A big welcome from an English woman living in Ireland. We have the same pricing problems here that you do, and I am always green with envy when other board members mention some of the prices they pay. I do buy quite a lot of fabric online, and often find that it gets here to me cheaper than local prices, even taking shipping into account. Also, here, as in the UK, customs duty is due on imported cotton fabrics. (I used to sell quilting fabrics in the UK, and the first time this happend to me, I was so indignant about it).
Having said that, in all the parcels I have ordered, I have only rarely have had to pay customs duty. So it seems to me that it often isn't applied to individuals. Long may it continue.