Ireland’s visual arts have always been overshadowed by the prominence of her verbal and literary culture. Over the last decade permanent, tangible developments have occurred within the visual arts. General prosperity has led to increases in arts funding and more disposable income means more people buy art and attend musical and theatrical peformances. Government arts policy is gradually becoming attuned to the needs of the sector. The establishment of a number of important museums and libraries is discussed in the context of Ireland’s booming ‘Celtic Tiger’ economy.