Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This post contains affiliate links — if you buy through one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Our product picks focus on items we can link to, so we may not cover every option on the market. See how we make money and how we choose them.
Quick Facts
- RTÉ Player is on Fire TV, Google TV, Roku and Apple TV, according to each platform's own app store
- Amazon's newest Vega OS Fire TV sticks have fewer apps than Fire OS models, so check your apps before you buy
- Saorview isn't an app: no streaming stick picks it up, you need an aerial and the TV's own tuner or a Saorview box
- The NOW Smart Stick is no longer sold, but NOW still supports it
A streaming stick or box is the cheapest way to get the apps you want onto a TV, whether it’s an old set with no apps at all or a smart TV whose apps have gone slow. For Irish viewers the real question isn’t which device has the nicest menus. It’s which one runs RTÉ Player, Virgin Media Play and TG4 Player alongside Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ and NOW.
This guide covers the main options sold in Ireland, who each one suits, and which Irish apps each one has, based on the app makers’ and platform owners’ own listings.
The short answer
- Most households: a Fire TV Stick running Fire OS. It has the Irish broadcaster apps, NOW and the big streaming apps, and it’s easy to buy in Ireland. Check the listing says Fire OS rather than Vega OS.
- Apple households: Apple TV 4K. The official App Store listings confirm RTÉ Player, Virgin Media Play and TG4 Player on it.
- Android phone users and smart home fans: the Google TV Streamer, which works with Google Cast and Google Home.
- People who want a plain, neutral menu: Roku. Its Irish store lists RTÉ Player and Virgin Media Play.
How to choose
Work through these in order and most people end up with a clear answer:
- List your must-have apps. Write down the apps you watch every week, including RTÉ Player, Virgin Media Play, TG4 Player and any sport app such as NOW. Then check the table below. If an app is marked “check”, look it up in that device’s app store before buying.
- Match the device to your TV. If your TV is 4K, get a 4K device. If it’s an older HD set, a cheaper HD stick does the job.
- Think about your phone. iPhone users get AirPlay on Apple TV 4K. Android users can cast to the Google TV Streamer with Google Cast.
- Check your Wi-Fi where the TV is. If the signal is weak, a device with an Ethernet port (the Google TV Streamer has one built in) or an Ethernet adapter can help more than a faster stick.
- Remember Saorview is separate. No streaming device picks up Saorview. If you want the free aerial channels as well, you need an aerial and a TV with a Saorview tuner or a Saorview box. See What Is Saorview and Do You Need It If You Stream?
- Check the current price. Prices change often, especially around sales, so check the current price on the product cards below rather than relying on old figures.
Our Picks: Streaming Devices
Fire TV Stick 4K Max
The higher-spec sibling of the standard 4K Stick — worth the extra cost if you want the fastest interface and Wi-Fi 6 support.
Google TV Streamer
Google's current streaming box — 4K HDR, Dolby Vision, 32 GB storage, built-in Ethernet port and Google Cast. Replaced the discontinued Chromecast with Google TV.
Roku Streaming Stick Plus (4K)
One of the most straightforward remotes and menus of any streaming device — good pick for less tech-confident households.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. See how we make money.
Which Irish apps are on each device
This table is based on each app’s listing in the platform’s own store (Amazon Appstore, Google Play, Roku Channel Store, Apple App Store) and on the providers’ own device pages, checked in November 2026. “Check” means we couldn’t confirm it from an official source, not that it’s missing.
| App | Fire TV (Fire OS) | Google TV Streamer | Roku | Apple TV 4K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTÉ Player | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Virgin Media Play | Yes | Check | Yes | Yes |
| TG4 Player | Yes | Yes | Check | Yes |
| NOW | Yes | Check | Yes (most models) | Yes |
| Sky Go | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Netflix | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Prime Video | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Disney+ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Saorview channels | No (aerial only) | No (aerial only) | No (aerial only) | No (aerial only) |
A few notes on the table:
- Fire TV on Vega OS: the table covers Fire TV devices running Fire OS. Amazon’s newer Vega OS sticks have a smaller app store, and we couldn’t confirm the Irish broadcaster apps on them. Check before you buy.
- NOW on Google TV: NOW’s Irish help pages list Chromecast with Google TV and Google TV televisions, but don’t name the Google TV Streamer. Search for NOW in the Google Play store on the device.
- Virgin Media Play on Google TV: Virgin Media’s Google Play listing says the app works on “smart TV”, but doesn’t name Google TV. Search for it on the device.
- TG4 Player on Apple TV needs tvOS 26 or later, so keep your Apple TV updated.
- Sky Go: Sky’s Irish Sky Go page lists a Fire TV app alongside phones, tablets and computers. It doesn’t list the other devices here.
The main options
Amazon Fire TV Stick range
Who it suits: most Irish households, especially anyone with Amazon Prime, and anyone who wants the widest choice of Irish apps on a low-cost stick.
Fire TV is the most common starting point in Ireland. Fire TV devices running Fire OS have RTÉ Player, Virgin Media Play and TG4 Player, plus NOW, Sky Go, Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+. NOW’s Irish help page lists the Fire TV Stick (2nd and 3rd generation, 4K, 4K Max and Lite) and the Fire TV Cube among its supported devices.
The range runs from basic HD sticks up to the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, which Amazon describes as having faster speeds, more storage and Dolby Vision.
