<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-02-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001671013</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>Cardtronics plc</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CATM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001652522</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hudson Executive Capital LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1185 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, 32ND FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10036</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001700567</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HEC Management GP LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1185 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, 32ND FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10036</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001495110</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Braunstein Douglas L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1185 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>32ND FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10036</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Ordinary Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-02-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>37788</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>22.73</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6040518</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Ordinary Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-02-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>278402</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>23.39</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6318920</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Ordinary Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-02-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5810</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>24.00</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6324730</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were purchased in multiple transactions through a broker-dealer at prices ranging from $22.00 to $22.99. Hudson Executive Capital LP, a Delaware limited partnership (&quot;Hudson Executive&quot;) and the other reporting person undertake to provide Cardtronics plc, any security holder of Cardtronics plc, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the ranges set forth in footnote 1, footnote 5 and footnote 6 to this Form 4.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">In addition to Hudson Executive, this Form 4 is being filed jointly by HEC Management GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (&quot;Management GP&quot;), and Douglas L. Braunstein, a citizen of the United States of America (together with Hudson Executive and Management GP, the &quot;Reporting Persons&quot;), each of whom has the same business address as Hudson Executive and may be deemed to have a pecuniary interest in the securities beneficially owned by Hudson Executive (the &quot;Subject Securities&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Hudson Executive, as the investment adviser to certain affiliated investment funds, may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the Subject Securities for purposes of Rule 16a-1(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Management GP, as the general partner of Hudson Executive, may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the Subject Securities for purposes of Rule 16a-1(a). By virtue of Mr. Braunstein's position as Managing Partner of Hudson Executive and Managing Member of Management GP, Mr. Braunstein may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the Subject Securities for purposes of Rule 16a-1(a).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Each of the Reporting Persons disclaims any beneficial ownership of any of the Subject Securities, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were purchased in multiple transactions through a broker-dealer at prices ranging from $23.00 to $23.99.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were purchased in multiple transactions through a broker-dealer at prices ranging from $24.00 to $24.01.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>HUDSON EXECUTIVE CAPITAL LP, By: HEC Management GP LLC, its general partner, By: /s/ Douglas L. Braunstein, Name: Douglas L. Braunstein, Title: Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-02-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>HEC MANAGEMENT GP LLC, By: /s/ Douglas L. Braunstein, Name: Douglas L. Braunstein, Title: Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-02-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>DOUGLAS L. BRAUNSTEIN, By: /s/ Douglas L. Braunstein, Douglas L. Braunstein</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-02-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
