EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum

Overview

EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum is located on Custom House Quay in Dublin's Docklands and explores why 10 million people left Ireland, and what impact that had on the country and the rest of the world.

The museum is housed in the underground storehouses of the CHQ Building, the first waterproof structure ever built in Dublin, and is one of the most visited cultural attractions in the city. It was voted Europe's Leading Tourist Attraction at the World Travel Awards in 2019, 2020, and 2021.

What You'll See

The exhibition spans 20 individually themed galleries across four sections - Migration, Motivation, Influence, and the Diaspora Today - covering emigration patterns from the 6th century through to the present day.

The experience is fully interactive: visitors swipe through video galleries, engage with motion-sensor quizzes, read digital copies of emigrants' letters sent home, and listen to remastered audio dating back 100 years.

There are very few physical artifacts - the storytelling is delivered through panels, audiovisual displays, and immersive technology, covering Irish contributions to music, literature, sport, politics, science, and more across the globe. Each visitor receives a passport-style booklet to stamp in each gallery.

Visitor Essentials

The museum is open seven days a week, 10am to 6:45pm, with last entry at 5pm. Tickets include one free return visit within 10 days of the original visit. The Irish Family History Centre is located as you exit the museum, to the rear of the gift shop - useful for those with genealogy research interests.

Tips

The museum is a 10-minute walk east of O'Connell Street Bridge and is served by Dublin Bus, the Luas Red Line, and DART. Nearest parking is Q-Park IFSC on Commons Street.

The Famine Memorial and the Jeanie Johnston tall ship are both directly outside and can be combined into the same visit. Those with a deeper interest in Irish diaspora history should also allow time for the Irish Family History Centre on the way out.

Official Site: https://epicchq.com