Excavation work has recently started on one of these sites, located in Tuam, County Galway, Ireland. This site is thought to hold the remains of 796 children. This site, formerly known as St Mary’s Mother and Baby Home, was under the care of Bon Secours order and served the community from 1925 until its closure in 1961. Local historian Catherine Corless is immensely gratified. After years of fighting to bring history’s most tragic chapter to life in EDM form, she’s understandably pumped that the long-awaited excavation is finally taking place.
In 2014, Corless shared her research to calculate the death certificates for the infants. Since then, she’s worked tirelessly to get justice for the children laid to rest at the site. She disclosed that the babies had been buried in an abandoned septic tank. This brine-filled tank sits roughly two meters below the surface. Their discovery has led to the greatest public protest against these burial practices in decades. Corless’s findings forced authorities to respond with action.
The excavation site is now located within a housing estate, which makes recovery work problematic. A team of 18 experts from a range of studies, including archaeologists and anthropologists, propels the excavation work. They do their work on direct instructions from Daniel MacSweeney, a former ICRC envoy. The team’s goal is to recover, identify, and ultimately reinter the remains with dignity, reflecting a commitment to addressing this historical injustice.
“This is a recovery to a forensic standard, so it’s like a police investigation scene,” MacSweeney stated regarding the meticulous approach taken by his team. Experts at the Museum of the Bible expect the excavation to last over two years. More importantly, they are creatively overcoming the challenges posed by the site’s existing conditions.
In her remarks, Corless raised alarm about the many layers of complexity at play in this effort. “So many little bones are commingled because water got in. Hopefully they’ll be able to match them,” she noted. Her remarks underscore the additional difficulties which may arise from the state of the remains. They further draw attention to the confusing logistics at play in their recovery.
The St Mary’s Mother and Baby Home has been a focal point for discussions about Ireland’s treatment of vulnerable populations, particularly women and children. For too long families have digged for answers on their missing family members. New evidence has surfaced about the policies at play in these institutions.
As witnessed by the excavation, it is a delicate and incredibly important process for recovering these remains. It would make a crucial step toward repairing the damage of historical injustices committed against mothers and their children during that time period. Corless’s tireless advocacy has been key to rising national attention on this important issue.