Overview
EPIC – the Irish Emigration Museum – occupies the stone vaults of the former Custom House Quay (CHQ) warehouse, in the heart of Dublin’s Docklands. Voted Europe’s Leading Tourist Attraction three years running (2019, 2020 and 2021), it’s billed as the world’s first fully digital museum, telling the story of the ten million Irish who have left the island since the 6th century through motion-sensor displays, touch-screen archives, video walls and a self-guided “EPIC passport” that stamps your way through the galleries.
One thing to set expectations on: this is a museum of screens, sound and story, not of objects. If you come expecting cases of original artefacts, you’ll be disappointed; if you come for a well-told, interactive account of who left and why and where they ended up, it earns its awards. It’s also an excellent rainy-afternoon option and works well with children.
History & The Building
The CHQ building went up in 1820 as a customs warehouse, begun by the engineer John Rennie and completed by Thomas Telford, positioned to handle goods arriving through Dublin Port. EPIC opened here in May 2016, launched by former President Mary Robinson and championed by Neville Isdell, former chairman of The Coca-Cola Company, who put €15 million into the project. The interior was designed by Event Communications, the same firm behind Titanic Belfast, who turned the vaults into a run of dark, screen-lit galleries. The on-site Irish Family History Centre lets guests trace ancestry and access genealogical records without leaving the building.
What to See & Do
EPIC’s 20 galleries are grouped into four narrative arcs that guide visitors through centuries of movement, hardship, and triumph:
- Migration (Galleries 1-2): Interactive maps chart emigration routes from 500 AD onward. A replica 19th-century ship’s cabin and video testimonies from modern emigrants provide tangible context for the journeys undertaken.
- Motivation (Galleries 4-7): This section explores the push factors behind Irish emigration, including famine, political persecution, and economic opportunity. Tactile stations and immersive soundscapes convey the emotional weight of leaving home.
- Influence (Galleries 8-18): Discover how Irish expatriates reshaped global culture, science, sport, and literature. Interactive stations highlight contributions across industries, with hands-on exhibits that let visitors engage with historical artefacts and digital recreations.
- Diaspora Today (Galleries 19-20): The journey culminates in a living digital wall where visitors can add their name to a global Irish family tree. This space bridges past and present, showing how Irish communities continue to thrive worldwide.
Throughout the museum, motion-sensor quizzes and a digital stamp system via the EPIC passport keep the experience engaging for all ages.
The Irish Family History Centre
One of EPIC’s most practical features is the dedicated Irish Family History Centre. Staffed by experienced genealogists, the centre provides direct access to historical records, parish registers, and census data. Visitors can bring their own research or receive guided assistance to trace surnames, locate ancestral townslands, and understand migration patterns. It is particularly valuable for those with Irish heritage visiting from abroad, offering a structured starting point for deeper family research.
Family & Educational Visits
The museum is designed with younger visitors in mind. The EPIC passport acts as a kid-friendly stamp card, rewarding children with digital stickers as they complete gallery challenges, and families with smaller children can book a tour led by the museum’s mascot, Cluasóg the Irish hare. The on-site café serves child-suitable meals, and the gift shop stocks Irish-themed books, puzzles, and educational toys.
For schools and groups, EPIC runs tailored programmes aligned with primary and secondary curricula, covering migration, storytelling, and digital media. Group rates apply to parties of ten or more, and the museum regularly hosts birthday packages, seasonal workshops, and teacher briefing sessions. Bookings and programme details are available directly through the museum’s website.
Accessibility & Inclusive Experience
EPIC is fully wheelchair-accessible, with step-free routes, ramps, and lifts throughout the vaults. A free multilingual audio-guide app can be downloaded to any smartphone, offering narrated tours in multiple languages. Staff are trained to assist visitors with mobility or sensory needs, and the Irish Family History Centre provides large-print screens and adjustable workstations for those with visual impairments.
Ticketing & Passes
- Book online – it’s genuinely cheaper: an adult ticket is €19.50 online against €22 at the door, and booking 30 days ahead knocks a further 20% off. Online children (6–12) are €10 and teens (13–17) €13; family passes start at €39.
- Your ticket includes a free return visit within 10 days, which is worth knowing if you run out of time first go.
- Standard tickets have a last entry of 4.30pm, half an hour before the general 5pm cut-off, so don’t leave it too late in the day.
- EPIC is included on the Dublin Pass, which covers a long list of city attractions for a single price.
- A free audio guide is available in English, Irish, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Polish and Mandarin.
Getting There & Parking
- Location: CHQ Building, Custom House Quay, Dublin 1. The museum sits directly beside the Famine Memorial and the replica tall ship Jeanie Johnston.
- Public transport: The nearest Luas stop is George’s Dock on the Red Line, a couple of minutes’ walk. Several Dublin Bus routes serve the Docklands, and the nearest rail is Connolly (Irish Rail, and a short walk to the DART at Tara Street), roughly 10–15 minutes on foot.
- Parking: The nearest public car park is Q-Park IFSC on Commons Street. Pre-booking a space is worth it on weekends and through the summer.
Practical Information
- Opening Times: Mon-Sun 10:00-18:45 (last entry 17:00).
- Facilities: On-site café, gift shop, free Wi-Fi, coat check, and the Irish Family History Centre.
- Nearby cultural venue: The historic Abbey Theatre is a short tram ride away, offering a complementary dive into Ireland’s literary and theatrical heritage.
Nearby Highlights
While you’re in the Docklands, consider a quick walk to:
- The Famine Memorial on Custom House Quay, a powerful stone tribute to the victims of the Great Famine.
- The replica Jeanie Johnston tall ship, which demonstrates how thousands of Irish families crossed the Atlantic in the 19th century.
- The Custom House itself, an iconic Georgian landmark that once processed the very goods stored in the CHQ vaults.
- The Spencer Dock area, home to modern cafés, boutique shops, and the Dublin Convention Centre.
These sites are all within a few minutes’ walk, making EPIC an ideal anchor point for a half-day Docklands itinerary. Book your tickets online in advance to skip the queue, and pick up an EPIC passport at the information desk to track your progress through the galleries.