How to use the Amazon Fire TV Stick in Ireland
Lee
A connoisseur of 80's action films like 300, Predator, and Terminator, Lee blends his extensive movie knowledge with adeptness at streaming shows worldwide. His love for cinema permeates his lifestyle, from attending Comic Con to sporting Star Wars socks.
The Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV have become staple media devices in most households worldwide.
Ireland is no different but sadly, they’re not officially available there.
Whether you’re living or travelling in Ireland and you’ve got your Amazon Firestick with you, then you’ve probably found that it doesn’t work quite as you’d expect it to.
Most of the apps you’re trying to access won’t work like they usually do. This is due to the fact that Fire Stick, Fire TV, or Fire Cube aren’t officially available in Ireland yet, and need to be imported from overseas from countries like the UK, USA, or India.
No matter where your Firestick is from, you’ll find that it has limited capabilities in Ireland. Thankfully, it doesn’t need to be like that.
If you’re looking to have full use of your Amazon Fire Stick in Ireland, then this is the guide that you need.
Below I’ll show you how to use your Amazon Fire Stick restriction-free by using a VPN app like ExpressVPN. The best part? It only takes a few minutes to set up.
What you need and where to find it
As I’ve mentioned earlier in this article, if you’re in Ireland, then you’ll need to use a VPN app if you want to use your Amazon Fire Stick to its full potential.
Throughout this article, I’ll be referring to it as the Fire Stick, but this also works for the Fire TV and Fire TV Cube.
By using a VPN app on your Fire TV Stick, you’ll be able to trick it into believing that you’re in another location of your choosing, such as the UK, USA, India, or anywhere else in the world.
For instance, you could be sat at home in Dublin while watching BBC iPlayer, and your Fire Stick would think you’re in the UK.
You can get a VPN app from the Amazon app store, just as you would with any other app.
What’s the best VPN for the job?
The number 1 VPN you can use and my recommendation for you is ExpressVPN. One of the main reasons is that ExpressVPN supports Amazon Fire Stick with a VPN app. This is something that many other VPNs don’t do.
ExpressVPN is also one of the most reliable VPNs and provides some of the fastest VPN connections globally, making it the perfect VPN for streaming high-quality video content on your TV.
However, if you want to check out some alternatives to ExpressVPN, then you should check out NordVPN and Surfshark VPN.
All three VPN services are highly rated and tested regularly by myself. Each one offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try their services risk-free.
Deciding on which to choose is up to you.
30-day money back guarantee
How to unblock the Fire TV in Ireland
Now that you’ve chosen the VPN you want, it’s time to install it on your Fire Stick so that you can use it in Ireland.
To set yourself up, follow these simple steps below.
In this example, I’ll be using ExpressVPN for demonstration purposes. However, the set-up process will be pretty similar for all three of the VPNs I’ve mentioned above.
- Go to the ExpressVPN website and select a subscription package (such as their 12-month plan that comes with 3 free months and saves you 49%). Then sign up for their service by entering your email and payment information followed by clicking “Join Now”.
- Open the app store on your Amazon Fire Stick and search for ExpressVPN. Then download the app.
- Click the home button on your Fire Stick remote and open the ExpressVPN app and log in using your email address and password. The app may ask you to activate it using a code rather than logging in.
- Press Selected Location and then choose a connection from the United Kingdom, USA, or India. Then hit the Connect button (the large on-screen power button).
Now that you’re connected to another location using your ExpressVPN, you can open up any apps you want on your Fire Stick without restriction.
Apps such as BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, NBC Sports, Netflix, and many more will now be available to you in Ireland.
All of the apps from your chosen “Home country” will be available to you restriction free. You’ll even have access to other Netflix libraries from all over the world.
30-day money back guarantee
Are there any additional costs?
Nope, none at all.
Once you’re signed up for a VPN service such as one of the providers mentioned above, there are no extra costs associated with the VPN.
