Catherine Corless
Catherine Corless | |
---|---|
Born | Catherine Farrell 1954 (age 69–70) Local historian |
Known for | Investigating the Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home |
Catherine Corless (
Investigation into the Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home
Initial research
After writing a piece for the local history journal on landlords, the editors of the journal were impressed by her work and asked if she would consider submitting another article.[1] Her own memories of the children's home, and attending school with children from the home, sparked her interest in the topic.[2] Corless has related on a number of occasions how she feels guilty about a trick she once played on one of the children from the home, copying a classmate by wrapping up a stone in a sweet wrapper and offering it to a girl who grabbed it, thinking it was a treat.[1][2][7]
Corless found that very little had been written concerning the mother and baby home and that extensive research would be required for her article.
The article did not gain the attention Corless expected from the authorities[7] and so she did further research into the number of children who had died in the home. Between 2011 and 2013, by paying 4 euro for each record,[8] she obtained 798 death records for children who died in the home, but no burial records.[9][7]
Media coverage
Corless initially approached the local media in 2013 concerning the results of her investigations, with the aim of raising funds for a larger memorial on the site, but only a small article was printed.[2][8] This was followed in February 2014 with a further piece in the Connacht Tribune, again concentrating on the call for a plaque to be installed at the site with the names of those children who had died.[10] She continued her research, talking to several people who had been born in the home or thought relatives may be buried there.
The story broke nationally in 2014, with front-page coverage from the
In 2017, a Commission of Investigation concluded that remains in an underground structure on the site, which appeared to have been a septic tank, did contain remains of infants that died during the time period the mother and baby home was operating.[13][14][15] Corless made several more media appearances following this announcement. She appeared on The Late Late Show in March 2017 to talk about her research.[9][16] She received a standing ovation from the audience at the conclusion of her interview.[17] She was also featured on the BBC Radio 4 programme Profile[1] and then in 2018 on PM in a segment called The Home Babies.[7]
Corless appeared in the RTÉ documentary No Country for Women in 2018, presenting the story of Julia Carter Devaney who spent the first 45 years of her life in the Tuam mother and baby home.[18] In July 2018, she gave a lecture at the Galway International Arts Festival.[19]
Criticism of Corless
Corless has received criticism for her research. She has stated that many locals expressed that the matter should have been left alone.
After the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation concluded that the bodies in the mass grave at the site of the home did date from the time the home was open and were not famine victims, it was widely reported that Corless had been vindicated by the conclusions.[21] Her husband commented that he had not realised there was so much doubt surrounding the conclusions of Catherine Corless' research.[21]
Support for exhumation
Corless has several times made statements supporting the
Corless turned down an invitation to a reception for
Awards
Corless has received a number of awards in recognition of her investigation into the Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home. In 2017 she received the Bar of Ireland Human Rights Award in recognition of "exceptional humanitarian service".[27][28][22] In her acceptance speech, she said:
"I couldn't get my mind around how the sisters could leave that home in 1961, close the gates when it closed down, with 796 children buried beneath in the tunnels in coffins, a lot of them in the sewage tank area as we now know. What kind of mentality would leave that place without acknowledging that so many burials were there, so many precious lives were lost? The ideal would be to exhume those little bodies and just show them some dignity and reverence and to perhaps reinter them in the main Tuam graveyard which is only across the road. Hopefully, the commission of inquiry will give them [the survivors] justice. All they want is an apology and an acknowledgement of what happened to them and their mothers. My work campaigning on behalf of the survivors of mother and baby homes continues and I hope that this special award will give even more survivors the strength to come forward to tell their story. With each and every testimony, the truth is uncovered further and our campaign for justice to prevail is strengthened. I share this award with the all survivors - this is for them."
In the same year she received a Special Award for Investigative Research at Newsbrands Ireland Journalism Awards 2017.[31]
She was made one of Galway's People of the Year in February 2018.
In October 2018, Corless was awarded an honorary doctorate by
Corless received an honorary degree from Trinity College Dublin in December 2018.[37] On the same day, the Trinity Long Room Hub hosted an event, "In Conversation with Catherine Corless."[38]
Corless was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Literature by University College Dublin on 4 September 2019, "For the values of humanity Catherine exemplifies and for the difference she has made to the world."[39]
Personal life
Corless was born in Tuam and has lived in the area since then. She married her husband, Aidan Corless, in 1978.
