The history of Irish emigration, and the pride of the Emerald Isle

The ruins of Dunamase Castle tower over County Laois in Ireland. It's been centuries since anyone lived here, but an American tour group has come to imagine what life might have been like when their ancestors called this land home. Visitor Reeda Taylor said, "To know that we've had relatives that probably rode horses out here? I mean, that's exciting. Jump those hedgerows, maybe lived in the castle. Who knows?"

More than 30 million Americans claim Irish ancestry. Worldwide, more than 70 million people have Irish roots. And yet, the current population of Ireland is only around five million people.

Most countries don't have museums dedicated to everyone who left that country. But in Ireland's capital city of Dublin, the EPIC Museum tells the story of Irish emigration – the waves of citizens who moved abroad. "In many ways, the history of Ireland is a history of emigration," said Catherine Healy, historian in residence at EPIC. "We were the only country in Europe to have more people at the start of the 19th century than at the end."