The Lost Children of Tuam

During the 20th century in Ireland, women who became pregnant out of wedlock were locked away in homes, designed to hide their sin from the world.  In Tuam, Ireland, a home for unwed mothers and their babies, was run by the Bon Secours Catholic nuns, from 1925-1971.  The conditions in Tuam, and many other similar homes, were deplorable, and the treatment of mothers and babies was unforgiveable.

Long after the home in Tuam was closed, local residents and historians began to question what actually took place within the walls of Tuam.  It turns out that after delivering their babies, mothers were forced to leave, never knowing the fate of their children.  Many children lived there in deplorable conditions until they either died or were adopted, some being  adopted in the U.S.  During the almost 50 years of its existence, not one nun or priest came forward to report this disgrace.  In all, 796 skeletons were discovered in a dumpster like bin, babies from just a few weeks old to a few years old, many emaciated.

It wasn't until Catherine Corless, an interested resident of Tuam, became interested in what had actually taken place behind the walls of Tuam, that the truth finally came out.  The church knew, the nuns obviously knew, and local officials of Tuam knew, yet no one did anything.  Hundreds of babies who didn't need to die did die, and thousands of unwed mothers who wanted to raise their babies were not allowed.  Since it's closing, the home run by the Bon Secours has been paved over and housing now stands where hundreds of babies were dumped.  There are some children who were residents of the home who are still looking for siblings.  A memorial has been erected near the former home, which at least gives recognition to what happened there, and acnowledges that the 796 unknown babies and children lived and died there.  They are not forgotten.