County Galway, Ireland: Investigators have recovered the remains of 22 more infants from the site of the former St Mary’s Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, County Galway, bringing the total number of infant remains recovered since excavations began in July 2025 to 99.

According to Ireland’s Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam (ODAIT), the latest remains were recovered between June 1 and July 15 during an ongoing forensic excavation. The remains were found in small burial boxes beneath an area that had previously been covered with gravel and used as a roadway, with no visible grave markers. Officials believe more remains could still be recovered as the excavation continues.

The excavation is being carried out by an international team of forensic archaeologists, anthropologists and DNA specialists. Investigators are attempting to identify the children through DNA analysis and match them with surviving relatives.

Investigation

ODAIT Director Daniel MacSweeney said:

“The 99 sets of remains recovered to date were all located within a very confined area. Each burial represents a distinct archaeological context, requiring meticulous excavation and recording.”

Senior Forensic Archaeologist Dr Niamh McCullagh described the excavation as unprecedented:

“There is no comparable forensic site anywhere in the world. Our aim is to recover every individual with dignity and to identify as many of the children as possible.”

Authorities say 62 families have already submitted DNA samples to assist with the identification process.

Dark History of the Institution

The St Mary’s Mother and Baby Home, operated by the Bon Secours Sisters, housed unmarried pregnant women between 1925 and 1961. Many mothers were separated from their babies after birth, with children frequently placed for adoption.

The institution came under international scrutiny after local historian Catherine Corless revealed in 2014 that 796 children had died at the home during its years of operation, while no formal burial records could be found for most of them. Her research led to a government investigation.

In 2017, a state-commissioned investigation confirmed the presence of significant quantities of infant human remains in underground chambers beneath the site, prompting the full forensic excavation now underway.

Official records indicate many of the children died from illnesses such as respiratory infections, gastroenteritis and malnutrition.

Government Apology

In 2021, the Irish Government formally apologised for the abuse and neglect suffered by women and children in the country’s Mother and Baby Homes after a national commission concluded that more than 5,000 children died in such institutions across Ireland.

The Tuam excavation remains one of the largest and most complex forensic recovery operations of its kind, with investigators expecting further discoveries in the coming weeks.

Sources

• ITV News – Further infant remains recovered at Tuam former Mother and Baby Home
• People – 22 More Infant Remains Found at Irish Institution for Unwed Mothers
• The Journal (Ireland) – 99 infant remains recovered from Tuam Mother and Baby Home excavation
• Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam (ODAIT) – Official statements on the excavation.