Catherine Corless (née Farrell; born 1954)[1] is an Irish historian, known for her work in compiling the information concerning the deaths of children at the Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, Galway.
After gaining an interest in local history from attending an evening course, Corless decided to write an article about the mother and baby home inspired by her own childhood memories of the institution.
She spent her spare time searching records in libraries, churches and council offices, and uncovered that 796 children died in the home.
Following the 2020 government report on deaths and abuses at Mother and Baby homes, the Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin called Corless a “tireless crusader of dignity and truth”.
[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.
[9][7] 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.
[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.
[4] After the story appeared in the national media, Corless has stated she was contacted by the Bon Secours headquarters in Cork and told that she had upset the older Religious sisters and that her information was untrue.
In 2017, speaking after receiving a Human Rights Award for her work, she said "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.
"[22] She was critical of the consultation process on the future of the site put in place by Galway County Council, and called on the public to show a preference for the option of a full forensic examination, stating this would "bring the long-awaited justice to the families of the babies buried in this tank".
"[24] Corless turned down an invitation to a reception for Pope Francis's visit to Ireland, and attended a vigil that was held at the same time as the Papal Mass, stating that she was "taking a stand with the babies".
[26] In September 2024, Corless attended a leg of a 62km memorial walk to highlight the 796 missing children and babies at Tuam, with a guard of honour formed by the public.
[27] At the end of the walk the names of the children were read from the pages of Corless' book and the Chapel Street Gospel Choir sang.
[37] The President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, praised the work of Catherine Corless whilst speaking at the Galway International Arts Festival.
"[40] 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.