Minister McEntee launches exhibition ‘Common Ground: Ireland and the EU’ at EPIC – The Museum of Irish Emigration

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee TD, today (22 July) launched the exhibition 'Common Ground: Ireland and the EU' at EPIC - The Irish Emigration Museum. Designed around powerful personal stories, the exhibition shows how the Irish diaspora in the European Union contributed to and shaped the EU and how the EU has shaped modern Ireland.

The exhibition highlights the role and experiences of diverse individuals, from equal pay campaigners to Erasmus students and Irish-language professionals, all of whom have had their lives changed by EU membership and who, in turn, have helped to build today's European Union.

Speaking after the launch of the exhibition, Minister McEntee said: "Exhibitions like this tell the human stories of Ireland's EU membership, moving abstract concepts into real examples of how the EU has shaped our lives for the better. Our membership of the European Union has proved to be one of the most consequential factors in the evolution of modern Ireland. It set in motion far-reaching social and cultural change with EU legislation driving improvements in workers' rights and climate action.

"In parallel, Irish people have studied and built new lives across Europe, while many Europeans have made their homes here in Ireland. By doing so, Irish people - both in Ireland and across the EU - have shaped the shared framework of our Union. The stories captured in this exhibition show the human value of our membership of the European Union."

The Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne TD, said: "Our Presidency of the Council of the European Union is an opportunity to shape the EU's agenda and focus the Council's work on the areas we believe should be the most significant priorities for the Union. This exhibition shows us how Irish people have contributed to the EU's agenda over the last 50 plus years and provides a welcome opportunity to tell the wider story of Ireland and the EU."

The Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond TD, said: "The stories of partnership and engagement in the exhibition, including those from former participants in the Erasmus programme, show how the EU has helped transform the lives of our diaspora. Telling the stories of our diaspora is one of the commitments in the Government's new Diaspora Strategy that I launched earlier this year and this exhibition is the beginning of a series of such exhibitions that will give voice to the history of our Irish communities abroad."

ENDS

'Common Ground: Ireland and the EU,' EPIC - The Irish Emigration Museum, Celebrations Gallery, 1st July - 31st December 2026, 10am - 6.45pm daily (last entry 5pm).

Coinciding with Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the exhibition reflects on how a small island nation has extended its influence across Europe and how Europe in turn has profoundly shaped Ireland.

The exhibition is supported by Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Emigrant Support Programme.

Visit https://www.epicchq.com/exhibition/common-ground-ireland-and-the-eu/ for more information.