Mayo native part of EPIC’s Irish Journalists Abroad exhibition

Tomorrow October 10, EPIC, The Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin is set to open Frontlines: Irish Journalists Abroad. The exhibition will highlight Irish writing and reporting across the globe, including the work of Mayo man Declan Walsh.

The Ballina native, who is chief Africa correspondent of The New York Times,  previously received Pulitzer Prize recognition in the category 'International Reporting' for his work covering the civil war in Sudan, together with the staff of The New York Times. 

Curated by Dr Catherine Healy and supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs, the exhibition will feature figures such as Kit Coleman, Charlotte O’Connor Eccels, Des Mullan, as well as Samantha Barry, the Global Editorial Director and Editor-in-Chief of Glamour Magazine.

Aileesh Carew, CEO of EPIC, The Irish Emigration Museum, said, “Frontlines: Irish Journalists Abroad celebrates the courage and commitment of Irish reporters who have risked everything to bring important stories to the world. From war zones to regions gripped by famine and disease, their work has exposed injustice and centred the voices of marginalised people.

“This exhibition surveys the long history of Irish journalists working overseas while also showcasing examples of contemporary reporting.”

The exhibition is organised around five themes that capture the extent of Irish reporting: Reporting War discusses the role of journalism in bringing home the human costs of conflict; Ahead of Their Time highlights pioneering journalists who broke social and professional barriers; Community Ties focuses on writers and newspapers who gave Irish communities a voice; Exposing Atrocities spotlights reporting on human rights abuses; and Behind the Lens showcases the work of photojournalists.

Catherine Healy, Historian-in-Residence at EPIC, said: “Irish journalists have documented some of the most significant social and political issues of the past two centuries - from William Howard Russell’s damning reports on the Crimean War and Frances Power Cobbe’s analysis of violence against women, to Sally Hayden’s exposure of the human rights violations on Europe’s borders. 

“Technology has transformed the tools and formats through which news is told, but the human drive to find and share important stories remains unchanged. This exhibition is an exciting opportunity to highlight the breadth and impact of Irish reporting from across the world, drawing on both historical records and contemporary interviews.”

Frontlines: Irish Journalists Abroad opens on October 10, 2025, and runs until March 31, 2026, at EPIC, The Irish Emigration Museum located at The Chq Building, Custom House Quay, North Wall, Dublin 1. Further details can be found at www.epicchq.com/frontlines-irish-journalists-abroad/