Archaeologists have confirmed the discovery of a burial ground containing graves of child and infant size at the site of a former mother and baby home in Tuam, County Galway. The find marks a pivotal moment in the long-running investigation into the institution, which operated from 1925 to 1961.
Evidence of Graves Confirmed
The Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam (ODAIT) stated in its fourth official update that the presence of burials at the location has now been confirmed. The agency, which began work at the site in July, reported finding graves of a specific size at the edge of the property.
"The layout and size of the graves is consistent evidence that, at this part of the site, there is a burial ground from the time of the operation of the mother and baby institution," the update explained. This confirmation follows years of research and speculation, initially propelled by the work of local historian Catherine Corless.
The Grim Legacy of the Tuam Home
The Tuam home came to international attention in 2014 after research by Catherine Corless indicated that 796 babies and young children had died there without formal burial records. A subsequent government inquiry in 2017 found "significant quantities" of human remains in underground chambers just 100 metres from another part of the site.
According to the latest ODAIT report, four sets of infant remains are believed to have been recovered in the recent excavation, in addition to seven sets of remains discovered last month. All of the earlier finds were buried in coffins. Further forensic analysis is now underway.
Search for Identity and a National Apology
Daniel MacSweeney, Director of Authorised Intervention at ODAIT, told Irish broadcaster RTÉ that at least 160 people have offered DNA samples to help identify the recovered bodies. "I know from experience that sometimes the discovery of remains can be a catalyst for people to come forward," he said.
The tragic history of Ireland's mother and baby homes was formally acknowledged by the state in 2021. Then-Taoiseach Micheál Martin issued a public apology on behalf of the Irish government, stating, "The state failed you, mothers and children in these homes."
This apology followed the final report of a comprehensive inquiry, which concluded that over 9,000 children died in 18 such institutions across Ireland. The report noted a mortality rate of 15 percent among children in the homes, primarily from diseases like gastroenteritis, a figure nearly double the national infant mortality rate at the time.
The excavation at the Tuam site continues as authorities seek to provide long-overdue answers and dignity to the infants who died at the home.
