EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum is an attraction in Dublin, Ireland, dedicated to exploring the history of the Irish diaspora and global emigration from the country. Located within the city's Docklands region, the museum earned recognition as Europe's Leading Tourist Attraction at the World Travel Awards in 2019, 2020, and 2021, and was nominated for the European Museum of the Year Award in 2018.
The institution occupies the historic subterranean vaults of the CHQ Building. Originally designed by John Rennie and finished by Thomas Telford, this listed structure was constructed in 1820 to serve as a bonded customs warehouse before undergoing restoration by the Dublin Docklands Development Authority during the early 2000s. Privately established by County Down native Neville Isdell, a former head of The Coca-Cola Company, the museum opened to the public in May 2016 following consultation with a advisory group formed in 2015.
Designed by the London-based museum consultancy Event Communications, the facility is recognized as a fully digital exhibition space featuring advanced technology and interactive displays across 20 distinct galleries. The exhibition layout is categorized into four main thematic sections: Migration, Motivation, Influence, and Diaspora Today.
Visitors to the venue navigate through galleries detailing historical Irish movement since 500 AD. Exhibits address various drivers of departure, including famine, religious and social persecution, criminal transport, missionary endeavors, and participation in international conflicts. Among the features within these spaces are recorded video accounts providing personal testimonies from six Irish emigrants.
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