Remains of Nearly 800 Infants Found at Former Irish Mother and Baby Home
In a chilling discovery that has shocked the world, the remains of nearly 800 infants and young children were found buried in unmarked graves at the site of a former mother and baby home in Tuam, County Galway, Ireland. The facility, operated by the Bon Secours Sisters, was active from 1925 to 1961 and housed unmarried women who became pregnant—a population stigmatized and marginalized in deeply Catholic Ireland at the time.
The investigation began after local historian Catherine Corless uncovered death records for 796 children associated with the home, but found no corresponding burial records. Her work prompted a government-led excavation of the grounds, where human remains were discovered in a disused underground sewage system. DNA testing confirmed that the remains belonged to infants and toddlers, many of whom died of malnutrition, neglect, or disease.
The discovery has sparked outrage and sorrow across Ireland and beyond. Survivors and relatives of those who lived in the institution have called for justice, transparency, and formal apologies from the state and the Catholic Church. Many survivors recount horrific treatment, including forced adoptions, medical experimentation, and emotional abuse.
Ireland’s government has since established a commission to investigate the conditions and practices in mother and baby homes across the country. In 2021, the commission’s final report acknowledged widespread systemic abuse, societal cruelty, and the failure of both the Church and state to protect vulnerable women and children.
The Tuam tragedy is now a powerful symbol of a dark chapter in Ireland’s past. It serves as a call to remember those who suffered in silence and to ensure that the victims—many of whom never had a chance at life—are finally honored with dignity and truth.
