Following years of careful research and planning, Ireland's first Diaspora museum Epic Ireland was officially launched last weekend. As she cut the ribbon on the stunning new visitor centre, former President of Ireland Mary Robinson paid tribute to the "70 million people living on this globe who claim Irish descent".
Pictured at the launch of Epic, Ireland Reaching Out's Clare Doyle, Chairperson Mike Feerick, Epic Founding Director Fiona Ross and Founder Neville Isdell
Epic Ireland is a fully immersive, high tech sensory experience, housed in the brick vaults of the CHQ building in Dublin's docks area.
The exhibition captures the footprint of the global Irish family in 20 interactive galleries, bringing to life the story of Irish immigration and featuring the famous and infamous, as well as the lesser known Irish Diaspora whose influence has helped shape the world in which we live to today. Astrophysicists are celebrated alongside musicians and artists, and it is truly inspiring to see the influence of so many Irish men and women in areas such as civil rights, theatre and literature.
Speaking of the opening, Ireland Reaching Out Founder & Chairperson Mike Feerick said,
“The opening of an Irish Diaspora Museum in Dublin is a milestone for Ireland and everyone of Irish heritage abroad. The life stories and culture of our emigrants and their descendants are brought to life in a spectacularly modern way. It is not just about who we were in the past but about the international community we have become today. Everyone who comes home to Ireland should make it a priority to visit Epic.”
Picture: Inside Epic Ireland
At the end of the Epic museum exhibition, visitors are invited to find out how they can connect with their place of origin through the Ireland Reaching Out programme. Through this we hope to increase the awareness of the nationwide Diaspora programme amongst the many overseas visitors to Dublin city every year. In doing so, we aim to help them to develop their relationship with their Irish heritage and engage with Ireland not just as a visitor but to reconnect with their place of origin in a meaningful way, wherever it might be on our island.
Friday morning's launch was attended by many familiar faces from Ireland's cultural sector, but the true heroes of this epic initiative are the millions of people who have left Ireland over the last 500 years or so, many of whom never to return, who have created a worldwide legacy that we can be proud of and for whom the "candle" at Epic Ireland burns brightly.
Plan your visit to Epic Ireland today. Click here.
We hope you have found the information we have shared helpful. While you are here, we have a small favour to ask. Ireland Reaching Out is a non-profit organisation that relies on public funding and donations to ensure a completely free family history advisory service to anyone of Irish heritage who needs help connecting with their Irish place of origin. If you would like to support our mission, please click on the donate button and make a contribution. Any amount, big or small, is appreciated and makes a difference.