The historical trajectory of the most historically significant ethnographic collections in Ireland intertwine with histories of colonialism and post-colonialism, and Ireland’s position with regard to this narrative is unique. Ireland was at one time the location of the second city of the British Empire, and also one of the places which suffered most catastrophically from colonial era administration. Secondly, the recent history of the museum and heritage sector is also unusual, with the prime ethnographic and folkloric material being kept in storage for decades. These objects are indices of Ireland’s self-conception as existing within an historical flow. We aim to provide an introduction to Ireland’s distinctive material ethnographic heritage, and consider its significance for anthropological learning through the concept of “objects in waiting”.