aventuro Back to map A
Museums #15 in Dublin

EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum

4.6 · 10,713 reviews
Immersive, modern, and educational.
EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, The Chq Building, Custom House Quay, North Wall, Dublin 1, Ireland
Interesting facts
1

The museum is housed in the CHQ building, which was originally designed in 1820 as a customs warehouse for goods like tobacco, tea, and spirits.

2

The collection is entirely digital; the museum does not hold or display physical historical artifacts.

3

It was voted Europe's Leading Tourist Attraction at the World Travel Awards multiple times.

4

The 'Irish Family History Centre' is located on-site, providing specialized resources for visitors researching their Irish ancestry.

5

The galleries utilize over 1,500 sensors to trigger audio and visual content as visitors walk through the space.

6

The museum documents the 'Whispering Gallery,' an interactive installation that allows visitors to listen to oral history recordings.

7

Exhibits explicitly detail the 'Great Famine' of the 1840s as a primary driver for mass emigration.

8

The site includes dedicated spaces highlighting the influence of Irish missionaries and sports figures worldwide.

Overview

EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum is an interactive, technology-driven museum located in the historical CHQ building in Dublin’s Docklands. It explores the history of the Irish diaspora, tracing the stories of the estimated 10 million people who left Ireland over the centuries. The museum is fully digital, utilizing touchscreens, motion-sensor galleries, and immersive video installations rather than traditional glass-cased artifacts. It is divided into 20 thematic galleries that cover topics such as migration, influence, and the impact of the Irish abroad. Visitors receive a mock 'passport' upon entry, which is stamped at various stations throughout the exhibition. The museum emphasizes the global contributions of Irish emigrants in fields like politics, science, sports, and the arts. The venue is housed in the 19th-century Tobacco Dock warehouse, which features original cast-iron columns and vaulted stone ceilings.

Photo spot

The dramatic, vaulted industrial architecture of the CHQ building atrium near the entrance.

Insider tips

Pre-book your tickets online to avoid long queues during peak visitor periods.

Spend time at the Irish Family History Centre if you are interested in tracing your specific ancestral roots.

Engage with the passport stamping stations at every gallery to create a personalized souvenir of your visit.

What to avoid

Do not rush through the galleries, as the museum is content-heavy and requires time to read the digital displays.

Good to know

Open daily, including weekends and most bank holidays.

Plan your visit
Typical visit
1.5-2 hours
Best time to visit
Weekday mornings or late afternoons to avoid the heaviest tourist crowds.
Address
EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, The Chq Building, Custom House Quay, North Wall, Dublin 1, Ireland
53.348, -6.248
Get directions
Details
Key exhibitsMigration journeys, Irish influence abroad, Famine history, and genealogy databases.

Frequently asked

Plan for about 1.5-2 hours to see the highlights.

The best time to visit is Weekday mornings or late afternoons to avoid the heaviest tourist crowds..

The dramatic, vaulted industrial architecture of the CHQ building atrium near the entrance.

Close by you'll find St Stephen's Green, National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin Castle.