The term 'Anglo-Irish' is generally used to describe the class of Protestant landowners in Ireland from the seventeenth century onwards. Although most Protestants in Ireland were part of the middle class, the Anglo-Irish were landed gentry who held most of the power in Ireland, politically and economically. From the late nineteenth century, the Anglo-Irish started to go into decline as the land system in Ireland began to change under pressure from the Land League and other forces.

Although the land system in Ireland, presided over by the Anglo-Irish gentry, was responsible for much inequality in Irish society, many in this sector of Irish society made a strong contribution to Irish culture and arts. It was unusual for people in this class to enter into the professions until the early twentieth century, when it began to occur out of necessity. Instead, many members of the Anglo-Irish gentry became artists and patrons of the arts.