The Vega OS catch. Amazon’s newest sticks, including the Fire TV Stick 4K Select and the new Fire TV Stick 4K Amazon announced in September 2026, run Amazon’s own Vega OS instead of Fire OS. Amazon says it has added over 2,000 apps to Vega OS, but it still has fewer apps than Fire OS, and we couldn’t confirm RTÉ Player, Virgin Media Play or TG4 Player on it. Before you buy any Fire TV stick, check the product listing for the operating system, and if it says Vega OS, check that your Irish apps are in its app store.
If you’re comparing models, see Fire TV Stick 4K Max: Worth the Upgrade?, Fire TV Stick 4K, Two Years On and Fire TV Stick Lite vs Standard. You can check the current price of the Fire TV Stick 4K or the standard Fire TV Stick on Amazon.
The Fire TV Cube is the premium, hands-free option with built-in Alexa. It isn’t currently sold on Amazon.ie. See our Fire TV Cube review for details, and the Fire TV Stick 4K Max as the closest in-stock alternative.
Google TV Streamer
Who it suits: Android phone users, households with Google Home or Nest speakers, and anyone who wants a box with a wired Ethernet port.
The Google TV Streamer is Google’s current streaming box, sold on the Google Store in Ireland. It replaced the Chromecast with Google TV. According to Google’s own spec page, it plays 4K HDR with Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and HLG, has 32 GB of storage, a gigabit Ethernet port, and works as a Matter and Thread hub for smart home devices. You can also cast to it from Android and iPhone apps with Google Cast.
RTÉ Player has an Android TV app on Google Play, and TG4 says its TV app is on Android TV and Google TV. Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+ are all available on Google TV. Virgin Media Play and NOW aren’t named for the Google TV Streamer on the providers’ own pages, so search for them on the device before relying on them.
Read more in our Google TV Streamer review and Chromecast vs Fire TV Stick.
Roku
Who it suits: people who want a simple, neutral menu that doesn’t push one company’s shows, and households that mostly watch RTÉ, Virgin Media and the big subscription services.
Roku devices are sold in Ireland, and Roku’s Irish channel store lists both RTÉ Player and Virgin Media Play. Roku also announced on its own blog that RTÉ Player is officially available on Roku devices in Ireland. NOW’s Irish help page says NOW works on most Roku players, except the old Roku XS and Roku LT boxes. Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+ are all on Roku. We couldn’t confirm TG4 Player on Roku, so check the Roku Channel Store if you need it.
The Roku Streaming Stick Plus is Roku’s 4K stick. For a side-by-side look, see Roku vs Fire TV Stick: Which Should You Buy? and Roku Streaming Devices: Are They Worth Buying in Ireland?
Apple TV 4K
Who it suits: households with iPhones, iPads and Macs, and anyone who wants a premium box with all three Irish broadcaster apps.
Apple TV 4K is the most expensive option here. The official App Store listings confirm RTÉ Player (tvOS 15 or later), Virgin Media Play (tvOS 16 or later) and TG4 Player (tvOS 26 or later). NOW’s Irish help page lists Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K, and Disney+, Netflix and Prime Video are all available. iPhone users also get AirPlay, so you can send a video from your phone to the TV.
See our Apple TV 4K review for how it compares on value.
NOW Smart Stick
Who it suits: existing owners only.
The NOW Smart Stick was a low-cost stick for NOW, built on Roku’s software (“Roku Powered”, in Roku’s words). NOW’s Irish help page now says the NOW Smart Stick and the black NOW Box are “still supported, but are no longer available to buy”. NOW says its Smart Stick comes with apps including RTÉ Player, Virgin Media Player, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ and YouTube. If you already have one, it still works. If you’re buying today, the NOW app runs on Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV and many smart TVs instead. Our NOW Streaming Stick review has more.
Sky Stream puck
Who it suits: people taking out a Sky TV subscription who don’t want a satellite dish.
Sky Stream isn’t a device you buy outright. It’s Sky’s TV service over broadband, and the small Sky Stream puck comes on loan with a Sky subscription (12-month minimum term on Sky’s current offers) and goes back to Sky when you leave. Sky’s Irish page says it connects to your TV by HDMI and streams over Wi-Fi, with no dish or installer needed, and names Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, discovery+ and Apple TV among its apps. Sky’s page doesn’t list RTÉ Player, Virgin Media Play or TG4 Player, so check with Sky if you need them on the puck.
If you just want Sky’s channels without a contract, NOW on one of the devices above is the alternative. See Sky Stream vs NOW in Ireland and Setting Up Sky Stream on a New Smart TV.
Or skip the device: your smart TV
Most recent smart TVs from Samsung, LG and the Google TV brands already carry RTÉ Player, Netflix and the other big apps. If yours does, and the apps run well, you may not need anything extra. Our smart TV guide covers which apps are on each TV platform.
Where to buy in Ireland
Stick to official retailers, such as Harvey Norman, Currys, DID Electrical, Power City, Amazon, or the manufacturer’s own store, so you get the full warranty and genuine hardware. Check the product listing names the model and operating system you want, especially for Fire TV sticks.
Related guides: Best Budget Streaming Sticks for Irish Homes in 2026 · How to Set Up RTÉ Player on Fire TV · Do You Need a TV Licence to Stream in Ireland?
Frequently Asked Questions
Which streaming device is best for RTÉ Player, Virgin Media Play and TG4?
Do I need a streaming stick if I have a smart TV?
Can a streaming stick show Saorview channels?
What is Vega OS on Fire TV?
Is Roku sold in Ireland?
Can I still buy a NOW Smart Stick?
Do I need a TV licence if I only stream through a stick?
Next: follow our installation guides once you’ve picked a device.
Price changes, new launches, and deals as they happen — Follow us on WhatsApp