Republic of Ireland’s state broadcaster RTÉ launched the on-demand RTÉ Player back in 2009. The service has improved a lot since then and is now available on desktop, phones, tablets, and even PlayStation consoles. However, after the service underwent a makeover in December 2018 it’s become a lot harder for Irish abroad to watch the RTÉ Player. The service is now specifically targeting VPN traffic and is attempting to prevent anyone using a VPN from watching the majority of its live TV streams and on-demand content in the name of licensing restrictions. So, whilst there is a selection of shows available to watch by everyone regardless of location, the majority is geoblocked and only available to Irish IP addresses. Fortunately, we found that there are still a few VPN services that work.
There are approximately a million Irish expats living abroad, and for many, staying up-to-date on what’s going on at home is important, whether that be keeping up with soap operas, news, Gaelic football, or hurling. Using a VPN service with an Irish server will give the illusion that your connection is from Ireland, even if in reality it’s coming from the other side of the world.
Recently, streaming services have tried to stop this from happening and, unfortunately, RTÉ is one the main culprits featuring one of the most stringent VPN blocks around. Even some of the best VPN services are struggling to adapt, and many simply don’t work at all with RTÉ Player anymore. There are so many VPNs available now that picking the right one to unlock RTÉ requires an enormous amount of trial and error, but don’t panic – we did all the hard work for you.
If you want to watch RTÉ Player on the go, then you’re in luck as the best VPN services come with mobile apps, so you’ll be able to watch RTÉ Player from anywhere in the world on your phone or tablet. Of course, it can become a pain if you have to set up VPNs on several devices like phones, desktops, or tablets – but there is another way. You could set up a VPN on your router with Raspberry Pi, select a server from the Republic of Ireland, and then everything connected to your Wi-Fi will have the same Irish IP location. It’ll be like being in the Emerald Isle itself – almost.
A surfing shark might not conjure up an image of security, but it does represent an effective way of defending yourself from the threats of the deep ocean that is the internet.
Established in 2018, Surfshark offers aesthetically-pleasing apps for multiple platforms. The Netherlands-based company continues to enhance its cybersecurity, merging with Nord Security in 2022. The VPN service doesn’t miss out on any critical security features, such as a static IP address and kill switch, and provides servers in more than 100 countries.
Additionally, Surfshark offers encryption protocols (including WireGuard) and P2P support, alternative IDs, and a no-logs policy. It is one of the cheapest services on the market and offers a 7-day free trial for Android, iOS, and macOS devices, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee to test the service risk free.
is a Romanian VPN service founded in 2011 and owned by Kape Technologies – known for other privacy-focused solutions like ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access. It features unlimited bandwidth, multiple-device compatibility, and above average speeds in over 11,500 servers across more than 100 countries.
It excels in hiding torrent practices and unblocking geo-restricted websites while still being an excellent option for those simply looking to surf anonymously. Plus, its apps are incredibly intuitive and aesthetically pleasing. Anyone can subscribe to CyberGhost VPN for as low as $2.03 per month with the option to try it first for 1 day on Windows and macOS or 3 days on Android and iOS.
First of all, please do not feel intimidated: the perhaps vulgar name of the UK-based company is intended to be a pun. HMA VPN has a mascot in the form of a donkey, and thus this little wordplay is nothing to worry about. You should rather pay attention to the fact that HMA VPN is easily one of the best VPN companies today; they offer much more than a standard package. You are also welcome to try out the free web proxy, an anonymous e-mail service and an IP:Port premium service, which is essentially a more elaborate proxy product. On top of this, you also have VPN browser extensions for Chrome and Mozilla to use. HMA VPN does all this while still maintaining decent speeds and healthy prices. These are coupled with the fact that HMA VPN remains one of few providers who still enable access to Netflix. But the most impressive thing about this organization is the number of locations provided – it is unprecedented today.
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