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Irish Times
5 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Tuam is a microcosm for Ireland's history of discarded bones
Ireland often seems surreal. But it is also, if I may be permitted to coin a word, subreal. We share the island, not just with what is above ground but what it under it. Our reality is not just experienced – it is exhumed. As Seamus Heaney put it in Bogland, it keeps 'striking/ Inwards and downwards,/ Every layer they strip/Seems camped on before'. The subsoil of the grounds of the former Bons Secours Mother and Baby home in Tuam is described as a 'yellow-grey silty gritty layer'. And it is being stripped now , down to where, between 1925 and 1961, perhaps 796 tiny human beings were stuffed in a disused sewage system. This non-resting place is, as the technical report published in 2017 has it, 'an elongated structure, comprising 20 chambers, with juvenile human remains identified in 17 of those chambers'. These chambers of horror are 'deep and narrow'. Indeed – this is a kind of reality that has been buried very deep and confined to a very narrow strip of Irish consciousness. It is weirdly apt that Tuam in its original form is Tuaim, a tumulus or burial mound. It has become a microcosm for all that has been interred with Irish history's discarded bones. In the grounds of the home, there are many layers of yellow-grey oblivion. There have been, in modern times, three distinct cycles of shameful burial and exhumation just in this small patch of Irish earth. READ MORE Family members of children believed to be buried at the former mother and baby institution in Tuam have spoken to the media ahead of the excavation of the site Before it was the Mother and Baby home, the complex was the Tuam workhouse. It opened in 1846, which meant that it was immediately overwhelmed by desperate victims of the Great Famine who died, not just of disease and hunger, but as Eavan Boland put it in her poem Quarantine, 'Of the toxins of a whole history.' They were initially buried just beside the workhouse, until the authorities objected that the 'burying ground ... is in such a state as to be injurious to the health of the occupiers of premises in ... the entire town of Tuam'. [ Tuam families can see 'light at the end of a very long tunnel' Opens in new window ] In 2012, during works on the town water scheme, 18 pits containing 48 bodies of famine victims were uncovered. It seems probable that many more bodies lie in and around the grounds. Interestingly, even in the midst of that unspeakable catastrophe, these people had at least been buried in coffins – a dignity not afforded to the children who later died in the care of the nuns. The second episode of burial and exhumation on this same patch of land occurred during and immediately after the Civil War. Between its periods as a workhouse and a Mother and Baby home, the Tuam complex had another brief life that also involved hidden burials. It was occupied during the Civil War by the Free State Army. In March 1923, six anti-Treaty prisoners were executed in the workhouse and buried in the grounds. In May, two more prisoners suffered the same fate. These bodies were exhumed and reburied in 1924. It again seems interesting that these dead men were given a memorial on the site: there is a commemorative plaque on the only preserved section of the wall of the Mother and Baby home. The famine and the Troubles at least occupied enough space in official memory for coffins and commemorations to be afforded to their victims. The children who died in the Mother and Baby home were not part of history until the extraordinary Catherine Corless made them so – thus they got neither coffins nor memorials. The operation to identify so many now-jumbled bones of infants using DNA analysis and other cutting-edge techniques will, if successful, set a new benchmark for the rescue of the unwanted dead from the contempt of silence and anonymity What makes the forensic excavation that began in Tuam yesterday even stranger is that it fuses an old Ireland with a new. It is both deeply atavistic and startlingly innovative. It is something that seems never to have happened before in human history. There have been thousands of archaeological explorations of tombs and burial chambers. There have been numerous grim excavations of bodies dumped in mass graves after massacres or battles. (Daniel MacSweeney, who is heading the Tuam operation, gained his expertise in the Lebanon and the Caucasus. Oran Finegan, its leading forensic scientist, worked on 'large-scale post conflict identification programmes' in the Balkans and Cyprus.) There are also many cases of babies and other inmates being buried in unmarked or poorly recorded graves on the grounds of institutions – at, for example, the Smyllum Park boarding home in Scotland , the Haut de la Garenne boarding home on Jersey , the Ballarat Orphanage in Australia, and the Duplessis Orphans' home in Canada . Here in Ireland, we had the hideous exhumation in 1993 of the graves of women buried at the High Park Magdalene home in Dublin – so that the nuns could sell the land for property development. But the situation of the remains in Tuam – neither a grave nor a tomb – has, according to the technical group, 'no national or international comparisons that the group is aware of'. And the operation to identify so many now-jumbled bones of infants using DNA analysis and other cutting-edge techniques will, if successful, set a new benchmark for the rescue of the unwanted dead from the contempt of silence and anonymity. This is making history in a double sense – doing something that has never been done before while simultaneously reshaping a country's understanding of its own recent past. [ Tuam mother and baby home: 80 people come forward to give DNA to identify buried children Opens in new window ] And, hopefully, of its present. The digging up of the bodies of people disappeared by the IRA has helped us to grasp the truth that the Troubles themselves cannot simply be buried. Revenants like Jean McConville return, not just to remind us of the past but to warn us of what it means when people become, even after death, disposable. While the Tuam excavation continues, we have, in the corner of our eyes, a peripheral awareness of the undead. Since they were not allowed properly to rest in peace, we cannot do so either. Since they were so contemptuously consigned to oblivion, we are obliged to remember. Since they were sacrificed to a monolithic tunnel vision, we must tunnel down to bring buried truths to light and hidden histories to consciousness.
