Additional 36 infant remains discovered during Tuam Mother and Baby Home excavation

"The ODAIT explained that to date, all remains recovered from the area are of infants that were buried in coffins, which have since decayed. In a small number of instances, two or three individuals were buried in the same coffin."

"An examination of available aerial photography indicates that this disturbance took place sometime after 1977. Tool marks on the sides and base of this feature provide evidence consistent with the use of a mechanical excavator fitted with a toothed bucket."

"The excavation continues to uncover, recover and identify materials from four main eras in the site's history, listed as the post-institutional (1961 onwards), institutional, or the era of the Mother and Baby institution (1925 to 1961), military (1918 to 1925), and workhouse (1841 to 1918)."

Excavations at the site have revealed a total of 69 infant remains since summer 2025. All remains were found in decayed coffins, with some instances of multiple individuals in a single coffin. The majority of coffins were single shouldered, painted white, and a large feature over 3m wide has disturbed burial sites. Evidence suggests this disturbance occurred after 1977. The excavation covers four historical phases, with notable finds including a post-medieval keyhole escutcheon. A forensic facility is nearing completion to aid in the analysis and storage of remains and artifacts.

Read at Irish Independent