Graveyard discovered at mother and baby home site in Tuam

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Evidence of a burial ground has been found at the former site organization for unmarried mothers and their children in Tuam, County Galway.

The Mother and Child Home came to international attention in 2014, following research led by Local historian Katherine Corlessindicated that 796 infants and young children had died without burial records.

“The presence of burials at this location is now confirmed,” the Office of the Director of Authorized Intervention, Tuam (ODAIT) wrote in its fourth update since the agency’s release. Started work on site in July,

It said it had found “child or infant-sized graves” at the edge of the site, which was open from 1925 to 1961.

“The layout and size of the graves are consistent evidence that, in this part of the site, there has been a burial ground dating back to the time the Mother and Baby Institute was in operation,” it continued.

The pink area represents the tent where excavation work found evidence of the burial. ,ODAIT,

The excavation is believed to have recovered four sets of infant remains, according to preliminary assessments, in addition to seven sets of remains discovered last month, all buried in coffins. Further forensic analysis is underway.

According to ODAIT, historical documents indicated the possibility of a burial site but there were no initial indications of its existence at ground or surface level.

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In 2017, a government investigation found “significant quantities” of human remains in underground chambers just 100 meters from another part of the site.

Daniel McSweeney, director of authorized intervention at ODAIT, told RTÉ that ultimately 160 people had offered to provide DNA samples to help identify the bodies.

A replica built by Catherine Corless, who discovered that approximately 800 children died in a mother and baby home in Tuam, Ireland. (AP Photo/Brian Melly) ,Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved,

“I know from experience that sometimes the discovery of remains can be a catalyst for people to come forward,” he said.

In 2021, Irish leader Micheál Martin issued an apology on behalf of the state for the treatment of women and children living in mother and baby homes across Ireland.

His apology came after the final report of an investigation concluded that more than 9,000 children had died in 18 mother and baby homes. mothers Who became pregnant without marriage.

“He shouldn’t have been there,” he told the Irish Parliament. “The state failed you, the mothers and children in these homes.”

The report said 15 percent of all children living in homes died from illnesses and infections such as stomach flu, a figure nearly double the nationwide infant mortality rate.