In 2021 I returned to Ireland to take up the position of Uachtaran CLG (GAA President). As I was expected to attend events and functions up and down the country, the GAA supplied me with a car. Shortly after I returned, I inquired at my local Garda Station about exchanging my American license for an Irish license. I was directed to the NDLS who informed me that I was not entitled to a swap. I explained that I had once held an Irish license and had held clean licenses in three US states (NY, GA, NJ) in the intervening 37 years. I was not entitled to a swap!

When I finished as Uachtaran, I set about getting an Irish Drivers License. This involved completing the theory test which, thankfully, I passed. It involved having my eyes tested – the Specsavers test – which I also passed.

The next step was the 12 driving lessons, but as I held a US license, I was entitled to a 50% reduction in the number of lessons required. To show that I was entitled to the reduction, I had to demonstrate to the NDLS that I had a clean license from NJ. This involved requesting a copy of my record from the NJ Department of Motor Vehicles (NJ DMV). The NJ DMV does not send driver records in e-format and only sends them in hard copy, by post, to addresses in NJ. This record eventually arrived in Ireland and was forwarded to the NDLs for review. It showed that in 28 years driving in NJ I had been stopped for speeding on two occasions!

Having been given the reduction, I completed the 6 lessons and had to wait until I was invited to book my driving test. The earliest time available was two months hence. I eventually took the test on December 31st, 2024, and thankfully, passed.

Ireland has license exchange agreements with Canadian Provinces and Australian States, and the Canadian Provinces have exchange agreements with some US States. A simple equation from primary school may help illuminate.

If A = B and B = C, does A = C?

A = B, B = C
Canadian Province = US State, Canadian Province = Ireland

Then
A = C
US State = Ireland

Simple math suggests that there is no reason why Ireland would not have a license exchange agreement with states in the USA.