Stories of Tuam home survivors told in new museum exhibition

Corless’ handmade model on display

THE stories of survivors of Tuam’s former Mother and Baby Home feature in a new exhibition now open at Galway City Museum.

It is the first dedicated museum installation to focus on Mother and Baby institutions and their impact on Irish society.

Highlighting Catherine Corless's immense contribution to Irish history, the exhibition tells the stories of 18 survivors of the institution through audio and visual exhibits. A handmade and detailed scaled model of the Tuam home by Catherine Corless is also part of the exhibit.

It is nearly one year since the long-awaited forensic excavation of the Tuam site began which has to date discovered the remains of 77 infants. Corless’ research found that there were no burial records for 796 babies and infants who died at the home.

“What a wonderful and vital project this is, to gather the life stories of the Tuam Home Survivors, which otherwise would be forgotten in time. This Tuam Oral History Project, created in University of Galway, by a dedicated team, led by Dr Sarah-Anne Buckley, will now be exhibited in the Galway City Museum, who have graciously given space and time for all survivors,” remarked local historian Catherine Corless.

The exhibition entitled 'Survivor Stories: Tuam and Ireland’s Institutional Past' provides an insight into Ireland's treatment of single mothers and their children, focusing on the Tuam Mother and Baby institution and the legacy issues still faced by survivors today.

Through oral histories, photographs, documents, and personal objects, visitors are invited to engage with first-hand experiences of institutional life and its lasting impact across generations.

The exhibition has been created with University of Galway's survivor-led Tuam Oral History Project, led by Dr Sarah-Anne Buckley and Dr John Cunningham, which has been gathering testimonies and other personal artefacts from institutional survivors, their families and those directly affected by this history since 2018.

President of University of Galway Professor David Burn said: “It is fitting that Catherine Corless and survivors of the Tuam Mother and Baby institution will now have a place beside heroes of Galway in our city museum. We are delighted to partner with Galway City Museum on this project as it encapsulates our shared commitment to enrich our cultural heritage by truly engaging audiences to help us all learn lessons from our dark past.

“Belonging and Respect are two of our university’s core values where everyone should feel welcomed, supported, connected and valued as an integral part of our community. This dedicated exhibition acts as a powerful reminder of the historical absence of such values and why it is so important that the wider public gets to learn about these 18 survivor life stories.”

An accompanying podcast series has also been created to allow for in-depth, personal engagement with survivors' stories.

Acting Director of Galway City Museum, Adam Stoneman said: “We are pleased to share this important exhibition on the Tuam Mother and Baby institution, developed in close collaboration with a group of survivors through the Tuam Oral History Project. Their voices and experiences are vital to understanding this difficult history.”

The exhibition will run at Galway City Museum from now to September and aims to engage Irish and international visitors. Already 29 US tour groups will visit Galway over the period specifically to see the exhibition and learn about Ireland's past.

A programme of public talks, workshops and screenings will accompany the exhibition.

Further information at GalwayCityMuseum.ie.