Excavation begins at former Tuam mother-and-baby home
Use the arrow keys to skip the audio ahead or backwards by 15 seconds
Press the space key to skip back 15 seconds
Press the space key pause or resume the audio playback
Press the space key to skip ahead 30 seconds Are you sure? Leaving this page will stop playback. Would you like to:
Annette McKay, whose baby sister died in a Tuammother and baby home, describes her mother's story and why she believes the excavation is "momentous" Dr Sarah-Anne Buckley, Associate Professor of History at University of Galway, discusses the significance of the excavataion. Ailbhe Conneely, Social Affairs & Religion Correspondent also reports.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Sarah Butler: These one-dish wonders are perfect for summer evening madness
Between summer camp runs, late meetings, and endless household tasks, feeding a family can feel like a daily obstacle course. That's why having a few reliable, one-dish wonders in your recipe arsenal can make all the difference. Both the Classic Family Spaghetti Bolognese and the Honey and Mustard One-Pan Rice are designed with busy families in mind — they're hearty, fuss-free, and flexible enough to fit your schedule. The bolognese is a rich, veggie-packed staple that sneaks in goodness while pleasing even picky eaters. You can prepare it quickly, let it slow-cook while you get on with your day, and freeze any extras for a future meal. It's perfect over pasta, jacket potatoes, or even in lasagne — one pot, multiple uses. Meanwhile, the Honey and Mustard One-Pan Rice delivers big flavour with minimal clean-up. It's a complete meal in one dish: protein, carbs, and veggies all baked together, ready to serve. Best of all, it reheats beautifully for lunchboxes or leftover dinners. These are the kinds of recipes that work hard for you—nourishing, adaptable, and built to save time while keeping mealtimes enjoyable. Whether you batch cook on the weekend or throw them together on a hectic evening, they offer the comforting ease every family cook deserves. Classic Family Spaghetti Bolognese recipe by:Sarah Butler With just 15 minutes of prep, you can either pop it in the oven on low or let your slow cooker do all the hard work while you tackle the day. The flavours deepen beautifully over time, resulting in a rich, savoury sauce everyone will love. Servings 6 Preparation Time 20 mins Cooking Time 30 mins Total Time 50 mins Course Main Ingredients 1.5 lb minced meat 1 beef Oxo cube 2 carrots, diced 1 onion, diced 3 cloves garlic minced 1 celery stick, diced 4–5 cherry tomatoes, halved 1 carrot grated 1 small red pepper, diced 1 tbsp dried oregano 4 tbsp tomato purée 1 tin chopped tomatoes 500ml water Handful of fresh basil, roughly chopped Salt and pepper, to taste Olive oil and butter, for cooking 1 clove garlic, minced Method Heat a little olive oil in a large pan. Brown the minced meat. Once browned, stir in the crushed Oxo cube, 3 tablespoons of tomato purée, oregano, and season with salt and pepper. Set aside. In the same pan, melt a little butter. Add the onion, garlic, celery, cherry tomatoes, carrots and red pepper. Cook for 5–6 minutes until softened. Return the mince to the pan. Add the chopped tomatoes, remaining tomato purée, and water. Stir well. Bring to a gentle simmer. Then either serve immediately or: Transfer to a preheated oven (140°C, non-fan) covered, for 4 hours, or Use a slow cooker on low for 4–5 hours, stirring occasionally. Just before serving, stir in the fresh basil. Adjust seasoning if needed. Sarah's secret Perfect poured over pasta, spooned over potatoes or even tucked into lasagne, this sauce freezes beautifully. Very freezer-friendly—make a double batch and save half for another busy night. Honey & Mustard One-Pan Rice recipe by:Sarah Butler Busy weeknights call for recipes that are simple, satisfying, and require minimal cleanup—this Honey & Mustard One-Pan Rice is exactly that. Servings 6 Preparation Time 20 mins Cooking Time 55 mins Total Time 1 hours 15 mins Course Main Ingredients 50g butter 1 large onion, diced 3 garlic cloves, diced 3 chicken breasts, halved 1 tbsp plain flour 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp dried oregano 2 tbsp sunflower or vegetable oil 2 bay leaves 2 sprigs fresh thyme 2 sprigs fresh rosemary 200g rice, rinsed 100ml white wine (optional) 600ml chicken stock 1 tsp Dijon mustard 1 tbsp honey 3 lemon slices Juice of ½ lemon Handful of fresh parsley, roughly chopped Salt and freshly ground black pepper Method Preheat the oven to 180°C / 160°C fan / Gas 6. In a large ovenproof casserole dish, layer the diced onion and garlic. Top with half the butter and bake for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, toss the halved chicken breasts in a bowl with flour, garlic powder, oregano, and a little salt and pepper to coat. Melt the remaining butter in a frying pan. Sear the chicken on both sides for a few minutes until golden. Add the seared chicken to the casserole dish with the cooked onions and garlic. Layer the bay leaves, thyme, and rosemary on top of the chicken. Scatter the rinsed rice evenly over the dish. In a jug, mix the wine (if using), stock, Dijon mustard, and honey. Pour this mixture over the chicken and rice. Season with salt and pepper. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil, add lemon slices (and a few cubes of butter for extra richness, if desired), and bake uncovered for another 15 minutes. Squeeze over the lemon juice, adjust seasoning, and garnish with chopped parsley before serving. Sarah's secrets Cook once, eat twice. This dish keeps well—store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. It's also incredibly versatile—you can double the batch and enjoy leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day, saving even more time. Read More Ireland's best food trucks and street food stalls to try this summer