Irish Examiner
12-07-2025
- Irish Examiner
Tuam exhumation: 'Only the bones can tell us who they are and what happened to them'
A leading humanitarian forensic specialist, who will play a key role in the forthcoming landmark intervention at the Tuam babies' burial site, has said the 'children's bones will be able to tell their own story, if they are given a chance'. Oran Finegan will oversee the implementation of the forensic programme for the Tuam mother and baby home under the Director of Authorised Intervention. The first ever mass exhumation will begin on Monday, July 14, more than a decade after the scandal of the children being buried in the grounds of the home emerged, some it is believed in a disused septic tank. The site of the exhumation at the former Tuam Mother and baby Home. Picture: Sasko Lazarov/ Local historian Catherine Corless uncovered the names of 796 children who died in the Bons Secours institution for unmarried mothers during its operation from 1925 to 1961. She discovered there were death records but no burial records. Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Mr Finegan the exhumation should not be 'shrouded in mystery'. 'Transparency is vital,' the forensic specialist said. 'What matters most are the families of the children and those affected most. But it should not be shrouded in mystery. The process is also about ensuring the families are kept informed, and it is of great importance to make sure the dead are not forgotten. 'Their identity should be given back to them where possible. All efforts should be made to give those who died a dignified resting place.' Mr Finegan will also be tasked with informing the families if the remains of their loved ones are found. 'Everyone reacts to our work differently,' he explained. 'We are there to give the facts of what we discovered and what the information shows us. Some accept our findings and others don't, and that's OK. 'But the need to know how someone died and the need to be able to mourn is universal.' He said human bones 'will always tell their own story given the chance'. 'There is so much bones can tell us, and I do believe they speak in many languages,' he said. 'They should be given the opportunity to tell us what happened. That may sound strange, but only the bones can tell us who they are and what happened to them. 'Bones need different interpreters and translators, from anthropologists to forensic genetics or orthodontal specialists." The Louth native's career has seen him working at the sites of some of the world's most horrific atrocities, including in the Balkans, Iraq, and South East Asia. He is a former head of forensics for the International Committee with the Red Cross. Over his 25-year career, Mr Finegan was involved in the forensic work in the aftermath of the Srebrenica massacre in July 1995 and the genocidal killing of more than 8,000 Bosniak Muslim men and boys from the town. He has been watching the story of the Tuam babies mass grave in Ireland since it first emerged. Test excavations conducted in October 2016 and January 2017, led by forensic scientist Dr Niamh McCullough, found a 'significant quantity of human remains' at the site that were aged between 35 foetal weeks and two and three years. Mr Finegan provided advice at the time and joined the team two years ago. The intervention at Tuam overseen by director Daniel MacSweeney is mandated under the Institutional Burials Act 2022 to excavate the entire site and to recover any human remains. It is also mandated to individualise them where possible and give them a dignified burial. 'I can only look at the facts' Mr MacSweeney explained. 'This work is like a jigsaw, and we don't have all the pieces. Part of my job is to find out what happened. Daniel MacSweeney, Director of Authorised Intervention: 'This work is like a jigsaw, and we don't have all the pieces. Part of my job is to find out what happened 'What I am trying to do is build a multidisciplinary team so we can gain as much information as possible on the children's remains and evidence from the site. 'These things are never one-dimensional. Forensic medicine has advanced over the last few decades. A good scientist will step back and look at the best way to gather the information. The dead should be allowed to speak and to tell their story. He described his role as a 'sensitive' one, and from a humanitarian forensics point of view, he will be the intermediary between the bones and the families. 'The families should always be put at the centre of the work,' he said. 'I know the team and it is so important to see Irish forensic practitioners engaged in this project and to be part of this history, to understand our past.' The exhumation will look at the 5,000sq m of the centre area of the Dublin Road housing estate in Tuam, which was built after the mother and baby home was knocked down in 1961. 'As with any operation of this nature, you decide where you're going to start, you will have a small excavator, to gradually scrape away the soil,' he said. 'If you think of a trifle, it's made of layers. If you put a spoon into it, and then try put the trifle back together, it will never be the same. The soil is the same if there is any disruption to it. 'The team will look for changes in the soil. If they find any, they will then stop the machine and look at that with an archaeologist, and, if necessary, go by hand to excavate a specific place. 'The soil will be observed forensically, to understand what these layers mean.' When changes are identified in the soil, it will be examined further, until the archaeologist confirms the team can continue their work. All documentation, including photographs, artefacts, maps, and human remains, will be recorded at the laboratory.
