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EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum

Museums ·Dublin ·Closed
4.721.6K
#4Museums in Ireland#4Museums in DublinTravelers' Choice 2026
  • Visit: 70–90 min
  • from EUR 22
  • Ideal for couples, kids, teens
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About

EPIC, the Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin's Docklands: a privately owned museum in the CHQ Building, with 20 interactive galleries.

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EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum

EPIC The Irish Emigration MuseumEPIC The Irish Emigration MuseumEPIC The Irish Emigration MuseumEPIC The Irish Emigration MuseumEPIC The Irish Emigration MuseumEPIC The Irish Emigration MuseumEPIC The Irish Emigration MuseumEPIC The Irish Emigration MuseumEPIC The Irish Emigration MuseumEPIC The Irish Emigration MuseumEPIC The Irish Emigration Museum

What's on here

The National Famine Way Walk 2027 - The Long Road Home/Ag Siúl le… The National Famine Way Walk 2027 - The Long Road Home/Ag Siúl le… Saturday, 10:0030 EUR

Why go

  • 20 interactive galleries, grouped under Migration, Motivation, Influence and Diaspora Today, explored at your own pace.
  • Riverdance, U2 and Thin Lizzy, covered in the exhibition's themed rooms.
  • Video testimonies from six Irish emigrants.
  • Writers James Joyce, Samuel Beckett and George Bernard Shaw, among the famous figures featured.

Opening hours

Today09:00 – 18:45Show all
Monday09:00 – 18:45
Tuesday09:00 – 18:45
Wednesday09:00 – 18:45
Thursday09:00 – 18:45
Friday09:00 – 18:45
Saturday09:00 – 18:45
Sunday09:00 – 18:45

Don't miss

  • Notorious IrishAn interactive exhibit, and a highlight for visitors.Inside the museum.
  • Irish Family History CentreGenealogy experts help visitors research their Irish roots. Consultation is the first step.Inside the museum.
  • Emigration filmShows people who emigrated in the 1950s and 1960s. It runs almost an hour.Inside the museum.
  • Current temporary exhibitionIncluded in the self-guided tour.Inside the museum.

Your visit in 1–3 hours

1 h
  1. Join the daily guided tour, given in English, which lasts about 60 minutes.
  2. The tour is in English only; multimedia guides in other languages are available.
90 min
  1. Begin with the Migration galleries, then move through the other three groups at your own pace.
  2. Stop at the Irish Family History Centre if you want to research your Irish roots.
  3. Leave time for the presentations and videos, which add value to the visit.
150 min
  1. Take the combined ticket: a guided ship tour of the Jeanie Johnston and a self-guided EPIC visit.
  2. Walk two minutes to the Jeanie Johnston, a replica 19th-century emigrant ship.
  3. Then visit EPIC on your own, at your own pace.

Know before you go

  • Open every day, from 09:00 to 18:45.
  • The address is CHQ Building, Custom House Quay, Dublin 1.
  • Self-guided tickets include a free return visit within 10 days.
  • Visitors get a passport to stamp at each of the main locations.
  • Visitors can walk through the museum without a guide.
  • Enquiries: +353 1 906 0861

What's inside

  • Why Irish people emigrated, where they went and what they contributed.
  • Migration galleries that cover emigration from Ireland since 500AD.
  • Topics include the Irish famine, persecution and criminal transportation.
  • Shows how Irish culture influenced country music and Riverdance.
  • Interactive features include dance, quizzes, games and a giant book.
  • Large displays that combine audio, video and artefacts.
  • The atmosphere uses darkness and lights, tunnels and background music.
  • Genealogy consultations are the first step; genealogists can do the research through research packages.
  • There is a gift shop.

With kids

  • Hands-on experiences suit visitors of all ages.
  • Visitors can watch, listen, touch and explore the galleries.
  • The museum offers school tours; information on school trips and events is on the website.

Tips for your visit

  • A quick visit takes about 90 minutes, but presentations and videos add value.
  • The museum can be hired as a venue for events.
  • The nearest car park is Q Park, about a block away.
  • The Luas stop at George's Dock is in the neighbourhood.
  • Dublin By Dusk offers a late opening to explore Irish history after hours.
  • Urban Brewing offers lunch and brunch packages with a tour, and evening tapas packages after a tour.
  • The research team can check whether someone is entitled to Irish citizenship.

Tours and audio guides

Self-guided visit
Multimedia guides in several languages · about 90 minutes Audio guides in languages other than English; can be followed on a phone through the audio app.
Daily guided tour
English · about 60 minutes Given in English only; visitors who need another language can use the audio guides.
Private guided tour
Up to six people, led by an expert storyteller

Interesting facts4

1/4

  1. Known as the world's first fully digital museum.

    EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum - Wikipedia
  2. 10 million

    Over the centuries, more than 10 million people emigrated from Ireland.

    Dublin - Wikivoyage (see)

  3. Former presidents John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama have roots in Ireland.

    EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum - Wikipedia
  4. 120,000 visitors

    The museum drew 120,000 visitors in its first year.

    EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum - Wikipedia

Shorts

History

The museum occupies the vaults of the CHQ Building on Custom House Quay, one of the last surviving warehouses in the Docklands. The DDDA restored the building in the early 2000s. The founder was born in County Down. His own experience of living in several countries inspired the idea for the museum. An advisory group was assembled in 2015 to consult on its development.

  1. 1820John Rennie built the CHQ Building, and Thomas Telford completed it.
  2. 2016Neville Isdell, a former chairman and chief executive of The Coca-Cola Company, founded the museum.
  3. May 2016Former President Mary Robinson officially opened the museum.
  4. 2018The museum was nominated for the European Museum of the Year Award.
  5. 2019–2021The museum won the title of Europe's Leading Tourist Attraction at the World Travel Awards in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

How to get there

  • 8 minOn footFrom O'Connell Street, an 8-minute walk to CHQ on Custom House Quay in Dublin's Docklands.

Accessibility

  • Parking

Sources: EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum - Wikipedia · Dublin - Wikivoyage (see) · EPIC Museum | Official Website | Dublin's Must-… · Tickets and Tours - EPIC The Irish Emigration M… · EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum - Custom House… · EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum - Wikipedia · checked 18 Oct 2026

Where
Custom House Quay The Chq Building, Dublin

Plan from here: A day out →

Questions and answers

How long does a visit to EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum take?

Allow about 90 minutes for a self-guided visit. The combined visit with the Jeanie Johnston needs about 2.5 hours.

What are the opening hours of EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum?

It is open every day from 09:00 to 18:45.

How far is EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum from O'Connell Street?

It is about an 8-minute walk from O'Connell Street to CHQ on Custom House Quay in Dublin's Docklands.

Are children welcome at EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum?

Yes. Hands-on experiences suit visitors of all ages, and the museum offers school tours.

Can I visit EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum without a guide?

Yes. Visitors can walk through the galleries on their own, at their own pace.

Does EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum have a gift shop?

Yes, the museum has a gift shop.

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