EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum unveils €2 million upgrade to visitor experience

“You need to see these new galleries, – says the CEO

• New galleries mark 10 years of EPIC and mark an exciting new chapter for the museum and wider Docklands area
• Brand new Isle of the Senses Gallery allows visitors to experience the sights, sounds, and scents of the landscape that emigrants left behind
• A new interactive LED floor has been added, the largest of its kind in any Irish museum
• EPIC was named Europe’s leading tourist attraction three years in a row, ahead of attractions such as the Eiffel Tower, the Colosseum, and Buckingham Palace

March 2026 – EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum has completed a €2 million investment upgrade of its visitor experience.  This is the most significant transformation since the museum opened, further cementing its status as a world‑class cultural attraction and a global leader in storytelling.  The new galleries, opening on 26th March 2026, expand the exhibition footprint by 2,000 square feet.  Visitors will now experience more immersive multi-sensory storytelling, exciting new technology, and a deeper emotional connection to Ireland’s emigration story.

“EPIC has always been a world-class cultural attraction,” said Aileesh Carew, CEO of EPIC, The Irish Emigration Museum. “This upgrade raises the bar for visitor experiences all over the world. We believe that understanding Irish emigration is the key to understanding the Irish people. These new galleries make the visitor experience even more immersive and deepen the emotional connection to Ireland through the stories of our emigrants.”

The major upgrade includes a new ‘Isle of the Senses’ sensory experience, evoking the Irish emigrants carried with them when they left the island. Visitors are immersed in the sights, sounds, and scents of the landscapes left behind – from the green hills of Kerry and the Giant’s Causeway to Wicklow’s waterfalls and the Cliffs of Moher. There is also a newly installed interactive LED floor, the largest of its kind in any Irish museum. Spanning 28 square metres, the floor brings the movement of emigration vividly to life, from monks setting out in currachs to steamships, ocean liners and aeroplanes.

“EPIC is not your average museum of artefacts and information panels,” Aileesh Carew continued.  “We have always used technology in a surprising and immersive way to astonish our visitors with the powerful human stories in our vaults.  This new upgrade helps visitors to understand Ireland’s global emigration story – not as ancient history, confined to the past – but as a living, evolving journey that continues to shape our identity today. Everyone needs to visit these galleries.”

The overall museum footprint has been extended and opens the vaulted galleries up to natural light – galleries are now visible from the street for the first time and create a striking image for passersby along Dublin’s Docklands. This is particularly meaningful given the museum’s location: the Docklands is the very place from which countless emigrants began their journey from Ireland. The museum has played a vital role in revitalising this district as a cultural destination and restoring its identity as the symbolic point of departure for generations of Irish people.

Liz Halpin, Head of Dublin at Fáilte Ireland, said, “Fáilte Ireland welcomes this new chapter for EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum. These new galleries not only elevate the visitor experience through immersive storytelling, but they will also encourage people to spend more time exploring and engaging with the Docklands area of the city. With its recognition as a world‑class attraction, EPIC has already played a key role in shaping this historic part of the city, and this latest upgrade will further enhance the Docklands’ appeal as a must‑visit area for both domestic and international visitors.”

Alongside the gallery upgrades, EPIC has launched a new museum app that enhances accessibility and inclusivity through multiple languages, expanded storytelling and accessibility features such as transcripts and audio, with more accessibility features planned for phase 2. The app introduces new specialist tours, including a children’s tour, reflecting EPIC’s commitment to innovation and audience-first design.

Further information

Neville Isdell, EPIC Founder

EPIC, The Irish Emigration Museum, was founded by Neville Isdell, former Chairman and CEO of the Coca-Cola company.  Isdell’s own family emigrated from Belfast when he was a boy.  He founded EPIC to showcase the profound impact of the Irish on the world. This new investment reinforces his enduring commitment to being world-class and setting the standard for museum experiences in Ireland, and beyond.  “If it’s not world-class, it’s not worth doing,” is the essence of his vision for EPIC.

Opening dates

The upgraded galleries will open to the public on Thursday, 26th March 2026. This major investment marks a key early milestone in EPIC’s wider 10-year celebrations, with further anniversary programming to be announced later in 2026.

For more information on EPIC, The Irish Emigration Museum, visit www.epicchq.com.