- Contactless payments accounted for 83pc of all Irish transactions in 2026
- In pubs, bars and nightclubs the figure reaches 90pc
- Cash makes up just 5pc of pub transactions
- Contactless makes up 49pc of transactions between €50 and €100
- The average contactless transaction is €28.89
Contactless payments have accounted for 83pc of all Irish transactions in 2026, up from 80pc in 2024, according to data from Clover. In pubs, bars and nightclubs the figure reaches 90pc, with cash making up just 5pc of transactions. Retail shows a similar pattern with 81pc contactless and only 3.3pc cash. Industry figures state consumers now expect quick and convenient payment options while businesses need technology that supports this at scale.
Nine out of 10 pub and nightclub transactions are contactless, while traditional cash use has dropped to 5pc. Chip-and-PIN transactions make up the remaining 5pc. According to data from Fiserv’s Clover platform, 83pc of all Irish payments in 2026 are contactless, up from 80pc in 2024. In general retail, 81pc of purchases are contactless, while cash accounts for only 3.3pc of transactions.
The data shows that consumers are increasingly tapping for larger amounts and contactless makes up 49pc of transactions between €50 and €100, up from 38pc in 2024. Contactless makes up 35pc of purchases over €100, up from 24pc in 2024. The average contactless transaction is €28.89, compared to €203.09 for non-contactless card or alternative payments.