Irish Examiner
04-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Irish Examiner view: Scene of shame at Tuam may give closure
The horrifying situation in Tuam, Co Galway, has been a national shame ever since it was confirmed over a decade ago that the remains of hundreds of children who had died in the local mother and baby home were thrown into a nearby septic tank. Even now, that bald assertion of fact retains the power to shock. It is an unmatchable illustration of the level of hypocrisy in Irish society over many decades that this was allowed to happen, and the conduct of the Bons Secours nuns — who ran the home for Galway County Council — illustrates that hypocrisy perfectly. When the order sold the land, the nuns exhumed their dead colleagues and reinterred them at another cemetery. However, they left the remains of the children who had been in their care where they were discarded. We should be thankful to the likes of Catherine Corless, the indefatigable local historian who persisted in investigating this situation, and brought it to national and international attention. Journalists such as Alison O'Reilly have also done the State some service in their commitment to presenting truths which may have been uncomfortable for some, but which were necessary for all to hear. This month, excavation is due to begin at the site in Tuam at long last. Alison spoke this week to the families of those who believe the remains of their relatives are buried at the site, and their testimony was deeply moving. These are ordinary people, many of them elderly, who are hoping to find some answers after decades of being betrayed by both the church and State. One man Alison spoke to hopes to learn more about his aunt, who died in 1936; one woman in her 90s said she did not know if her son, born in 1949, is 'in a hole in a pipe somewhere'. The excavation project is expected to be a complex and challenging one, but it is to be hoped that it will provide some answers to people who have lived with grief and pain for many years. Those families deserve something approaching closure after all this time. A vital but not final milestone The Leaving Certificate examinations begin today, with thousands of students taking on English Paper 1 at 9.30am, as usual (the final exam is applied technology on June 16). It goes without saying that students have been focused on this date for the last couple of years in particular, studying past exam papers, revising exhaustively, and readying themselves for the biggest test of their secondary school careers — it is a momentous occasion. Still, it is also important to maintain perspective when it comes to the Leaving Cert. It's an important milestone but need not be the final word in any student's academic or professional progress. Balancing those messages can be tricky, of course. Placing the appropriate level of significance on the exams must be countered by the acknowledgement that it is a staging post on the journey, rather than a destination unto itself. This balancing act can become more difficult when one encounters breezy humble bragging on social media by celebrities about their own exam travails. Another traditional event at this time of year has nothing to do with the good weather which is expected — it's often believed that the Leaving Cert is accompanied by a burst of sunshine which seems to taunt those in exam halls, though meteorologists would no doubt be unconvinced of the scientific provenance of that assertion. The exams are usually accompanied by a debate on its general efficacy: Whether it is fit for purpose in the 21st century, whether more marks should be awarded for continuous assessment, and whether a series of tests at the end of one's school days are a fair and accurate evaluation of one's knowledge and ability. All of these are valid questions, and it should be acknowledged that the Leaving Cert has changed significantly over the years. One persuasive argument in its favour is that it is a relatively level playing field for students of all backgrounds. This is particularly powerful when considering the widely- held belief that continuous assessment may favour more affluent students. These are matters for another day, however. For today, best wishes to all facing the blank pages at half nine. An athlete of grace The funeral takes place tomorrow morning of Ellen Cassidy, the woman who died after becoming ill at the finish line of the Cork City Marathon last Sunday. Ellen, of Carhoo, Mallow Rd, was one of thousands of participants in the annual race, but she was also an accomplished swimmer. She represented Dolphin Swimming Club, University College Cork (UCC) Swimming Club, and the Munster Regional Squad. She also represented Ireland at the European Youth Olympics in 2015, and was joint chairperson of the UCC Swimming Club; she was involved in organising the Intervarsities Swimming Championship in Cork last year. It was good to see generous tributes being paid to her by many swimming clubs and organisations in recent days. 'Ellen swam through life with grace, strength, and passion,' wrote Dolphin Swimming Club. 'Your smile and your drive will never be forgotten.' Our deepest sympathies go to the Cassidy family and to all of Ellen's friends on her shocking loss. Requiem Mass will be at 11am tomorrow in The Church of the Annunciation, Blackpool. The family has asked that women wear their most colourful outfit for the funeral and bring a flower if they wish.
