Second Infant Burial Area Found at Tuam Mother and Baby Home as Excavation Recovers 11 Remains

Forensic teams recently uncovered a second burial area for infants at the site of the former Tuam Mother and Baby Home in County Galway, a discovery investigators described as "significant" as excavation work continues.

Local historian Catherine Corless first brought the scale of deaths at the Bon Secours Sisters–run institution to light in 2014, documenting that 796 babies had died there over a 36-year period and noting that many remains were likely placed in a disused septic tank on the property.

This summer an independent excavation overseen by the Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention in Tuam (ODAIT) began to investigate those findings. In its latest update, ODAIT said forensic experts uncovered "consistent evidence" of a second burial ground at a location that showed no visible surface or ground-level signs before digging started.

Director Daniel MacSweeney told national broadcaster RTÉ that the newly identified burial area lies roughly 50 to 100 metres from the previously identified septic tank.

Since the excavation began in July, teams have recovered the remains of 11 infants, including four found last month. ODAIT said those remains were interred in coffins and have been forwarded for forensic analysis. Investigators continue careful archaeological and forensic work at the site; ODAIT expects the program to last about two years.

MacSweeney said about 160 people have contacted ODAIT offering DNA to assist identification of the recovered remains and urged other eligible relatives to come forward to help with identification efforts.

Historical Context and Official Response

The Tuam institution was one of dozens of so-called mother and baby homes in Ireland where unmarried pregnant women were sent to give birth in secret for much of the 20th century. Women were often separated from their children; while some infants were later rehomed in Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Australia, hundreds died and many remains were discarded without the knowledge of their mothers.

A 2015 official inquiry into 14 mother and baby homes and four county homes found "significant quantities" of human remains at the Tuam site and described an "appalling level of infant mortality" across these institutions. The report said state authorities had been aware of the problem but failed to raise alarm or take sufficient action. Following the inquiry, the Irish government issued a formal apology in 2021, announced a redress scheme, and the Sisters of Bon Secours offered an apology.

What Happens Next

Forensic and identification work will continue, combining archaeological methods, forensic anthropology and DNA testing. ODAIT has asked anyone with relevant information or family connections to contact the office to assist with identification and the historical record.

Editor’s Note: This story was updated to correct that the four infant remains located in November were found in coffins.