now TV, a pay-per-view over-the-top internet television service. Both Ireland and the UK have access to the streaming service.
Video on demand and live streaming are both now accessible from Now TV. The service offers “passes” for various content categories on a pay-per-use basis for a monthly charge. Various passes give you access to entertainment, sports, and the cinema.
If you have a Now TV subscription and the ESPN add-on, you may be able to watch ESPN live streaming in Ireland as it doesn’t even require a VPN.
What are the Best VPNs to Watch ESPN in Ireland?
After examining 35+ different VPN services, we found that the 3 best VPNs were able to bypass ESPN geo-restrictions within the first attempt.
Have a look at thes 3 best VPNs:
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is our top recommendation when it comes to unblocking ESPN from outside the US because it has servers in 23 different cities in the United States.
Overall t has more than 3,000 servers in 94 countries. ExpressVPN offers the strongest encryption (i.e. AES-256-encryption) and has blazing fast speed (i.e. 89 Mbps out of 100 Mbps) when it is connected to the US server.
ExpressVPN is now available for €6.91/month (12 Months with 3 Months Free) and offers a 30-days money-back guarantee. With a single ExpressVPN account, you can connect with 5 devices at the same time.
2. Surfshark
Surfshark is also our recommended VPN to access ESPN from Ireland. If you sign up for Surfshark’s 2-year plan, you can get all of its high-tech features and services for just €1.99/month.
Surfshark has approximately 3,200 servers in 65 countries across the world. Over 600 of its servers are located in the United States, covering 20+ cities.
This premium service grants you access to the VPN on an infinite number of devices simultaneously, letting you, and whoever you share the credentials with, use it simultaneously.
With such a huge number of servers, you can rest assured that you’ll never miss an ESPN stream while you connect it from Ireland because there will always be a server accessible.
3. NordVPN
NordVPN is offering a 2-year subscription package for €2.99/month, which is quite affordable. Its superior data protection capabilities make up for the disparity.
In terms of sheer numbers, NordVPN has more than 1,970 US servers and 5,441 servers in total all over the world, which is far more than many other VPN services.
Now, let’s talk about its amazing security features. Cyber Security will restrict any access to harmful domains and content, and its double-protection feature will hide your IP address with double layers of security.
And just like other VPNs offer, you get a 30-day money-back guarantee from NordVPN as well. This means you can try it out before making a decision to actually buy it.
Why does a VPN is required to Unblock ESPN in Ireland?
Websites and streaming services get geo-restricted due to licensing agreements and copyright ownership.
To broadcast certain sites within their respective countries, a licensing agreement is required to permit the legal owners to broadcast the channels/streaming services.
A VPN is the only way to watch ESPN in Ireland because it changes your virtual location. By connecting to the US server of a VPN, your device will be assigned a US IP address, and at the same time, your original Irish IP address remains hidden.
A VPN not only changes your IP address but also hides your streaming activity from ISPs and also keeps your data hidden from spies, hackers, etc.
What Can You Watch on ESPN+ and The ESPN App?
Note that, ESPN and ESPN+ are a bit different as ESPN broadcasts Live sports events, sports shows, etc, while ESPN+ is more like Netflix, offering sports documentaries, etc. And it comes with subscription charges.
That being said, If you are not quite sure what to watch now that you have unblocked your ESPN service? Well, here are lists for you to help you out with your sports entertainment for both ESPN and ESPN+.
You can watch the following on ESPN+:
- League of Legends Championship series
- Major League Baseball Games
- UFC
- 30 for 30: Breakaway
- 30 for 30: Be Water
- Dana White’s contender series
You can watch the following shows on the ESPN app:
- Get up
- Around the horn
- SportsCenter
What Devices Support ESPN?
So, the following are the devices compatible with the ESPN app and ESPN+:
- Mac
- Linux
- iOS devices
- Android devices
- Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X
- PS4 and PS5
- Roku
- Amazon Fire Sticks and Fire tablets
- Apple TVs
- Samsung Smart TVs
- Oculus Go
- Chromecast
Can I Watch ESPN+ on my TV?
If you live in the United States, you can easily access ESPN+ via the main ESPN App on a variety of Smart TVs, particularly those that run on Android. Smart TVs from Samsung are confirmed to support the ESPN app.
You can even connect to a portable device with your TVs, such as a Chromecast or an Amazon Fire Stick, to view the ESPN App.
And in case you do not live in the United States, you will need to install a VPN to use ESPN on smart TV. This is conditional on its availability.
FAQs – ESPN
How Much is an ESPN+ monthly subscription?
ESPN+ is a premium service and costs 6.99/month. But in Ireland, you will need to connect to a VPN service to be able to subscribe to it.
Do I also have to subscribe to ESPN?
No, ESPN is a free-to-watch service, unlike ESPN+. You can stream it just by connecting to a VPN and registering yourself for free.
Conclusion
ESPN is an international brand, but its content is still limited to the United States and a few other countries. A VPN is the only source you can get past this limit.
You’ll need to connect to a VPN if you are eager to access ESPN online in Ireland. You won’t have any problems once you’ve created an account by showing your American location and linking your VPN to the United States server.
Furthermore, a VPN is used for more than just bypassing content. You can increase your security and privacy by using a VPN, i.e. ExpressVPN. You can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that your information is secure and protected.