Irish Examiner
31-05-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
Tuam babies' burial site to be sealed off as mass grave exhumation begins in June
The entire burial site of the Tuam babies will be forensically sealed off and monitored around the clock, as specialist teams prepare for Ireland's first exhumation of a mass grave next month. In an email sent Friday evening to the Tuam Babies Family Group, which includes many relatives of those buried at the site, the Director of the Intervention said his team is 'still on track to begin the excavation of the site in the second half of June' — although a start date has not yet been confirmed. Daniel MacSweeney who was appointed to oversee the exhumation two years ago, explained that 'Once works start, the entire site will be forensically sealed. We will erect 2.4-meter hoarding and put in place 24-hour security monitoring'. He continued 'It is expected that the works on the site may take up to 24 months to complete. 'During this time, the Memorial Garden will not be accessible. If you would like to visit the Memorial Garden, you should try to do so before mid-June.' The exhumation follows 11 years of public pressure after local historian Catherine Corless uncovered the names of 796 children believed to be buried on the grounds of the former mother and baby home. The institution, which primarily housed unmarried mothers, was run by the Bons Secours nuns on behalf of Galway County Council. It operated between 1925 and 1961. After the nuns sold the land and left Tuam, the children who died there were left buried on the property. A test excavation carried out in October 2016 and January 2017 revealed a "significant quantity of human remains" — belonging to babies aged between 35 foetal weeks and 2 to 3 years. Read More Oldest survivor of Tuam mother and baby home to purchase first home after fundraising appeal The remains were found dumped in 18 of 20 chambers of a disused sewage tank. This discovery sparked international outrage and was reported across major global news outlets. Tuam Mother and Baby home survivor Carmel Larkin, aged 70 attends to flowers left at the Virgin Mary shrine as a vigil is held at the Tuam Mother and Baby home mass burial site on August 25, 2019 in Tuam, Ireland. Picture:The intervention has come after more than a decade of campaigning from families of children who died there as well as Ms Corless. Mr MacSweeney told families and survivors: 'I am writing to update you, the people most impacted by the former Mother and Baby institution in Tuam, about the intervention.' He said this is 'the first step towards restoring dignity in death to those inappropriately buried at the site. We will confirm the exact date very soon.' Family members of the children who died in Tuam as well as survivors will be invited to the first perimeter of the forensically sealed site on July 8. Mr MacSweeney explained that 'additional dates will be added if needs be.' A family liaison officer, Paula Kennedy has been appointed to support families with details for the visits. He continued: 'I also want to let you know that we have begun further engagement with the Tuam Community and in particular the residents near the estate adjoining the Memorial Garden. 'We will host an information evening on 6th June. Most residents have received further information relating to the site works and the Information Evening.' Anna Corrigan, who was at the heart of the original exposure of the Tuam babies' burial scandal alongside Catherine Corless, said: 'It is almost surreal that this is happening. It is a day we thought would never arrive — and now it's happening next month. 'It is a small light at the end of the tunnel, I hope we find all of the children and that the mothers and my own mother included, Bridget Dolan, will be given some form of justice for what was perpetrated on them and the children will have some dignity in death. 'We still have to wait to see what is uncovered and how many children will be found, how many will be identified, or will we be left with lingering questions when this is all over.' Further information can be found on
