A forensic team has commenced excavation at the old Bon Secours “mother and baby” home in Tuam, County Galway, Ireland, aiming to uncover the remains of nearly 800 infants and young children. Between 1925 and 1961, an estimated 796 babies tragically died at the institution—many of them reportedly laid to rest in an unused septic tank on the grounds.
Initial test digs in 2016–17 confirmed what local historian Catherine Corless had suspected: a vault-like chamber connected to a former sewage system held commingled human remains of infants aged from about 35 weeks gestation up to toddlers two or three years old. Corless’s 2014 research uncovered records for these babies, yet found no corresponding burial documentation—only two were registered in a nearby graveyard.
Following decades of advocacy, in 2018 the Irish government authorized a full forensic investigation, backed by the 2021 Institutional Burials Act. Preparatory work began in 2023, and on June 16, 2025, authorities secured the site to begin the two-year exhumation project.
Corless described the moment as deeply emotional:
“There are so many babies, children just discarded here,”
she told AFP. The Mother and Baby Homes Commission, which formally investigated the system of such institutions before dissolving in early 2021, detailed pervasive neglect, malnutrition, and disease leading to high infant mortality rates—around 9,000 children across 18 similar homes nationwide.
The Sisters of Bon Secours, who managed the Tuam facility, issued an apology after the commission’s final report and pledged to participate in a restorative acknowledgment scheme. Now, with forensic crews on site, it’s hoped that the remains of these forgotten children can be respectfully identified, memorialized, and given a proper resting place.
Key Context & Timeline:
1925–1961: Approximately 796 children died at the Tuam home.
1975: Local youths accidentally discovered skeletal remains beneath a slab.
2014: Catherine Corless publicly documented the missing records and suspected mass burial.
2016–17: Test excavations confirmed remains in a former sewage vault.
2018: Government greenlighted complete excavation and DNA identification efforts.
2021: Commission published its final findings; Bon Secours Sisters apologized.
2023: Formal planning and surveys conducted.
June 16, 2025: Excavation began on-site, marking the start of a two-year forensic project.
This solemn undertaking aims to provide dignity, closure, and recognition to those whose lives were erased by decades of institutional failure.