Nearly 800 infant bodies are thought to be in concrete tanks near a home for single mothers.
Over a 36-year period, the bodies of dead babies were believed to have been hidden buried near a County Galway home for single mothers.
796 children are believed to have been interred in unconsecrated grounds, without any headstones or coffins. They were buried next to the Tuam Bon Secours Nuns’ home between 1925-1961.
Recent reports reveal that many of them died from malnutrition or neglect. Others also succumbed to TB, pneumonia, and convulsions.
Babies were often buried under a simple shroud, without coffins in plots that housed water tanks.
The grave of the children who died was not marked and no memorial was built.
Now, the area is surrounded by housing. The burial site could be exhumed now that a missing person’s report has been filed with the Irish police, Gardai.
William Joseph Dolan (a relative) filed a formal complaint with gardai following the failure to find his death record despite there being records that indicated that he had passed away.
According to a source familiar with the investigation, “No one knows the number of infants in the grave.”
We know only 796 deaths records.
“God knows what else may be in that grave.” The body has been there for many years, and nobody knows how many bodies are there.
Catherine Corless, a local woman who kept records of 796 children who were born at the home and discovered that there was an actual grave, found out about the grave. To erect a monument, she established the Children’s Home Graveyard Committee.
She stated, “People who have relationships there are the most curious.” These people are thrilled that something is happening.
Sean Ross Abbey playroom: Children playing in Sean Ross Abbey’s playroom. There were many homes for “fallen women” and their children all over Ireland.
“When doing research, I came across a mention of a baby graveyard. However, I learned that it was far more than this.
Mrs Corless conducted research on all children whose death place was written ‘Children’s Home Tuam’ with the assistance of Galway’s Births and Deaths Registrar. Galway County Council contains all Galway and Mayo cemetery books. Mrs Corless was able to cross-check the records using the help of Galway County Council’s archivist.
“There was only one child who was buried at Tuam’s family cemetery. This is how I know there are 796 kids in the mass grave. The girls had been taken from their families and not returned. So why would the parents want to take them back?
According to the records, Bridget Dolan, a single young mother from Clonfert in Co Galway gave birth two sons who were then placed into the home.
John Desmond Dolan, a 8lb 9oz baby was born 22 February 1946. He was born as normal, but died of measles the following day.
His brother, William Joseph Dolan, was born on 21 May 1950 and was said to have died the following year, but there is no death certificate for William.
The relative of the deceased said, without naming him, “I want to find out what happened to him.” It is possible that he has passed away, but there are no records of his death. He may have been adopted and moved to the USA.
“He might still be alive or with his brother in grave.” That’s what I would like to know.
The conditions in which the mothers and children lived was revealed by a 1944 inspection report of the local health board.
The report shows that 271 children lived there in April with 61 mothers single, which is a lot more than its capacity of 353
The 13-month-old boy described himself as “miserable, obese child with voracious food and no control over bodily function and possibly mentally defective”.
A ‘delicate’ baby of ten months was found in the room. He was also a “child of itinerants”. One five-year old child, however, was said to have ‘hands growing close to shoulders’.
Other 31 infants living in the same room were also found to be ‘poor and emaciated’.
Most were between 3 and 13 months old and were described as ‘fragile and potbellied’.
Sheila Tuohy was nine years old when she died in 1934. Thomas Duffy was two days old.
Teresa Kelly was the chairperson of the Children’s Home Graveyard Committee and said it was time for an excavation.
She said, “It’s an horrible story.” “It is a mass grave. Many of those babies suffered from malnutrition. We are trying to ensure that the identities of those children is recognized. These children had names and were not animals.
Adoption: Between 40,000-60,000 children were offered for adoption during the 50s, 60s.
Barry Sweeney, a 12-year-old friend and Francis Hopkins discovered the grave in 1970.
Sweeney stated that it was made of concrete and they used to play on it, but it had a hollow beneath it. So we opened it up and found a lot of bones underneath.
“The priest blessed the item. It is not clear what the priest did to it. It was possible to see the entire collection of skulls.
The home was closed in 1961.
Sean Ross Abbey was one more: out of 120 babies, 60 died in its first year. The few survivors were sold to foreign couples who didn’t have children.
Yesterday’s memorial service was held at Sean Ross. It emerged that mothers who had children at Sean Ross or other homes will file missing person reports to help locate their children.
Philomena Lee, who lost her three-year old son Anthony to Sean Ross nuns 60 years ago was one of the people at the service.
She explained that it was not about anger, but about doing right. And it is about opening all of the files.
Philomena won an Oscar for its story about Mrs Lee. She said that the State may not have expected mass graves to be discovered. Although they seem to want to hide it, it is important to tell the truth.
She explained that she doesn’t know how many children’s bodies are in the graves of their mothers all across the country.
“I’m stunned at the recent mass grave news” [at Tuam]It’s terrible and should not be kept secret.