Michael Davitt Museum:
Legacy and Liberation

Commissioned by Fáilte Ireland, EPIC Heritage Consulting led the interpretive redesign of the Michael Davitt Museum in Straide, County Mayo, from April 2023 to June 2024. With a contract valued at €20,000, the project aimed to reimagine the museum experience to reflect the powerful legacy of Michael Davitt—Irish nationalist, social reformer, and founder of the Irish National Land League—at his birthplace and burial site.

The overarching goal was to evolve the museum from a modest heritage site into a compelling, accessible, and multi-sensory visitor destination that honours Davitt’s pivotal role in Irish and international social justice. EPIC approached the project with a strong research and stakeholder-driven methodology, combining interpretive planning, content development, and inclusive design to create a holistic visitor journey.

The core concept focused on evoking emotional connection while delivering rich educational content through layered storytelling. The visitor journey was redesigned to begin in a revitalised reception area, where an AV introduction sets the stage for exploration. From there, visitors move through four thematic zones: The Davitt Family, Irish Land League, Davitt the Politician, and Relevance Today. Each zone blends chronological storytelling with interactive, thematic content, using audio re-enactments, touchscreens, museum cases, and timelines to engage all learning styles.

EPIC’s approach incorporated best practices from the Association of Heritage Interpretation and Fáilte Ireland’s visitor segmentation model, ensuring engagement across all audience types—from casual visitors to history enthusiasts. Family-friendly elements such as comic-style illustrations, worksheets, and interactives ensured the content was accessible to children, while multilingual audio guides broadened appeal to international guests and improved accessibility.

To support consistency across platforms, a comprehensive style guide was produced, featuring a modernised visual identity using the Poppins typeface and a refreshed colour palette aligned with existing branding. In addition to internal redesigns, EPIC proposed outdoor enhancements to reposition the museum as a community space—suggesting eco-play zones, picnic areas, parasols, and a reading pavilion.

A costed proposal covering all interpretive elements, AV production, and project management was delivered to facilitate implementation and funding applications.

This project showcases EPIC’s expertise in emotionally resonant, inclusive interpretation. By amplifying Michael Davitt’s life and legacy through accessible design and compelling storytelling, the museum is now poised to become a benchmark in socially conscious heritage interpretation.