You can use your VPN and Fire Stick as much as you want while you’re in Ireland, watching all of your favourite TV content without any restrictions.
There are no hidden costs or fee’s that need to be paid. Once you sign up for your VPN, you’re good to go.
Summary
If you’ve been looking to use your Amazon Fire Stick, Fire TV or Fire TV Cube in Ireland, then you’ll need to use a VPN app to unblock many of the apps that you want to have access to.
A VPN such as ExpressVPN comes in app form and can be downloaded to your Fire Stick by searching for it on your Amazon app store.
It’s worth noting that only a handful of VPNs work with Amazon Fire Stick, so try to stick with the three that I’ve recommended in this article as I know that they work as I test them regularly.
ExpressVPN is my top choice for you, they’re effortless to use and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if you aren’t happy, you can get your money back… It’s risk-free.
Here’s a recap of what you need to do.
- Sign up for ExpressVPN.
- Download the ExpressVPN app to your Amazon Fire Stick and log in.
- Select a home country such as UK, USA, etc. Then hit the Connect button.
Now sit back and enjoy all of the new content you now have access to on your Fire Stick.
By getting this does it mean you can watch Netflix and Amazon for free ?
Hi,
Unfortunately not, you would still need a subscription for those.
Will it work as normal with other non-Geo restricted apps?
Hi Adam,
If they’re not geo-restricted at all then they will continue to function fine. If they’re geo-restricted to your physical location then all you would need to do is disconnect from the VPN app to access your regular internet connection.
There are no limits on how often you can connect or disconnect from the VPN.
Hi, I am trying to set up my firestick, but when I try to down load a VPN app I get the message “Purchase Failure” and an explanation that I do not have a valid amazon one click address set up. Any Idea how to address this? I can not find an issue with my set up in Amazon.
Thanks…
Hi Brian,
We haven’t come across this particular issue before but this link seems to cover it and may help you out: https://www.amazonforum.com/s/question/0D54P00006zSqWmSAK/specify-a-valid-1click-payment-method-and-billing-address-issue
Chris. I have followed your guide using NordVPN and 4k Ultra firestick. But no BBC iPlayer or ITV Hub shows up in searches of the Appstore. Any ideas why?
Hi Pat,
You should follow this guide which should sort you out: https://www.watchtvabroad.com/install-amazon-fire-tv-apps-outside-intended-country/
Hello would vpn work on firestick lite. Iam looking my Amazon firestick to work in county Donegal Ireland.any addvtise would be very appreciated .thank you
Hi Denise,
We’re not sure about the Firestick Lite unfortunately. My gut feeling is VPN apps don’t work with the ‘lite’ Firestick and it would be best to purchase a regular Firestick.
Hi thinking of getting rid of virgin box
Does fire stick replace channels from virgin box
RTE VMTV ITV BBC SKY Various other stations
Hi Tara,
Unfortunately there aren’t apps for all of the channels you need, such as Sky or Virgin Media TV. I’m not sure there is an RTE one either.
You would also still need subscriptions for the services that require them. So the Fire Stick probably isn’t the solution you’re looking for.
Hi not technically minded but looking to get a firestick to have access to channels like rte BBC tv3 etc, will this process you mention allow me to do this
Hi,
I will do but I’m not sure RTE and TV3 have apps for the Firestick. This means you would need to access via the Firestick’s built in web-browser.
While that should work it can be a bit time consuming navigating.
The UK’s channels would work fine as they have dedicated apps.
Amazon Firesticks are available in the Rep of Ireland – the lowest cost “Lite” model is sold in Currys/PC World (€20) & Argos (€18).
Hi Tom,
The basic edition doesn’t work with VPN. Any others sold are likely to be imported versions.
You can see Amazon’s own info about this at : https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201624360
can you confirm that the Firestick will definitely work with Surfshark?
Hi,
Yes, Surfshark definitely works with the Firestick. Some of it will depend on what apps you’re after accessing though. It may work with some and others not. They do work with most though. Is there something specific you’re trying to access?