EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, Dublin

Described by The Irish Times as the "world's first fully digital museum", this cutting-edge institution delves into the history of the approximately 70 million people worldwide who trace their ancestry back to Ireland. As such, it explores the reasons behind their emigration, where they settled, and how they maintained connections with their homeland.

Founded by Neville Isdell, former chairman of The Coca-Cola Company and a native of County Down, the privately owned museum was officially opened in May 2016 by former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson. Recognized for its innovation, EPIC was nominated for the "European Museum of the Year Award" in 2018 and clinched the World Travel Awards for "Europe's Leading Tourist Attraction" in 2019.

Far from being a mere repository of names and dates, EPIC was designed by London-based museum design consultancy, Event Communications (renowned for their work on the acclaimed Titanic Belfast attraction) to comprise twenty interactive galleries, organized into four thematic sections: Migration (Galleries 1 to 2), Motivation (4-7), Influence (8-18), and Diaspora Today (19-20).

The "Migration" galleries trace migration patterns from Ireland since 500 AD, while the "Motivation" section explores various factors such as religious missionary work, the Irish famine, persecution, criminal transportation, and Irish involvement in global conflicts. In the "Influence" section, visitors encounter notable Irish immigrants who made significant contributions across diverse fields such as business, sports, science, politics, music, art, literature, and cuisine. Additionally, the museum showcases cultural influences through an interactive 'rogues gallery' of troublemakers with Irish heritage and highlights global festivals and celebrations of Irish culture.