Friday, 5th December 2025
Technical Update from the forensic excavation at the site of the former Mother and Baby Institution in Tuam, Co. Galway
Reporting Period: 30th October to 28th November 2025
Forensic excavation of the site of the former Mother and Baby Institution in Tuam continues. In this reporting period, excavation has focused on two locations outlined in colour in the photo below:
Blue outline: Excavation continued in the site of the former workhouse yard.
Pink outline: Machine excavation continued followed by hand excavation under a temporary tent erected during the reporting period.
The excavation continues to uncover, recover and identify materials from four main eras (see below) in the site’s history, as well as objects from earlier ancient and unrelated dates:
- Post-institutional: 1961 onwards.
- Institutional (the era of the Mother and Baby Institution): 1925 to 1961.
- Military: 1918 to 1925.
- Workhouse: 1841 to 1918.
Notable evidence recovered during the reporting period 30th October to 28th November 2025, per area:
Structures
Blue outline: In the former yard area, the excavation of the pump, well shaft and connected drains continued. See the photo of a well shaft below.
Pink outline (white tent): Excavations under the cover of the tent have shown evidence of additional potential graves of child or infant size. This area corresponds to part of the area labelled as “burial ground” in historical documents referenced by the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation (MBHCOI) (paras. 8.11 to 8.50, Fifth Interim Report, MBHCOI, 2019) and reproduced (table 1.2 of Appendix A of Fifth Interim Report, MBHCOI, 2019).
Despite these historical references, there were no surface or ground level indications of the possibility of a burial ground at this location prior to excavation. The presence of burials at this location has now been confirmed. The layout and size of the graves is consistent evidence that, at this part of the site, there is a burial ground from the time of the operation of the Mother and Baby Institution.
Human remains
An additional four sets of human remains have been recovered in the area of the pink outline (white tent). The manner of burial of these four sets of human remains was consistent with that of the seven sets of human remains reported in Technical Update 3, published on 7 November 2025. Initial assessments indicate that remains of all eleven individuals recovered to date belong to infants and were coffined. Forensic analysis is underway.
Material evidence
The excavations continue to recover numerous material and objects from the four phases of the site history. Objects recovered during this reporting period included fragments of the institution building’s roof capping and an Oxo bottle.
Animal bone
We continue to retrieve large amounts of animal bone, consistent with the domestic functions of the site during the workhouse, military and institution phases.
All evidence recovered is being photographed, catalogued and retained by ODAIT in a dignified and respectful manner consistent with international standards and best practice.
The excavation continues.
About the ODAIT Forensic Excavation
Excavation at the site of the former Tuam Mother and Baby Institution is being conducted by the Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam under the Institutional Burials Act 2022.
In its day-to-day work, the ODAIT Forensic Excavation Team on site is led by the site co-ordinator. The team includes forensic archaeologists, osteoarchaeologists and forensic anthropologists, as well as a forensic evidence manager and a forensic photographer. They are supported by a main contractor who has supplied a team of construction professionals including skilled machine operators.
Forensic excavation began on 14th July 2025. This report covers weeks 16 to 19 of the forensic excavation works on site, covering progress up until close of business (COB) on 28th November 2025.
ODAIT will provide updates first to families and survivors and to the media and wider public on a monthly or bi-monthly basis.
Work at the site will pause for the Christmas and New Year period. During this time the site will be secured with 24/7 security presence and CCTV monitoring. ODAIT team members will respond in the event of any risk to the site (if the possibility of a weather event occurs).
The next technical update will issue in early February 2026.
Photos
