Forensic investigators have uncovered the remains of nearly 100 infants during excavations at the site of a former Catholic mother and baby home in County Galway, Ireland.
In 2014, local historian Catherine Corless claimed that 796 infants and young children were buried in the sewage system of the home in Tuam between 1925 and 1961. In 2017, a special commission discovered a significant number of children’s remains in underground chambers beneath a garden near the home. Since then, forensic experts have been conducting excavations at the site in stages.
“The remains of 77 infants were found under the first tent… Under the second tent, the remains of 22 infants placed in coffins were discovered,” said a statement from the Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention Tuam.
The excavations took place over the course of a year, starting in July 2025. The remains were found in an area that had been used for vehicle access. There were no visible signs of burials on the surface.
In Ireland, young pregnant women were often sent to mother and baby homes under pressure from local clergy. After giving birth, their children were taken away and given up for adoption. Many newborns died from malnutrition, as well as from diseases such as measles and tuberculosis.
In 2021, Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin issued a state apology for the treatment of women and children in these homes. He stated that around 9,000 children had died in 18 such institutions investigated by authorities.
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