Preparatory work to identify remains of 800 infants at Irish mother and baby home begins
Preliminary work aimed at identifying the remains of nearly 800 infants is starting on the site in Tuam, Co Galway, as Ireland continues to wrestle with the traumatic legacy of its mother and baby homes scandal.
Catherine Corless, a local historian who first sounded the alarm about the dark past of the institution run by nuns from the Bon Secours order, uncovered the names of 796 infants who are believed to have been buried there between 1925 and 1961, some in a disused subterranean septic tank. There were no burial records.
On Monday, excavation crews began sealing off the site before the search for remains next month. 'There are so many babies, children just discarded here,' Corless told Agence France-Presse.
It was Corless's work that led to an Irish commission of investigation into the so-called mother and baby homes, to which young women and girls were sent for decades to give birth in, rather than in hospital or at home. Doubling as orphanages and adoption agencies for much of the 20th century, the institutions were run by religious orders with sanction by the state, which overlooked deprivation, misogyny, stigma and high infant mortality rates.
The government made a formal state apology in 2021 after the commission report.
In Tuam, hoarding has been placed around the excavation site, now in the middle of a housing estate. The preliminary work is expected to last four weeks before a full-scale excavation begins on 14 July.
The site was once a workhouse and the search for the infants' remains could be complicated by the fact that victims of the 19th century great famine are also thought to be buried there.
Daniel MacSweeney, who is overseeing the operation, told RTE radio: 'It's an incredibly complex challenge because of the size of the site and the fact that we are dealing with infant remains that we know, at least in the case of the memorial gardens (on the site), are co-mingled.'
The existence of mother and baby homes has been described as a dark stain on Irish society. In 2017, the then taoiseach Enda Kenny described what was revealed about Tuam as 'a chamber of horrors'.
Sign up to This is Europe
The most pressing stories and debates for Europeans – from identity to economics to the environment
after newsletter promotion
Speaking in the Dáil, the Irish parliament, he didn't spare his fellow citizens. 'No nuns broke into our homes to kidnap our children. We gave them up to what we convinced ourselves was the nuns' care. We gave them up maybe to spare them the savagery of gossip, the wink and the elbow language of delight in which the holier-than-thous were particularly fluent. We gave them up because of our perverse, in fact, morbid relationship with what is called respectability,' he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BreakingNews.ie
31 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Watch: Howth coast guard carries out rescues after teen falls from cliff
The volunteer crew of Howth RNLI launched their inshore lifeboat on Thursday afternoon after reports of three children cut off by the tide near Lion's Head – a popular swimming spot on the south side of the Howth peninsula, close to the Bailey Lighthouse. The lifeboat launched with three crew on board and made way to the scene. The Howth Coast Guard Unit and Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 116, were also tasked. Advertisement The lifeboat arrived at the scene around 10 minutes later where the Howth Coast Guard cliff team had located two teenagers stranded on the cliff. Rescue 116 also arrived to provide assistance. The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Dublin, who were coordinating the rescue requested the lifeboat to remain on standby while efforts were made to recover one of the injured teenagers. While on scene, the lifeboat was diverted by MRCC Dublin to a second emergency nearby: a teenager had fallen from cliffs at White Water Brook, a remote beach below cliffs on the eastern side of the peninsula. Video: Howth RNLI Advertisement The lifeboat crew arrived within five minutes and were directed by beachgoers to the casualty, who had fallen approximately six metres onto rocks at the water's edge. He had sustained multiple lacerations and suspected fractures. A second teenager had swum to assist him and was holding him steady on a rock when help arrived. The helm of the ILB manoeuvred the lifeboat as close to the location and possible and two lifeboat crew members were put ashore. The crew made their way across rocks to assess the injured teen. A member of the Howth Coast Guard team also climbed down to the scene. The Howth All-Weather lifeboat was launched to provide further assistance. Due to the swiftly rising tide, it was agreed that the casualty needed immediate evacuation by helicopter. Rescue 116 deployed its winchman, who assessed the teen's injuries, and coordinated with RNLI and Coast Guard crews to secure him in a rescue harness. The helicopter then repositioned over the scene and winched the casualty and winchman to safety. Advertisement The second teenager, showing signs of hypothermia, was assisted across the rocks and brought aboard the inshore lifeboat. He was then transferred to the all-weather lifeboat and taken back to Howth Lifeboat Station, where he was handed into the care of an ambulance crew and transported to hospital. Both lifeboats were stood down, refuelled, and made ready for service once again. Speaking after the callout, Helm of the inshore lifeboat, Killian O'Reilly, said: Advertisement 'This was a challenging afternoon with two serious incidents in quick succession, both in difficult, rocky locations. On a sunny summer's day, it's easy to underestimate the risks around the coastline – but the sea and cliffs can be unforgiving. "The teamwork shown between the RNLI, Coast Guard units, and Rescue 116 was exceptional and ensured the best possible outcome in tough circumstances. "During this spell of hot weather, we are urging everyone to be aware of the dangers and to know what to do should you find yourself in difficulty in the water. Air temperatures may feel warm, but water temperatures are cold enough year-round to trigger cold-water shock. "If you get into difficulty, remember Float to Live: tilt your head back, with your ears submerged. Relax and try to breathe normally. Move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat. Once you've regained control of your breathing, you can call for help of swim to safety. "If you or someone else gets into difficulty near the coast, don't hesitate – call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.'
