Obtaining travel insurance before leaving your home country is a smart decision. This is important because you will not work and be entitled to healthcare in Ireland from the day of your arrival.

If you are EU/EEA national, you also can obtain an E111, a form which lets you access to a range of services but still requires you to pay a part of the cost of the treatment(s).

If you use travel insurance they will pay this on your behalf.  The worst case scenario would entail their transporting or “repatriating” you back to your home country for extended medical treatments.   

You can purchase travel insurance in any travel agency or even at the airport from which you are departing.