IRELAND , REPUBLIC OF

The Republic of Ireland consists of all but 6 counties of the island of Ireland with its capital city as Dublin. English invasions began in the 12th century and a continued program of invasions and occupation continued until the early 20th century. In 1916, the Easter uprisings started a long and brutal war which resulted in the Irish Free State in 1921 which included the 26 southern counties. In 1949 Ireland withdrew from the British commonwealth and in 1973 joined the EU. IT adopted the Euro in 2003.

Monetary Units:

1 Pound = 20 shillings= 240 pence (up to 1971)
1 Pound = 100 pence (1971 - 2003)                           * Punt is the Irish for Pound
1 Euro = 100 cents (2003 onward)

the two notes from the 1960's Above are the £1 (Pound or Punt) from 1969 with a lady on the front - it is rumoured that it is Lady Lavery, wife of sir john Lavery with one half in English and the other in Irish and a river god in the centre of the reverse. below that is the 10 shillings note  (10 /-) from 1966 with a similar layout.

The notes above are the £5 and £1 notes with only Irish on the front and English on the reverse. the £5 is from 1993 with Johannes Scottus Eriugena, a Irish philosopher from the middle ages on the front and some ancient writing on the reverse. the £1 note is from 1979 with Queen Medb, from the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology and the ancient writing on the reverse.

This £5 (this time using the "phunt" spelling) Has Catherine McAuley and the Mater Misericordiae Hospital on the front with school children on the reverse.

Although its not a Banknote I picked this up in a charity shop in county limerick a couple of years ago, a 1946 cheque for £25.0.0. (25 pounds , no shillings and no pence)