Mass Grave Discovery Unveils Dark History of Ireland's Mother-and-Baby Home Scandal

Irish mother-and-baby-home scandal: Tuam excavation to start soon, uncovering dark history of children's burial. The site of the former St Mary's Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, Ireland, is believed to contain a mass grave of children and mothers. Excavation crews will begin the search for remains next month after significant quantities of human remains have been identified beneath the ground. Local historian Catherine Corless says there are "many babies, children just discarded here."

The site of the former St. Mary's Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, Ireland, is set to reveal a dark chapter in the country's history as excavation crews prepare to begin the search for human remains next month. Beneath the ground at this peaceful spot, significant quantities of human remains have been identified, with local historian Catherine Corless stating that there are "so many babies, children just discarded here" [1].

The land, which was left largely untouched after the institution was knocked down in 1972, is now the focus of a long-awaited excavation. The work, which will commence on Monday, is the culmination of years of advocacy by Corless and other families seeking to uncover the truth about the fate of the children who died at the home between 1925 and 1961 [2].

Corless's discovery of the unmarked mass burial site in Tuam led to an Irish Commission of Investigation into the so-called mother and baby homes. The commission found that 9,000 children had died in such homes across Ireland, with 796 children from newborns to a nine-year-old dying at Tuam's mother and baby home [3].

The excavation process is expected to take two years and will involve a multidisciplinary forensic team. The Sisters of the Bon Secours, who managed the Tuam home, have offered to contribute €12.97 million to the Government's redress scheme for survivors of mother and baby institutions [3].

The Tuam excavation is not just a search for remains; it is a quest for dignity and identity for the children who were buried without proper records or ceremony. Families whose loved ones may be buried in Tuam are "so, so relieved" that the work is finally set to begin [3].

The excavation is a poignant reminder of the dark history of Ireland's mother-and-baby-home scandal and the need for justice and closure for those affected. As the work commences, it is crucial to remember the importance of this effort in bringing light to the shadows of the past.

References:

[1] France24. "Mass grave excavation to finally start at Irish mother and baby home." France24. June 15, 2025. [URL](https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250615-mass-grave-excavation-to-finally-start-at-irish-mother-and-baby-home)

[2] NZ Herald. "Ireland mother and baby home scandal: Tuam excavation to start soon, uncovers dark history of children's burial." NZ Herald. June 15, 2025. [URL](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/ireland-mother-and-baby-home-scandal-tuam-excavation-to-start-soon-uncovers-dark-history-of-childrens-burial/A4EK22RFBNCQRJ3CU7LXSKPNCA/)

[3] Irish Times. "Tuam mother and baby home excavation to begin on Monday with search for remains of 796 children who died there." Irish Times. June 11, 2025. [URL](https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025/06/11/tuam-mother-and-baby-home-excavation-to-begin-on-monday-with-search-for-remains-of-796-children-who-died-there/)