Tuam babies film to premiere next month

Anna Corrigan of the Tuam Babies Family Group said seeing the film will be 'an emotional experience'. Picture: Ray Ryan

A film depicting the story of the Tuam babies burial scandal will receive its world premiere next month.

The Lost Children of Tuam tells the story of how local historian Catherine Corless uncovered the names of 796 children who died in the former mother and baby home.

The children were later buried in unconsecrated ground, some thrown into a septic tank, which was confirmed by test excavations in 2016 and 2017.

Children have recently been located during the country’s first ever mass exhumation which began in July 2025, in an unknown burial site, in coffins that were later concreted over.

Ms Corless’s research emerged in 2014 and went on to make international headlines.

The feature film, produced by Liam Neeson, will receive its premiere at Galway Film Fleadh on July 11 at The Town Hall Theatre.

The film is directed by Frank Berry and stars Bafta and Olivier Award winner Monica Dolan as Catherline Corless.

It is supported by BBC Film and Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland in association with Coimisiún na Meán, RTÉ, Ireland's Port Pictures, and Dublin-based Element Pictures, among others.

Anna Corrigan, whose mother was locked up in the Tuam home, said seeing the film will be “an emotional experience".

“We the families have supported trying to locate the missing babies since 2014 and to see it on the big screen only again supports the importance of the story and keeps the awareness out there.

“Never again should anything like this happen. My poor mother, Bridget Dolan, suffered so much when she had her two boys John and William Dolan taken from her.

“I still see her leaving in the snow and having the big door closed behind her while her babies were taken and she never spoke about it to me ever, most likely to protect me.”