The clearest indication yet that the market for Irish art is healthier than ever before comes with the appearance of advertisements in the English press this week. The notices publicise a forthcoming auction in Dublin and invite owners of Irish pictures to send them for sale.

The auctioneer responsible for placing these advertisements is Ian Whyte, whose company on Marlborough Street, Dublin, is better known for its sales of stamps, coins and militaria. In fact, Mr Whyte says that until now he has specialised in "small collectibles", although occasionally he has disposed of paintings where these specifically related to other material included in an auction.

He intends to hold his first full sale of Irish art in the Shelbourne Hotel on Wednesday, March 8th, which is the day after John de Vere White will be holding his first similar event this year.

Given the increasingly high-profile presence of English auction houses such as Sotheby's and Christie's, why has Ian Whyte decided to enter this crowded market? "I'm interested in pictures," he says "and we've people available to us who can advise".

Through his other sales he has also built up an extensive client list across the Irish Sea and he hopes some of these will have pictures likely to fetch better prices in the Republic than in Britain. "We found in other fields that we stopped the flow to London by being very strong in our marketing," Ian Whyte explains. "We've brought Irish collections back from England before to sell here."

Although he is still looking for additional lots, already the auction includes work by a number of familiar names. These include Jack B. Yeats, Norah McGuinness, Maurice McGonigle, Grace Henry and Mildred Ann Butler. Mr Whyte says "quite a few" of these have come from English owners and more are due from the same source.

He promises "a good mixture - everything from the late 18th century to contemporary art."