Thinking about the millions of untold stories, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum comes to mind. It is not just a museum. It is a portal into the heart of a nation’s journey.
EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, nestled in Dublin’s Docklands, tells the story of the Irish diaspora. It explores the history of Irish emigration to other countries. EPIC was designed by Event Communications.
Neville Isdell, former chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, founded EPIC. He was born in County Down. In May 2016, former President of Ireland Mary Robinson officially opened EPIC.
EPIC is in the vaults of the CHQ Building. John Rennie originally built it in 1820. Thomas Telford completed it for use as a bonded customs warehouse. The DDDA restored the building in the early 2000s.
Event Communications also designed the award-winning Titanic Belfast attraction. Isdell invested Euro 15 million in the project. The Irish Times described EPIC as the world’s first fully digital museum. In its first year, it had 120000 visitors.
EPIC won Europe’s Leading Tourist Attraction at the World Travel Awards in 2019, 2020, and 2021.
The exhibition consists of twenty themed galleries. They fall under the headings of Migration, Motivation, Influence, and Diaspora Today.
The Migration galleries deal with migration patterns from Ireland since 500AD. These galleries cover religious missionary work and the Irish Famine. They also cover religious and social persecution. Displays include video testimonies from six Irish emigrants.
More than 70 million people worldwide have Irish roots. The current population of Ireland is only around five million. Catherine Healy is a historian in residence at EPIC. She said, “In many ways, the history of Ireland is a history of emigration.”
Exhibits highlight the achievements of those with Irish ancestry. Twenty-three occupants of the White House claim Irish ancestry.
The peak of Irish emigration occurred during the famine of the mid-1800s. The failure of the potato crop prompted many to set sail for America. Healy said, “It was a journey of desperation, and for having no ability to have a livelihood in Ireland.”
The museum also tells the story of cherished Irish cultural exports. These include the Irish pub and Irish music.
EPIC stands for Every Person Is Connected. The museum recently hosted an exhibition on Irish migration to the Caribbean.
EPIC was created to highlight the positive impact of Irish emigration. Its walls feature a quote from Ireland’s former president Mary Robinson. She said, “After all, emigration isn’t just a chronicle of sorrow and regret. It’s also a powerful story of contribution and adaptation.”
A visit to EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum lasts for at least 90 minutes. Once you have your ticket, you can visit the museum again within 10 days for no additional cost.