Laundrettes have become a real rarity around here, but I vaguely remember ones that used to have those type of top-loader machines when I was a very small kid.
The only laundrettes around here now are the type that do full-service washes and they're mostly just doing heavy items like duvets and things that cannot be easily washed and dried in domestic machines.
I would say the big change over here is that they've completely outlawed the concept of the tiny 'bed-sit' apartment that used to be popular with students etc.
The absolute minimum standard for any rental accommodation now has to include its own bathroom, own kitchen, own separately controlled heating and hot-water system and a washing machine and drying facilities (usually a tumble dryer / washer dryer although it's not specified other than it's adequate.)
Until the 1980s / 90s it was still common to find a few laundrettes in student areas of Ireland's cities and towns but they're just almost all gone now entirely.
Shared laundry facilities in apartment buildings would be very rare too, even in student accommodation.
Here in Cork (Ireland's second city) I don't think we have a single self-op / coin-op laundrette left.
They seem much more common in parts of continental Europe and even in London and major UK cities where I guess some people must still not have home laundry facilities.
Also, compared to continental Europe and major urban areas in the USA, Ireland just has relatively few apartments. There's always been a very strong preference for houses, gardens and space.
