It’s so hard to believe I’ve been in Ireland for a week! Time is flying for sure, and it’s difficult to wrap my head around how much I have seen and done in just seven days. This morning, we went to EPIC, the Irish Emigration Museum. I really liked the layout of the museum, as many small rooms flowed seamlessly from one topic to another, such as music and dance and conflict; this allowed for the information in each room to be easily digestible. The exhibit was very interactive, too, and I like being able to immerse myself in museums!

There was a section that focused on personal stories of Irish people who have been wronged, I believe in the Belief area of the EPIC museum. I spent a good chunk of time in here, listening to different stories of people who in one way or another were treated poorly by the Irish government. I learned of Sean’s story, an Irish man who was gay in the 1900’s and eventually relocated to London for acceptance. I learned of a mother and daughter who were separated by the government, but eventually found each other. The exhibit talked about how the daughter fought for an apology for her and her mother, and she eventually got the Irish government to issue one. These stories were rather emotional, and I think this is why this part of the EPIC museums has stuck with me. After their stories were told, the exhibit would explain how legislation has changed since. For example, Sean’s story was followed by mentions of the decriminalization of homosexual acts by the Criminal Fraud (Sexual Offenses) Act in 1993 and how Ireland became the first country to adopt gay marriage by popular vote in 2015. I was pleased by the fact that the exhibit included the ways in which Ireland had worked to correct past wrongdoings, and that it shows how far Ireland has progressed. I think I learned the most from this room, and that is why it stood out to me. On a lighter note, I also really enjoyed the eating and drinking room! There were a lot of ‘fun facts’ in this room, and many traditional Irish dishes were listed on tables; I enjoyed getting to read up on this, since I could probably name only a few Irish meals before this trip.

After the EPIC museum, we went to Guinness Storehouse! It’s a bit mind blowing that so many processes and elements are involved in crafting a single beer, but I guess this is the case for any business to ensure excellency. There was a section on marketing, which included previous marketing campaigns and ads for the brand, and I think that was my favorite part. I think of the toucan when I hear ‘Guinness’, so I liked seeing what other animals have been associated with the company!