Metrication in Ireland

Metrication in the Republic of Ireland happened mostly in the 20th century and was officially completed in 2005, with a few exceptions.

Information sign about the speed limit units used in Ireland

The island of Ireland gradually adopted the British imperial measurement system, fully replacing traditional Irish measure during the 19th century, and these units continued to be used after the independence of the Irish Free State (1922) and the establishment of the Republic of Ireland (1937/49). The Irish Free State joined the Metre Convention in 1925. In 1980 the European Union asked all of its member states to convert to the metric system, and in Ireland and the UK this process was originally to have been completed by 2009 with the UK still using imperial measurements.[1] Metrication succeeded in Ireland with the changeover fully completed in 2005 (with few exemptions such as the ongoing use of pints and acres).

Metrication

During the First World War and after the Easter Rising, Charles A Stanuell, former President of the Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland, published a paper advocating the use of the metric system and a decimal currency in the UK, of which Ireland was then a part.[2]

Metrication in Ireland began in the 1970s and by 2005 was almost completed; the only exception being that the imperial pint (568 ml) is still used in bars for reasons of tradition. The phrase a "glass of beer" is a colloquial expression for a half-pint (284 ml).[3] All other places must sell liquids measured in millilitres and litres.

Distance signs had displayed kilometres since the 1970s but road speed limits were in miles per hour until January 2005, when they were changed to kilometres per hour. Since 2005 all new cars sold in Ireland have speedometers that display only kilometres per hour; odometers generally became metric as well.

The metric system is the only system taught in schools. Beginning in 1970, textbooks were changed to metric. Goods in shops are labelled in metric units.

All of Ireland's railways still operate on imperial measurements.

Continuation of supplementary Imperial units
See also: European units of measurement directives

In 2006 it became apparent that the 2009 cut-off for the use of Imperial supplementary units could cause problems in US-EU trade. After consultation, EU Directive 2009/3/EC of 11 March 2009, among other measures, permitted:[4]

  • the indefinite use of Imperial supplementary indications.
  • the United Kingdom and Ireland to continue the limited exemptions concerning specified uses of the pint, mile and troy ounce, considering the absence of any impact of these exemptions on cross-border trade and the principle of subsidiarity; whilst repealing the exemption for the use of acres for land registration which is no longer applied.

These amendments were published on 7 May 2009 and became effective on 1 January 2010.

Horse racing

Horse racing in Ireland continues to use stones, pounds, miles and furlongs as measurements.[5]

References in Oireachtas debates

See also

Notes and references
  1. https://www.rte.ie/archives/2017/0822/899135-imperial-measurements-retained/
  2. Stanuell, Charles A. (1915–1917). "Weights and measures after the war" (PDF). Journal of the Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland. Dublin. XCVI (XIII): 460–473.
  3. "'Morning After' Campaign". drinkaware.ie. Mature Enjoyment of Alcohol in Society. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  4. "Directive 2009/3/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 amending Council Directive 80/181/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to units of measurement". Retrieved 8 May 2009.
  5. http://www.hri-ras.ie/information-centre/hri-directives-and-rules/full/
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