Excavation Begins at Former Irish Mother and Baby Home to Recover Remains of Nearly 800 Children

Workers survey the site of the former Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home today

A large-scale forensic excavation has commenced at the site of the former Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, County Galway, Ireland, where the remains of nearly 800 children are believed to be buried in a mass grave.

The institution, which operated between 1925 and 1961, housed unmarried pregnant women and their children. During that period, 798 children reportedly died at the facility. Shockingly, only two of those children are known to have received proper burials. The remaining 796 are thought to have been interred in unmarked graves, many possibly dumped in a disused underground sewage system commonly referred to as “the pit.”

Beneath the ground at this peaceful spot in the town of Tuam, significant quantities of human remains have been identified.

Historian Catherine Corless, whose research brought the tragedy to light, documented the widespread neglect and inhumane treatment faced by the children and mothers. The infants, considered “children of sin” due to the circumstances of their birth, were reportedly denied dignity in both life and death.

The excavation, which began on June 16, is being overseen by the Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam (ODAIT), under the leadership of Daniel MacSweeney. The recovery effort is expected to span approximately two years. During this period, the entire site, including the memorial garden, will be sealed off with 2.4-meter hoarding for forensic integrity and secured around the clock.

Historian Catherine Corless poses at the site. The land, attached to a home run by nuns between 1925 and 1961, was left largely untouched after the institution was knocked down in 1972

“The initial four weeks will focus on setting up the site infrastructure,” said MacSweeney. “This is a unique and incredibly complex excavation. It must meet the highest international standards governing forensic recovery and identification.”

Families with connections to the institution have been informed of the timeline and will be invited to a family and survivors’ day in the coming weeks, allowing them a controlled opportunity to witness the early stages of the excavation.

After giving birth at the homes, mothers were then separated from their children, often through adoption

The work is being closely watched both nationally and internationally, seen as a critical step toward justice, accountability, and potential closure for families affected by the institutional abuse of Ireland's past.