Excavation has commenced at a site where authorities believe nearly 800 dead babies and children may be buried in a septic tank. This tragic discovery is linked to a former mother and baby home that operated from 1925 until its closure in 1961, run by Catholic nuns.
Local historian Catherine Corless, whose research uncovered the scale of this tragedy, reported that 798 children died at the home, with only two buried in a nearby cemetery. The remains of the other 796 are thought to be located in a cesspool known as “the pit,” discovered in 1975.
The home served as a maternity facility for unwed mothers, who were often separated from their newborns, with many children adopted without parental consent. The full extent of the situation was revealed in 2014 through Corless’s findings.
Excavation crews are expected to take up to two years to identify the remains and provide a dignified reburial, offering closure to survivors and families affected by this dark chapter in history. Annette McKay, whose sister is believed to be among the victims, expressed her determination to find any remains, regardless of their condition.
Legislation enabling this excavation was passed in 2022, paving the way for this long-awaited investigation into the site’s grim past.