<P> Decimalisation was overseen by the Irish Decimal Currency Board, created on 12 June 1968 . It provided changeover information to the public including a pamphlet called Everyone's Guide to Decimal Currency . The changeover occurred on Decimal Day, 15 February 1971 . </P> <P> In the 1970s, the European Monetary System was introduced . Ireland decided to join it in 1978, while the United Kingdom stayed out . </P> <P> The European Exchange Rate Mechanism finally broke the one - for - one link that existed between the Irish pound and the pound sterling; by 30 March 1979 an exchange rate was introduced . </P> <P> This period also saw the creation of the Currency Centre at Sandyford in 1978 so that banknotes and coinage could be manufactured within the state . Prior to this, banknotes were printed by specialist commercial printers in England, and coins by the British Royal Mint . </P>

Is the irish pound the same as the british pound