Irish President Michael D. Higgins visited EPIC, the interactive Irish emigration museum in Dublin's docklands, on Wednesday March 31, where he and Sabina Higgins were hosted by EPIC’s founder and chairman, Neville Isdell, and museum director Mervyn Greene.
Isdell commented, “We were honoured and delighted to welcome President and Sabina Higgins for a guided tour of the museum. President Higgins has been a strong voice and long-time supporter of the Irish diaspora and has spoken eloquently on the theme of migration, especially the central role that emigration has played in Ireland’s history. For the museum, it was fitting that the President got to see how we present that story at EPIC.
“EPIC is located on Custom House Quay, a place where many Irish people left our shores during the Great Famine. Around the world, President Higgins has many times articulated his reflections about An Gorta Mór, and this location is one part of our nation’s shared history.
“We were delighted to present President Higgins with his family history as researched by the Irish Family History Centre which is on-site, as well as with a print representing the famous Crimean War Banquet that took place in the CHQ building on 22 October 1856.
“As an Irish emigrant myself, the story of the Irish diaspora and its impact around the world has been personally very significant, and in many ways is what led to the development of the museum, the first of its kind.”
