Once your .ie domain has passed its renewal date it doesn't automaticllay expire but it enters a phase called NRP or the IEDR's Non-Renewal Process.

This is the stages of the domain been deleted and these are the steps that you have to be aware off before your domain gets suspended or deleted and then open to be registered by another party!

1. Domain enters NRP the VERY next day after its renewal date. All relevant contacts are emailed, Administrative, billing and technical. Services still run
2. 40 days after the renewal date the domain will be suspended and all services will automatically stop. Even though as your host your email and web etc will still be running (if the renewal periods are different), they will not work because of the domain nolonger been publically accessible.
3. 70 days after the renewal date the domain will be deleted and then it is published on the IEDR .ie domain deleted list and is then available to register by any one else!.