Tuam Home site survey welcomed

By Sandra Coffey
Galway Independent
October 14, 2015

http://www.galwayindependent.com/news/topics/articles/2015/10/14/4107406-tuam-home-site-survey-welcomed/

Catherine Corless, the historian who uncovered the Tuam Babies story, has welcomed a geophysical survey of the site.

The survey by the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation, which was supervised by a Consultant Archaeologist, took place on the site of the graveyard at the Dublin Road, Tuam on Friday and was conducted with the consent of the site owners, Galway County Council.

"I welcome this preliminary survey on behalf of the former residents of the Tuam Home who have family buried there," said Ms Corless. "It is their wish to know exactly where their siblings are buried. It is their hope that a further survey will be carried out on the open space around the closed off area, as it is known now, through access to the Galway County Council Plan of the Housing Estate on this site. The Children's Graveyard extends well outside this walled off area as indicated on this plan."

The Commission confirmed to the Galway Independent that the survey conducted involved the use of non-invasive methods. It was conducted over the surface of the ground, inside the current boundaries of the graveyard. The sub surface of the site was not disturbed.

The purpose of the survey was to detect the presence of possible 'sub surface anomalies'. Methods used included ground penetrating radar and magnetometry, which is a technique of measuring and mapping patterns of magnetism in the soil. The survey is believed to be much more intense than those previously conducted at the site.

The Commission, which was set up to investigate Mother and Baby Homes around the country, have invited anyone who was resident in or who worked in any of the Mother and Baby Homes or County Homes which are the subject of the investigation to come forward.

They are also interested to hear from people who have personal knowledge about the homes, for example, family members of residents, regular visitors or those who supplied services to the homes.