Scattery Island Visitor Centre
The Office of Public Works commissioned EPIC to research, interpret, design and deliver a permanent heritage exhibition for Scattery Island, County Clare.
European Destination of Excellence 2017
Scattery Island demonstrated a strong commitment to balancing the preservation of archaeology, environment and cultural heritage along with pursuing opportunities for exploration and enjoyment by visitors.
Adjudication in the EDEN (European Destination of Excellence) award programme, 2017
Scattery Island, the site of an early Christian settlement founded by an extraordinary man, St. Senan, lies off the northern bank of the Shannon Estuary. A rich multi-layered history, spanning 1500 years, EPIC was given the brief to expand the offering on Scattery Island and to research, interpret and deliver a capsule heritage exhibition in the Scattery Island Visitor Centre.
Along with St Senan’s Monastery (early 6th century), and one of the tallest round towers surviving in Ireland (36 m), there were many elements of built and natural heritage to be included in the interpretive plan, in addition to a certain amount of lore and mythology including the story of St Senan’s pursuit of a terrible sea monster, the Cathach.
Video Showcase
EPIC researched and developed the content for the exhibition in conjunction with local historians. Topics included the story of Saint Senan, the establishment of his monastery, the Viking invasion and the stories of the lives of the islanders and their daily lives who remained there until 1978. All written content and fact-checking was completed before translation of the content into Irish. Graphic design style was then developed with a selection of old and new imagery .
The small space of the visitor centre presented a challenge. Real estate was managed carefully. The exhibition primarily comprised a scale model for the centre of the room, a timeline and several split baton graphic panels around the walls. Given it is an island, delivery of all elements meant by ferry, and EPIC project managed delivery and installation.