A long-awaited forensic excavation has begun at the site of the former Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, County Galway, where nearly 800 babies and young children are believed to be buried. This institution, run by nuns from 1925 until 1961, housed unmarried mothers and their children—many of whom faced severe stigma, neglect, and harsh treatment in a deeply conservative society. Local historian Catherine Corless uncovered death records for 798 children, revealing that only two were buried in a proper cemetery.
The rest were believed to be discarded in a disused sewage tank, referred to by locals as “the pit.” Many died from diseases such as malnutrition, measles, and tuberculosis, and were buried without coffins or headstones. Corless’s research, which shocked Ireland and the world, exposed the dark reality behind the home, where babies died almost every fortnight and mothers often victims of rape or violence were hidden away and subjected to cruel treatment.
Relatives like Annette McKay hope the excavation will provide answers and dignity for the children. McKay’s mother gave birth to a daughter at the home after being raped as a teenager; the child died at six months old, and her mother was cruelly told, “the child of your sin is dead.” In 2021, the Irish government issued a formal apology after an inquiry found around 9,000 children died in similar institutions.
The Sisters of Bon Secours admitted the children were buried in a “disrespectful and unacceptable way” and offered compensation. As forensic teams begin excavation, the community seeks closure and justice for the vulnerable children and mothers whose suffering was long hidden. Catherine Corless remains haunted by how an institution meant to care for the vulnerable could allow such neglect and cruelty.