References
- ^ a b c d e "Catherine Corless". Radio 4. BBC. 26 March 2017. Archived from the original on 22 September 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f Gentleman, Amelia (13 June 2014). "The mother behind the Galway children's mass grave story: 'I want to know who's down there'". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 June 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
- ^ Bohan, Christine. "She was right: How Catherine Corless uncovered what happened in Tuam". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 22 March 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ^ from the original on 28 October 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ^ Carroll, Rory. "A stain on Ireland's conscience': identification to begin of 796 bodies buried at children's home". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
- ^ Specia, Megan (12 January 2021). "Report Gives Glimpse into Horrors of Ireland's Mother and Baby Homes". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 12 September 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Milligan, Becky (21 June 2018). "The Home Babies: The Amateur Historian". BBC Radio 4. Archived from the original on 23 September 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
- ^ a b c "Amateur historian Catherine Corless honoured with Human Rights Award for Tuam Mothers and Baby work". Saidhbh O'Callaghan. Irish Independent. 26 October 2017. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
- ^ a b The Late Late Show. 10 March 2017.
- ^ "Campaign to recognise 800 dead Tuam babies". Denise McNamara. Connact Tribune. 13 February 2013. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
- ^ O'Reilly, Alison (25 May 2014). "A Mass Grave of 800 Babies" (PDF). The Irish Mail on Sunday. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 July 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
- ^ "Tuam mother and baby home: the trouble with the septic tank story". Rosita Boland. Irish Times. 7 June 2014. Archived from the original on 9 August 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
- ^ "Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation". Mother and Baby Home Commission. 3 March 2017. Archived from the original on 4 March 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- Irish Times. Archivedfrom the original on 29 April 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ^ O’Shea, Sinead (3 March 2017). "Infant and Fetus Remains Are Found at Ex-Home for Unwed Mothers in Ireland". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 5 March 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
- ^ "Tuam babies historian Catherine Corless on Late Late Show". RTÉ. 10 March 2017. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
- ^ "Catherine Corless described as Irish heroine after Late Late Show appearance". Anna O'Donoghue. breakingnews.ie. 11 March 2017. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
- ^ "'Powerful and disturbing' - No Country for Women documentary elicits massive response from viewers". Aoife Kelly. Irish Independent. 20 June 2018. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
- ^ a b "President Higgins praises Tuam historian Catherine Corless for "courage and perseverance"". Jack Quann. newstalk. 21 July 2018. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
- ^ "Woman who exposed Tuam mass baby grave told to 'just leave them there'". Trevor Quinn. Irish Mirror. 3 March 2017. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
- ^ a b "'I didn't realise my wife was on trial' - historian's husband". Ian Begley. Irish Independent. 13 March 2017. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
- ^ a b "Galway historian Catherine Corless receives Human Rights Award". Olivia Kelly. Irish Times. 26 October 2017. Archived from the original on 27 October 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ^ "Catherine Corless hits out at Tuam home process". Conall Ó Fátharta. Irish Examiner. 7 March 2018. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
- ^ "Proceed with exhumation, says Catherine Corless after national honour". Declan Varley. Galway Advertiser. 19 April 2018. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
- ^ "Catherine Corless turns down invitation to event with Pope Francis". Vivienne Clarke. Irish Times. 23 August 2018. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
- ^ "Vatican backs campaign for reburial of Tuam babies' remains". Brian Hutton. The Irish Times. 18 July 2020. Archived from the original on 1 June 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
- ^ "'Tuam babies' historian wins award". BBC News. 26 October 2017. Archived from the original on 30 September 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
- ^ Ryan, Órla. "'Fearless' Catherine Corless wins human rights award". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
- ^ Kelly, Olivia (26 October 2017). "Galway historian Catherine Corless receives Human Rights Award". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 27 October 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
- ^ "'Tuam babies' historian Catherine Corless wins award". BBC. 26 October 2017. Archived from the original on 27 October 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
- ^ "The Tuam Herald - Catherine Corless honoured at Journalism Awards 2017". The Tuam Herald. Archived from the original on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
- ^ "Catherine Corless is one of Galway's People of the Year". The Tuam Herald. 7 February 2018. Archived from the original on 3 August 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
- ^ "Historian Catherine Corless and campaigner Vera Twomey among winners honoured at People of the Year Awards - Independent.ie". Independent.ie. Archived from the original on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
- ^ "Coast Guard, Catherine Corless honoured at POTY awards". RTÉ.ie. 15 April 2018. Archived from the original on 16 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
- ^ "Twitter was so emotional after Catherine Corless' win at the People of the Year Awards last night". The Daily Edge. 16 April 2018. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
- ^ Burns, Sarah (14 October 2018). "NUI Galway awards honorary doctorates to Corless and Shannon". Irish Times. Archived from the original on 16 October 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
- ^ Burns, Sarah (7 December 2018). "Catherine Corless and Fr Tony Coote receive university honours". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 8 December 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
- ^ Regan, Mary (7 December 2018). "Possible to identify Tuam remains using DNA, Trinity Professor says". RTÉ. Archived from the original on 8 December 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
- ^ "Corless was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Literature". UCD Arts & Humanities. 4 September 2019. Archived from the original on 17 September 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
- ^ "Woman at center of Tuam babies story reveals her own sad past to NY Times". Niall O'Dowd. Irish Central. 28 October 2017. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.