EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum Entry Ticket Dublin

EPIC Museum in the CHQ Building

EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum opened in 2016 in the vaults of the CHQ Building on Custom House Quay, a dockside warehouse built in 1820 when Dublin was a busy trading port. Its cast-iron roof and long brick vaults survived the decline of the old docks and were restored as a shopping and events space above, with the museum set in the atmospheric arches below.

The museum is entirely dedicated to the Irish diaspora, the millions of people who left Ireland and the far larger number around the world who claim Irish roots today. Rather than a collection of objects, it is a modern, digital museum built on stories, film clips, music and touch screens, which is why it appeals so strongly to visitors who usually find museums slow. Is EPIC museum worth visiting? For an hour and a half of history told in a gripping way, yes.

Inside the 20 Interactive Galleries

The galleries are arranged in four themes: Migration, Motivation, Influence and Connection. The first rooms explain why people left, from the Great Famine of the 1840s to religious persecution, economic hardship and the simple search for opportunity, with personal letters and voices bringing each wave of departures to life.

The middle galleries celebrate what the Irish achieved abroad in fields as varied as science, medicine, engineering, politics, sport, dance, music and fashion, while a striking hall of words shows the reach of Irish writing. The final rooms look at the diaspora today and how emigrants keep links with the island. You can listen, read, watch and even try interactive games, so each guest can shape the visit around their own interests and spend more time where the stories touch them most.

Planning Your Visit: Tickets, Times and Tips

Your EPIC museum tickets give timed entry, with slots every half hour from 10:00 to 16:30; arrive a few minutes before your slot and show the ticket at reception. At the start you receive a souvenir passport that you stamp in each gallery, a fun way to keep track of your route, especially for teenagers, and you can download the audio guide app before arriving.

Most visitors spend about 90 minutes inside, while history lovers easily stay longer. The ticket also allows a free return visit within 10 days, so there is no need to rush. The museum is wheelchair-accessible, with lifts between levels. The Irish Family History Centre in the same building, guided tours and the Jeanie Johnston ship are not included in this ticket and can be booked separately.

The Docklands: Custom House, Famine Memorial and Jeanie Johnston

Stepping out of EPIC you are on the north bank of the River Liffey, in Dublin's regenerated Docklands. To the west stands the Custom House, a neoclassical masterpiece from 1791 with a green copper dome, one of the most photographed buildings in the city. Just beside the museum, the bronze figures of the Famine Memorial show emigrants walking toward the ships, a moving companion to what you have just seen.

Moored on the quay is the Jeanie Johnston, a replica of an 1847 famine ship that carried emigrants to North America; it can be visited separately. If you are wondering how to get to EPIC museum, the CHQ Building is a 10-minute walk east of O'Connell Bridge, next to the George's Dock tram stop on the Red Luas line and close to Connolly and Tara Street train stations.