This is one of my top recommendations for a Dublin visit. EPIC is incredible, but no visit would be complete without an Irish Family History Centre consultation (a €9 add on to your EPIC ticket is without question the best value!).
Be sure to bring what you know (and don't know) with you. Maybe you have done some research, know where someone was married, or just partial names. They'll even help you figure out variations of names and where your name is most common (most likely where your family resided). All are clues and the genealogists are magic when unfolding your family's history. You'll walk away with tons of tips of where to go next.

Tips:
- go in the morning on a weekday and plan to meet for your consultation immediately after your EPIC visit. Expect to be in EPIC 2-3 hours - because it is so interactive and you'll lose all sense of time!

- to get the best out of your consultation - do a little research before you go and bring it with you. Doesn't have to be complicated - just ask grandma a few names, where people may have been married. Any little bit of information sparks the researchers to open up a treasure chest of information!

- Your imagination will be spinning over your new knowledge of family history. Relax after EPIC overload and Irish Family History Centre excitement over at the Bakehouse in the CHQ building. A tea with one of their adorable, teeny cupcakes is the perfect recovery snack. Or pick up a J2 bento box for lunch.

- Trust me - you'll need a nap after your morning of information overload.

We visited the centre while in Dublin on the 17th June 2016. It had only been open a few weeks and we only found out about it after having a conversation with another couple in a pub the evening before.
We were in Dublin on a short break with the intention that if there was time we would try and do some further research into my mothers family, which sadly since she and dad passed away we know very little about.
At the time of our visit to the centre we were able to sit down and discuss with a resident genealogist the information that we had (very little) and how we might progress our search. Not only was Patrick enthusiastic and obviously very experienced in working with little or no information he provided us with tips and knowledge on how we might go about our task more efficiently, he also gave us an insight on what tools we could use to carry this out. All in all it was the best 9 odd Euros and the best use of an hour of our time that we spent in Dublin. If you have any interest in your Irish ancestry this is a tremendous place to start.

The Irish Family History Centre at Epic Ireland treat you like Family! Patrick R. helped me search several family lines and guided me to information I hadn't seen before. Since records are few and hard to find before the mid 18oo's I was ecstatic to have a brick wall tumble with his help! This was on my last full day in Ireland and I didn't think I would be able to get into the NLI or Archives for more research before they closed. Patrick suggested a nearby branch library where I was able to find even more information--and tour a lovely display on the Rising that I would never have seen without his suggestion. The Irish Family History Centre is a must visit!