EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum

Where else would you find a museum dedicated to the people who left? EPIC is part history museum, chronicling the famines, conflicts and recessions that sent people packing. You can see and hear the stories of some of those emigrants, including Annie Clark, the teenager who became the first person to enter the U.S. through Ellis Island.

The museum is also a celebration of what the Irish have offered the world through their emigrants. If you made a name for yourself and have some connection to Ireland, no matter how distant, you’re here. You might expect to find John F. Kennedy, but how about Bruce Springsteen as well?

EPIC is located in the CHQ building on the banks of the River Liffey. (CHQ stands for custom house quay.) The building dates back to 1820. It was used as a storehouse for tobacco, spirits, tea and wine. It was formerly known as Stack A and Tobacco Store.

The Guinness Storehouse

After an afternoon full of Guinness it was time for fish and chips. This is from the very excellent Fish Shop, a 16-stool restaurant that’s smaller than my living room.

This place had a line out the door every time I walked by. I live in New Jersey and am something of a pizza snob. I had no intention of getting pizza in Ireland. But late at night on the way home from a pub, with the line as long as ever, I caved and got in line with mostly teenagers. And it was delicious.

The Merrion Hotel

This hotel has an amazing museum quality art collection. These two guys were always on call to point you to the elevator.

And that’s James Joyce overseeing the gardens.