They seem to be a lot more common in the North than down here in Dublin.
I think it is because of the ridiculous vehicle registration tax made them just too expensive.
There are complaints down here that VRT means Irish cars have a much worse spec and less safety equipment.
Every A2 I see, no matter who I am with, I will run down what I can see e.g. "A2, looks like a 1.4 petrol, no open sky, no alloys."
I don't believe I have seen one with Open Sky yet.
The guy who owned mine before me lived in Plymouth and imported it. Because he was changing address he got off with the VRT. That is why mine is so highly specced compared to other Irish A2s.