Friday, 5th June 2026
Technical Update from the forensic excavation at the site of the former Mother and Baby Institution in Tuam, Co. Galway
Reporting period: 1st April to 31st May 2026
Forensic excavation of the site of the former Mother and Baby Institution in Tuam continues. In the photo below, all areas that have been excavated are outlined in colour and all areas that are considered completed are hatched. In this reporting period, excavation has focused on two locations outlined in the photo below:
Red outline: Hand excavation continued under one tented enclosure (Tent 1) and in the subterranean vaulted structure.
Yellow outline: Hand excavation started under the newly erected second tented enclosure (Tent 2).
Blue outline: Most of this area is completed. Machine excavation is paused.
Green outline: These areas are completed and reported on in previous updates.
Blue outline
The area of the blue outline is now completed, apart from the base of a subsurface well. This well has been excavated to a depth of four metres and further excavation is on temporary hold for health and safety reasons.
Red and Yellow outlines
During this reporting period manual excavation continued under Tent 1 and Tent 2 was erected. As referenced in previous Technical Updates, an area including the ground covered by these tents was identified in historical documents as a “burial ground” and there are no surface markers that indicated the presence of burials at this location. The evidence that ODAIT has recovered from this area during the forensic excavation is consistent with the location being a burial ground from the time of the operation of the Mother and Baby Institution.
The subterranean vaulted structure in this area (highlighted in the image below) was made safe to facilitate access; ODAIT conducted surveys of its contents and has commenced excavation of the soil deposits within.
We believe this subterranean vaulted structure formed part of a wastewater management system constructed in the Workhouse timeframe. It is unclear if it was in operation as such in the time of the Mother and Baby Institution.
Human remains
Tent 1
Manual excavation continued under the cover of Tent 1. An additional eight sets of infant remains were recovered in this reporting period, all buried in coffins. This brings the number of infant remains recovered from this location to date to 77 individuals. Excavation of the layers beneath the infant remains in this area has revealed anomalies consistent with earlier historic burials. These earlier historic burials are similar to those reported on in Technical Update 2 where ODAIT expert osteoarchaeologists confirmed that seven sets of historic, skeletal human remains were consistent with the Workhouse era (1841 to 1918) of this site. ODAIT is engaging with the National Museum of Ireland for advice on these earlier burials.
Tent 2
ODAIT has completed the mechanical removal of modern layers of material above the burials in Tent 2. The area has been further excavated by hand. These excavations have shown evidence of additional potential graves of child or infant size.
Separate or ‘disarticulated’ bones
In the course of its excavations, ODAIT has recovered some separate or ‘disarticulated’ bones, not found associated with burials already recovered. These include human adult and infant bones. It is not possible to confirm if these bones form part of remains from the institutional era or workhouse era remains until ODAIT completes the excavation and conducts its forensic analysis. The recovery of individual skeletal elements is not unexpected in a site of this nature and all human remains recovered are treated with respect and dignity.
Artefacts
Artefacts from various historic periods continue to be recovered. Items of note include a metal finger-loop candle holder found in the subterranean chamber.
During the reporting period, the forensic team catalogued and put in storage the mobile/unfixed items from the surface of the memorial garden including mementos, notes, flowers and more. Remaining fixed items including the statue will be moved at a later stage.
Identification Programme
The Identification Programme team collected an additional 22 samples during this period which have been delivered to Forensic Science Ireland (FSI). This brings the total number of samples taken to 55. ODAIT’s team travelled to the US, UK and Canada to meet families and collect samples. As part of these trips the team also met with diaspora organisations to assist in encouraging family members to get in touch with ODAIT to potentially provide a DNA sample.
In April 2026, on foot of updated scientific advice from FSI, the Government signalled its intention to amend the Institutional Burials Act 2022 to include first cousins as eligible family members who can participate in an Identification Programme and provide a DNA sample (note below).
Following this decision, ODAIT has been in contact with some first cousins to prepare for the statutory determination process and is putting the initial steps in place so that samples may be taken without delay once it is permitted under the legislation. The team will continue to reach out to first cousins as part of this process.
We would encourage anyone who believes they may have a family member buried at the site of the former Tuam Mother and Baby Institution to contact our office. Our team can answer any questions and help guide you through the process. You can call +353 (0)1 539 1777, email info@dait.ie or visit our website www.odait.ie for more information.
Forensic Facility and Mortuary
ODAIT’s Forensic Facility and Mortuary at Toghermore in Tuam is nearing completion. This facility will provide the necessary capacity and space for large scale analysis and appropriate storage of human remains, evidence and artefacts and will assist ODAIT to continue to operate to international standards and best practice.
Continuing its policy of keeping families at the centre of our work, ODAIT will invite survivors, family members and their advocates to visit this new facility in Toghermore in late July. It will be an opportunity to hear updates from ODAIT and to ask questions about the excavation. The team will contact stakeholders directly to provide details for this visit.
Prior to the completion of the facility ODAIT is availing of a temporary space which has allowed work to progress.
Best Practise and International Standards
As part of its commitment to maintaining international standards and best practice, ODAIT is engaging with leaders from the scientific community to gain their feedback and expertise.
ODAIT has established a Scientific Working Group with experts in their fields. The Scientific Working Group will meet with ODAIT’s Forensic Management Team four times a year and will visit the excavation site and the forensic facility and mortuary in Tuam as part of their review.
ODAIT also regularly meets with its Advisory Board and benefits from its expertise and feedback.
Notes
As part of the next steps to amend the Institutional Burials Legislation to include first cousins as eligible family members, officials in the Department of Children, Equality and Disability are now working with the Office of the Attorney General to draft the necessary amendments, which will then be brought before the Houses of the Oireachtas at the earliest opportunity.
ODAIT will also host a media visit to its new facility in Toghermore, Tuam in late July. To register your interest please email comms@dait.ie. Further details will follow.
About the 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. Additional specialists will join the team in the coming weeks, increasing its size. They are supported by a main contractor who has supplied a team of construction professionals including skilled machine operators.
Forensic excavation commenced on 14th July 2025. This report covers weeks 36 to 45 of the forensic excavation works on site, covering progress up until close of business (COB) on 31st May 2026.
ODAIT will provide updates first to families and survivors and to the media and wider public on a bi-monthly basis. The next technical update will issue in July 2026.
