Tuam Excavation

A chara,
We the undersigned writers and artists appeal to the government to use the full force of its purse and power to undertake a complete excavation, identification where possible, and dignified reburial of the victims of Tuam. We further appeal for the government to undertake an active and authentic attempt to identify the many missing individuals who will have been illegally adopted at home and abroad.

In light of significant, possibly criminal, failings at Tuam – of which the lack of burial records for 796 infants and children, the missing bodies of women, the verified existence of ‘significant quantities’ of human remains, and the ongoing testimony of survivors are ample evidence – mere memorialisation is inadequate. Systematic exhumation is necessary to uncover the truth. The government must use any and all resources (including, as necessary, resources of the Bon Secours Order) to complete a full excavation and identification of all remains on the site as has been consistently requested by Catherine Corless, survivors, and family members of those who lived in the Home.

Sincerely,
Aideen Barry
Carmel Benson
Melony Bethala
Dr Dylan Brennan
Mairéad Byrne
Fióna Bolger
June Caldwell
Mary Rose Callaghan
Kimberly Campanello
Anna Carey
Eileen Casey
Paul Casey
Sarah Clancy
Jane Clarke
Patrick Chapman
Bríd Connolly
Susan Connolly
June Considine
Brigid Corcoran
Marion Cox
Enda Coyle-Greene
Catherine Ann Cullen
Ailbhe Darcy
Madeleine D’Arcy
Martina Devlin
Moyra Donaldson
Theo Dorgan
Catherine Dunne
Anne Enright
Attracta Fahy
Tanya Farrelly
Elaine Feeney
Kit Fryatt
Mia Gallagher
Anthony Glavin
Sinéad Gleeson
Shauna Gilligan
Jackie Gorman
Dylan Coburn Gray
Sarah Maria Griffin
Vona Groarke
Mary Guckian
Maurice Harmon
Jack Harte
Joanne Hayden
Claire Hennessy
Rita Ann Higgins
Eleanor Hooker
Victoria Kennefick
Anatoly Kudryavitsky
Dave Lordan
Aifric Mac Aodha
Catherine Phil MacCarthy
John MacKenna
Nuala Macklin
Alice Maher
Christodoulos Makris
Oana Sanziana Marian
Emer Martin
John McAuliffe
Felicity McCartan
Flish McCarthy
Molly McCloskey
Maria McManus
Declan Meade
Paula Meehan
Lia Mills
Sinéad Morrissey
Professor Paul Muldoon
Helena Mulkerns
Anne Mulhall
Sonya Mulligan
Christine Murray
Una Ni Cheallaigh
Annemarie Ní Churreáin
Nuala Ni Chonchuir
Doireann Ní Ghríofa
Eileen Ní Shuilleabháin
Liz Nugent
Jean O’Brien
Margaret O’Donnell
Mary O’Donnell
John O’Donovan
Nessa O’Mahony
Geraldine O’Reilly
Dr Robyn Rowland AO
Karl Parkinson
Justin Quinn
Connie Roberts
Annette Skade
Kelly E Sullivan
Anne Tannam
Susan Tomaselli
Jessica Traynor
Samantha Walton
David Wheatley
Adam Wyeth