The Irish Sun
18-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Mayo woman reveals simple key to ‘happy life' ahead of turning 102 this weekend after revealing biggest lifetime changes
ONE of Ireland's oldest women has revealed the secret to her "long happy life" ahead of turning 102 this weekend. Catherine Conway, a When Catherine was born, prohibition was still in full swing in the Catherine loves And she also revealed that her secret to living a long and happy life is simply "working hard". To celebrate the milestone of her 100th birthday Catherine had a large birthday party in a local hotel. READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS Around 150 people joined to celebrate with the beloved lady in Gullane's Hotel on the special day. In an interview with Midlands 103, Catherine reflected on the changes she has seen over her 102 years. In particular, the introduction of phones, computers and washing machines are the most significant changes she has noticed. She also believes that people, especially MOST READ IN THE IRISH SUN She said: "I think everybody seems to have too much, and the same goes for children. "They end up with far too many toys and presents and everything. Top 10 Birthday Freebies "We never had anything like that. If you got something small, you would be happy. Maybe we would get maybe an apple or an orange or something in our stocking at Christmas." Now she prepares to celebrate this milestone over the weekend with friends and family. Earlier this week Sarah Coyle, Ireland's "oldest person", died aged 108. Sarah died on Monday, ten days before what would have been her 109th birthday. She is said to have died peacefully, surrounded by her family. Sarah, who was born on July 24 1916, in Knockatomcoyle, Co. At the age of 17, she moved to In 1957, Sarah would lose her sight at the age of 40 following a head trauma. 'SHE LOVED THE SIMPLE THINGS' Speaking with He said, "She was great with her hands and was great at laying guide wires in the garden. She loved plants and colours, "She loved the simple things." He notes that his grandmother could recall the Second World War which at the time was called "The Emergency". And that she could even remember the the Black and Tans and had clear memories of them and their distinctive uniforms. 1 Catherine Conway revealed the top tip ahead of her birthday Credit: Supplied
Irish Times
18-07-2025
- Irish Times
Woman who died days before 109th birthday ‘lived life to the full', funeral hears
The woman believed to be Ireland's oldest person, who died just days before her 109th birthday, 'lived life to the full' and was a 'masterclass in resilience', her funeral has heard. Sarah Coyle , who was born in the year of the Easter Rising, died on Monday surrounded by her family. Fr John Gilligan, who led the Requiem Mass at St Brigid's Church in Blanchardstown in west Dublin on Friday, described her as a 'lady with a great sense of fun who loved chatting'. Fr Gilligan said Ms Coyle saw Ireland change 'through many seasons', while her advice was 'don't bear grudges and be kind to people'. READ MORE Ms Coyle was born in Knockatomcoyle, a townland in Co Wicklow, before her family moved to Coolkenno, near Tullow. She was working as a housekeeper in Foxrock when she met her husband Tom Coyle from Cavan at a dance. They lived in Drumcondra and had four children, though two of their daughters died as newborns. Mr Coyle died in 1968 while Ms Coyle began to lose her sight from her late 30s. She is survived by her daughter Marian, son Patrick and sister Lily, aged 103. Ms Coyle's granddaughter Anne-Marie said she was 'selfless and would do all she could for others'. She described her grandmother as 'an amazing host' while 'acts of service were her love language'. She spoke of Ms Coyle's self-deprecating nature saying she was 'never demanding, not one to hog the spotlight or be the centre of attention'. Anne-Marie said despite the 'much suffering and heartache in her life', her grandmother 'didn't dwell on it and refused to let it define her'. 'It would have been easy for her to grow bitter and angry at the world and nobody could have blamed her, but she actively chose happiness and love repeatedly,' she said. 'I always found it a testament to her strength and resolve that, despite living in total darkness for the majority of her long life, she brought light to many. She was a masterclass in resilience.' She added that the 'world was so much brighter' for her being in it and was 'the very best of nanas and the very best of women'. Anne-Marie said she would 'forever think of sunshine' when she thinks of her grandmother. Ms Coyle's son-in-law Anthony described her as a 'role model to all of us, an inspiration and an example of how we should all live our lives'. He said she had 'all the qualities of a saint here on earth' while recalling her 100th birthday celebrations. 'She used to say: 'I can't believe I'm 100 years old and I'm still here. I wonder has God forgotten about me?' And we would say: 'Far from it, he hasn't forgotten about you but you still have important work here on earth and he's leaving you here for more'. She would break into her lovely smile and say: 'I suppose he'll call me when he needs me'.'
