Mayo woman set to complete unique pilgrimage in honour of 796 Tuam babies

A Mayo woman is set to complete 796 climbs of Knockma, the great Hill of Maeve situated eight kilometres west of Tuam, in honour of the 796 children and babies who died at St Mary’s mother and baby home, Tuam.

Anne Ronayne of Irishtown, Claremorris, will take the last steps of her unique pilgrimage on Saturday, July 26, at 1 p.m.

She began her task on January 1, 2023, in memory of the babies who died at the facility between 1925 and 1961 and for whom there are no burial records.

Many are believed to have been buried in a sewage facility.

Members of the public are welcome to join her on her final ascent.

She stated: "During my climbs I recorded little video clips stating the names of the missing babies out loud and their ages.

"My total journey from start to finish will be approximately 3,200 kilometres.

"I wanted to complete the climbs this month as August will mark 100 years since the remains of the first Tuam baby, five-month-old Patrick Derrane, was buried in the sewage system in Tuam in 1925.

"According to campaigner and historian Catherine Corless there are also six mothers who are unaccounted for in Tuam and I have done six climbs to honour them, bringing my total number of climbs to 802.

"Mine is a personal journey to honour the little ones and I have come to realise the importance of awareness in all of this.

"I have met so many people in the last year and a half who have the most incredible stories.

The investigation into the Tuam babies controversy began in 2015 after claims emerged that hundreds of babies were buried in a mass, unmarked grave, sparking international shock and outrage.

In 2017, investigators found what they described as "significant quantities of human remains" at the site.

Earlier this week the full excavation of a mass grave of babies and young children at Tuam got under way.