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
Why playing EuroMillions now gives you the best chance of winning £14m jackpot
PLAYING the EuroMillions tonight gives you the best chance of bagging the £14million jackpot. A Lucky Irish ticket holder won the biggest ever prize of £208million this week and the jackpot has now reset. But it means those playing tonight have the best chance of winning the entire jackpot. This is because less people are likely to play because it's not a mega jackpot and that means any winnings could be split between a smaller group. A spokesperson for Allwyn, which runs the National Lottery, explained: "EuroMillions is designed to be a huge, rolling jackpot game. "So, we always have more people enter as the jackpot rises and excitement grows. "We also see more syndicates and groups playing the game as the jackpot climbs. "However, every draw, the odds of winning the jackpot remain the same no matter what the jackpot amount. "You could possibly argue that, if fewer people play, then you are potentially less likely to share the jackpot with other winners." The spokesperson added that, ultimately, any lottery is a game of chance and anything can happen, especially depending on what numbers are drawn and based on number combinations. Of course, always remember to only gamble with money you can afford to lose, and set a spending limit before you play. Visit or if you need help. If you do win the EuroMillions tonight, any prize must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date. Biggest ever EuroMillions jackpot A record £208million EuroMillions prize was scooped earlier this week, leaving the winner with an eye-watering pot of cash. The National Lottery EuroMillions winning numbers were: 13, 22, 23, 44, 49 and the Lucky Stars are: 03, 05. While one lucky person in Ireland won the jackpot, dozens of Brits also scooped prizes. There were three players who matched five numbers and one lucky star who will win a whopping £6.3m each. While 16 Brits won £16,119.10 by matching the five main numbers.
The Sun
12 hours ago
- The Sun
McDonald's customers left fuming ‘tell me this is a joke' after fast food chain quietly axes beloved menu item
MCDONALD'S fans have been left devastated after the chain stopped selling a popular menu item. The fast food chain has confirmed that it no longer sells the popular Triple Cheeseburger. The burger first appeared on menus in 2020 and followed the successful trial of the Triple-Decker Sandwich. It was made with three British and Irish beef patties, onions, pickles, ketchup, mustard and cheese. McDonald's confirmed to The Sun that it had been dropped in order to make room for new menu items. A spokesperson said: 'We're always evolving our menu with our customers in mind to keep things fresh and exciting.' Fast food fans have taken to social media to voice their frustration at the loss of the iconic burger. One fan said in a post on social media website X: 'mcdonalds getting rid of the Triple Cheeseburger in the UK may be the worst news i've had all week.' Another added: 'Taking the Triple Cheeseburger off the menu is my last straw - done with mcds.' While a third asked: 'McDonaldsUK Why have you removed the Triple Cheeseburger from the menu? You take that away and instead bring in that way overpriced Big Arch thing.' Others took to Facebook to share their disappointment. One disappointed customer said: 'Tell me this is a joke.' While another agreed, adding: 'Give over no they haven't.' A post on the McDonald's website apologises to customers, adding: 'Sorry it's gone, but not forgotten.' McDonald's often switches up its menu to add new burgers, desserts and sides while removing items that are no longer popular. How to save at McDonald's You could end up being charged more for a McDonald's meal based solely on the McDonald's restaurant you choose. Research by The Sun found a Big Mac meal can be up to 30% cheaper at restaurants just two miles apart from each other. You can pick up a Big Mac and fries for just £2.99 at any time by filling in a feedback survey found on McDonald's receipts. The receipt should come with a 12-digit code which you can enter into the Food for Thought website alongside your submitted survey. You'll then receive a five-digit code which is your voucher for the £2.99 offer. There are some deals and offers you can only get if you have the My McDonald's app, so it's worth signing up to get money off your meals. The MyMcDonald's app can be downloaded on iPhone and Android phones and is quick to set up. You can also bag freebies and discounts on your birthday if you're a My McDonald's app user. The chain has recently sent out reminders to app users to fill out their birthday details - otherwise they could miss out on birthday treats. This week the home of the golden arches launched five new menu items, including the launch of an iconic burger. The Big Arch made its debut on the fast food chain's menu on June 18. Several other items also rejoined the menu, to the delight of fast food fans. Among the items returning to menus were Halloumi Fries, the Toffee Crisp McFlurry, Cheesy McCrispy and Toffee Apple Pie. What other items have been discontinued? McDonald's axed several items this week to make way for the new menu offering. Among them were the Cheesy Garlic Bread Dippers, Lotus Biscoff McFlurry, Steakhouse Stack and McSpicy x Frank's RedHot. The menu update comes after the fast food chain discontinued the Chicken Bacon Caesar Wrap last month. McDonald's said it was part of a 'rotation' of its wrap offering. The wrap, which combined chicken breast strips, crispy onions, rashers of bacon and lettuce, was first launched in summer 2023. 3 3 Why are products axed or recipes changed? ANALYSIS by chief consumer reporter James Flanders. Food and drinks makers have been known to tweak their recipes or axe items altogether. They often say that this is down to the changing tastes of customers. There are several reasons why this could be done. For example, government regulation, like the "sugar tax," forces firms to change their recipes. Some manufacturers might choose to tweak ingredients to cut costs. They may opt for a cheaper alternative, especially when costs are rising to keep prices stable. For example, Tango Cherry disappeared from shelves in 2018. It has recently returned after six years away but as a sugar-free version. Fanta removed sweetener from its sugar-free alternative earlier this year. Suntory tweaked the flavour of its flagship Lucozade Original and Orange energy drinks. While the amount of sugar in every bottle remains unchanged, the supplier swapped out the sweetener aspartame for sucralose.
