Do Indian students need to contact professors in advance before applying for a research master's in Ireland?

For a research master's in Ireland, the quality of your application file is the primary factor, proactively emailing professors before applying is not a requirement in the same way it is for PhD applications at many US or Canadian institutions. The most important preparation step is to find and follow the specific CV format that each Irish university publishes for research master's applicants. Many universities make this format available on their website, and submitting a CV in the expected format demonstrates familiarity with the institution's processes and standards.

• Reading the research supervisor's published papers is genuinely useful, not to initiate a pre-application relationship, but because it informs how you describe your research interests and fit in your application documents.
• If you have read someone's work and can speak specifically to why it connects to your own questions, that comes through in the application itself.
• Reaching out to a professor before applying is not a disadvantage, but it is also not the critical step it might be in the US PhD system.
• Focus the preparation effort on the application file: CV in the correct format, a strong research proposal if required, and clearly articulated goals.