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

EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum has completed a €2 million investment upgrade of its visitor experience, with a strong focus on cutting-edge AV technology and immersive digital storytelling. 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 26 March 2026, expand the exhibition footprint by 2,000 square feet and introduce a suite of new digital installations and interactive systems. Visitors will now experience newly expanded galleries with more immersive, multi-sensory storytelling, exciting new technology, and a deeper emotional connection to Ireland’s emigration story.

“EPIC is a digital-led experience, so we spend plenty of time and energy checking out the latest AV technology,” said Luke Smith, Director of Technology at EPIC. “Whilst our technology has served visitors well to date, we wanted to add a new level of interactive and immersive experiences. Our new galleries use cutting-edge technology to deliver great storytelling and emotionally rich experiences. I am really looking forward to seeing how our visitors react – and I believe they will be surprised and delighted.”

Advanced AV Systems Powering the New Galleries

At the heart of the new Welcome Gallery is a custom-built interactive installation featuring approximately 9 square metres of Absen microLED, with a 1.2mm pixel pitch. The display is integrated into a bespoke table exhibit and paired with over 250 metres of programmable LED neon tubing, creating a dynamic, immersive light sculpture.

“Using microLED instead of conventional screens allows for tailored layouts, bezel-free display and wider viewing angles,” Smith explained. “Combined with the LED lighting, it creates a significantly more engaging experience that surrounds the visitor from the moment they arrive.”

Sensor-Driven Interaction in ‘Isle of the Senses’

The new Isle of the Senses gallery introduces Nexmosphere LiDAR sensors, enabling highly precise, proximity-based triggering of audio and visual experiences.

“These sensors are more configurable and precise than infra-red or camera-based systems,” said Smith. “They integrate with BrightSign media players and allow us to deliver highly responsive, personalised interactions.”

The same system is used to activate modern interpretations of Pepper’s Ghost illusions, blending a 19th-century theatrical technique with contemporary sensor technology and custom programming.

Ireland’s Largest Interactive LED Floor

A key centrepiece of the upgrade is a 28 square metre interactive LED floor, the largest of its kind in any Irish museum or attraction. Featuring a 1.92mm pixel pitch, the floor allows visitors to interact with animated vessels representing 1,500 years of Irish emigration – from early sailing currachs to modern aircraft, transforming EPIC’s iconic Sea and Sky sculptural installation into an immersive, multi-media experience

“Our visitors will walk across the floor and interact with ships and planes as they travel,” Smith added. “There are also a few surprises built into the experience – including a hidden ‘Easter egg’ for those who look closely.”

Technology Partnerships

All hardware was supplied and configured by Rockbrook, Ireland’s leading museum AV technology provider. Interactive and digital content was developed by Glasgow-based studio ISO, one of the world’s foremost digital experience design teams.

A Digital-Led Museum Experience

“EPIC has always used technology in a surprising and immersive way to bring Irish emigration stories to life,” said Aileesh Carew, CEO. “This upgrade raises the bar for visitor experiences all over the world, combining design, technology and storytelling in a way that is both innovative and deeply human.”

Alongside the gallery upgrades, EPIC has also launched a new museum app to support accessibility and multilingual engagement, further extending its audience-first, digital-first approach.

The upgraded galleries open to the public on Thursday 26 March 2026, marking a key milestone in EPIC’s wider 10-year anniversary programme.

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 26 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.

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