Músaem an Gharda Síochána
Músaem An Gahrda Síochána documents the history of policing in Ireland and the establishment of Ireland’s modern-day police force. Due to An Garda Síochána’s 1916 commemoration plans, EPIC had a tight delivery schedule of just five months.
Graphics/Exhibitions
Using bright lights and Garda Traffic Corps blue and yellow livery, a walkway snakes through a series of display cases, audio-visual screens, and pictorial and narrative exhibits, through which the policing story is told in a clear, engaging and accessible way
- Peter Murtagh, The Irish Times, 12th December 2016
EPIC was commissioned to create a new museum for An Garda Síochána. The project goals were twofold – to catalogue and preserve An Garda Síochána’s collection of historical.
Step one was to initiate a collection management process and database for the over 1800 artefacts that had been donated to the museum over more than 15 years. The second phase was the development and execution of the interpretive plan. Working closely with the State/Principal Architect at the OPW, Dara Lynne Lenehan designed the exhibition for the historic Treasury building.
Working with Head Curator and historian Sergeant Martin Drew, EPIC presented an interpretive masterplan, determining storyline, visitor flow, and scheme design to management for sign off.
The story starts with the Night Watchmen and the founding of the Irish Constabulary and spans the centuries to today’s police force, with it’s variety of roles and purposes. The museum features models and mannequins- including an official garda motorbike - uniforms and artefacts, a variety of audio visuals, and a significant amount of printed interpretive media, delivered in dual language.
Interesting little, but information rich and educational museum showcasing the history of law enforcement in Ireland and its transformation from colonial rule, partition and its modern form, an Garda Siochana
- Tripadvisor
EPIC managed all procurement for the project. Procured services included paper and textile conservation, print services, model and set design, and audio visual and digital media services. Due to limited time, specialist services were outsourced to the UK. Bespoke museum cases were designed and installed. Numerous vistis to Garda Headquarters in the Phoenix Park were required.
Seven individual video pieces were produced with storyboard, sound and subtitles. A sound scape and two audio narratives dramatising key moments from the history of policing were also included.
Working to the tight deadline, alongside a great construction team, EPIC project managed the entire roll out of the exhibition scheme. The staff of the Garda Museum played their role, and were crucial to ensuring everything ran to the delivery schedule of just five months based on An Garda Síochána’s 1916 commemoration plans.