Ya they are.. EVERYTHING is more expensive in Ireland but guess what, we didnt pay for ours! My dad won it at a golfing competition. My mum used to complain that she had enough Waterford Crystal Glass in the house & if he came home with one more piece she'd smash it over his head. needless to say when my dad won the next competition, he chose the more practical prize (the Dyson) and my mom was on cloud 9 when he arrived home with it. She still tells everyone she meets that story, 2 years later!