THE STORY OF Irish emigration is one as old as the island itself.
Likewise, the rich contribution of Irish emigrants to the global landscape is a story we all know at least parts of.
Now, a new exhibition aims to distil that story into an hour-long tourist attraction. Epic Ireland – The Journey Of A People opens on Saturday 7 May in the basement of the CHQ building in Dublin’s docklands.
The exhibition leads visitors first to a departures gate where they are given a passport which acts as a map.
From there, the map takes you through rooms which chronicle the methods of and reasons for emigration, right through the Irish emigrant story.
The galleries are organised into four themes of migration, motivation, influence and connection.
These themes explore the stories of adventure and tragedy that have shaped the narrative of Irish emigration – why people through the ages have left Ireland; the extraordinary influence of the Irish abroad in politics, business, science, sport and the arts; and how the technology of today has changed the emigrant experience.
Through interactive displays, visitors get to experience Irish sport, crime, comedy and culture. From the GAA to Irish outlaws, from Irish dancing to Christian missions, from coffin ships to the Irish pub, the exhibition is a unique look at a story which might feel familiar, but which you definitely don’t know all of.
Conal Harvey, Managing Director of Epic Ireland says the goal is to become an essential trip for tourists.
“The vision and objective of Epic Ireland is to be the essential first port of call for visitors to Ireland, the first piece of orientation for any trip. Its purpose is to tell untold epic stories in a unique, highly entertaining and informative way.”
Tickets are priced at €8 for children and €16 for adults and can be bought here.
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