Kieran Creaven, from Dún Laoghaire, engaged with them online and also travelled to the Philippines in 2014 where he sexually abused a young girl.
He came to Garda attention after being arrested in Leeds four years ago following a sting operation by a so-called paedophile hunter group.
Speaking outside court, Detective Superintendent Barry Walsh said gardaí work closely with other police forces to bring people like Kieran Creavan to justice:
"For the conviction this case, is a clear statement that there's no safe haven for those people who choose to engage in sexual abuse or child sexual exploitation, whether that's here in Ireland or abroad. Regardless, An Garda Siochana work with a wide range of international law enforcement partners to prevent and detect child sexual abuse."
