Housed in Cobh's beautifully restored Victorian railway station, this waterfront museum tells the story of the three million Irish emigrants who sailed from this quay — and of the Titanic and Lusitania, both bound up with the town.
A combined ticket pairing the Titanic Trail guided walking tour, which starts at 11am at the Commodore Hotel, with the museum, lasting about two hours and saving money on booking separately. Minimum two people and at least 24 hours' advance booking.
Book a one-hour session with the centre's resident genealogist, who analyses the Irish records relevant to a chosen ancestor. There is a charge, advised to book in advance.
An 80-seater café in the station building serves hot meals, sandwiches, soups, pastries and much-praised homemade scones, open daily from 10am. Two gift shops operate inside the centre.
The centrepiece self-guided exhibition traces three centuries of Irish emigration, social, naval and maritime history through life-size figures, personal stories and audio-visual displays. Allow about an hour, longer if you wish, and pick up a free audio guide in one of seven languages.
Galleries cover the Titanic, which left Queenstown on 11 April 1912 with 1,308 passengers, and the Lusitania, sunk by a German torpedo. Look out for Jeremiah Burke's message in a bottle and Fr Frank Browne's photographs taken on board the Titanic.
Follow the story from transportation to the British colonies and convict ships bound for Australia, and meet Annie Moore, the first emigrant processed at Ellis Island on 1 January 1892.
Load the interactive map to explore this place location.
