Archaeological investigators at the former Tuam Mother and Baby Home site in County Galway have confirmed the discovery of a historical burial ground containing infant remains, according to the latest report from the Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam (ODAIT).
The excavation team, which began operations in July with the objective of locating and identifying human remains, has uncovered graves of child and infant proportions in the western sector of the property. This finding aligns precisely with historical maps that previously designated the area as a ‘burial ground,’ though no surface indications remained visible prior to the current investigation.
ODAIT’s fourth progress update reveals that eleven sets of infant remains have now been recovered from this location, with the most recent excavation uncovering four additional sets following seven previously identified last month. Initial forensic assessments indicate all remains were interred in coffins. The layout and dimensions of the graves provide conclusive evidence that this section served as a formal burial ground during the institution’s operational years from 1925 to 1961.
The discovery validates the groundbreaking research of local historian Catherine Corless, whose 2014 investigation first revealed that 796 children died at the facility despite the absence of official burial records. Her work brought international attention to the Tuam institution and prompted the ongoing excavation.
The site gained further notoriety in 2017 when government investigators discovered ‘significant quantities’ of remains in underground chambers approximately 100 meters from the current excavation area. The current forensic operation, conducted both mechanically and manually under protective tents, is expected to continue until 2027, with subsequent analysis anticipated to require additional years.
The Tuam institution was operated by the Bon Secours Sisters religious order under the ownership of Galway County Council. Both entities have issued formal apologies acknowledging inadequate burial practices and institutional failures. The Bon Secours Sisters have contributed €2.14 million toward excavation costs, while Galway County Council apologized in 2021 for ‘failing mothers and children’ in their care.