Culture
17 Sep 18

Remembrance Day For Lost Children and Mothers in Tuam

The event will take place on 29 September in Tuam, Co.Galway and will consist of music, film, poetry and stories with some contribution by some very special guests.

An event commemorating those who were victims of The Mother and Baby Homes across the country will take place on 29 September in the Corralea Court Hotel in Tuam Co.Galway. The event will start with a display of poetry, stories and short films in the Hotel at 3:00 pm, followed by a candle lit vigil at the Tuam Mother and Baby Home site at 6:00 pm, and will conclude with a remembrance concert back in the Corralea Court Hotel at 8:00pm, featuring music guests The Three Jays. Other Guests include Leslie Dowdall (In Tua Nua) and Mike Hanrahan(Stockton's Wing), Seamus Ruttledge and Ciara Sidine.

The event will be hosted by legendary musician Francie Conway, who has an extensive history with a variety of charity work. The Tralee native, who's career started with Kerry band Clutch, has seen his career take him form busking in Amsterdam with former Blair director of communications Alistair Cambell, then securing a major recording deal with RCA records in London, and onto collaborating with Irish music royalty like Finbar Furey, Sharon Shannon and Dervish, in a career spanning 30 years.

The organisers remind people planning on attending that:

"This is not a protest, it's non political, non religious, it's all about remembering everyone effected."

The goal of this event is not only to commemorate victims and those affected by the homes on this single occasion, but to establish a National Day of Remembrance for the victims of The Mother and Baby Homes, supported by the Government and the people of Ireland.

The discovery of the remains of young children buried in a mass, unmarked grave at the Tuam site in 2017 sparked major controversy and resulted in huge backlash against the Catholic Church and The Irish Government, with Amnesty International expressing concern at the discovery and ensuring the Government oversaw a full investigation into the practices at the home.