All children at Galway orphanage were baptized, records show

June 18, 2014

The Irish Archdiocese of Tuam has revealed that all of the children born out of wedlock at a "mother and child" home in Galway were baptized, contrary to reports that had circulated alleging that the children were buried without benefit of the sacraments.

Early reports about the Church-run institution in Galway had suggested that the bodies of nearly 800 children were discarded. In fact they were buried, and archdiocesan records prove that they were baptized. The impoverished institution did have a very high rate of mortality among infants, reflecting the generally high rate in all of Ireland during the early 20th century.

 

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Further information:

• The Galway Horror Part II (America)
• Irish government plans probe of all 'mother and baby' homes (CWN, 6/10)