The Home Babies

Latest Episodes:

The Home Babies: The End For Now Jul 27, 2018

Becky Milligan continues her series about a former home for unmarried mothers in Tuam in the west of Ireland, and the work of amateur historian Catherine Corless. Catherine's discoveries prompted the Irish Government to begin an investigation into mother and baby homes across Ireland.

In episode ten Becky meets a girl who was sent to one of the homes when she got pregnant. By sharing her story, we hear about the unbearable pain of giving up a baby, and how the girls felt being rejected by their family, society and the church.

The Home Babies: The State Jul 20, 2018

In episode nine Becky tries to find out how much the state knew about what happened to the children who were born in the home.

In 2012 a leaked briefing note between senior members of the Irish Health Service suggested that the trafficking of babies for adoption to America was “facilitated by doctors, social workers and other health professionals”.

The Home Babies: The Church Jul 13, 2018

Becky Milligan continues her series about a former home for unmarried mothers in Tuam in the West of Ireland, and the work of amateur historian Catherine Corless. Catherine's discoveries prompted the Irish Government to begin an investigation into mother and baby homes across Ireland.

In Episode Eight Becky tries to find out how the Catholic church responds to the story, and she meets a retired social worker, who served as a nun for 30 years, and a former priest. They describe how "the Church had more power than the State" prior to the 1970’s, and how the priests and nuns saw themselves as the “moral guardians of the community…that nobody questioned.”

The Home Babies: The Americans Jul 09, 2018

In episode seven Becky hears from Michael who was adopted by a family in America "sight unseen" at the age of three. Despite being immersed in American suburban life and culture, as an adult he and his wife returned to Ireland to try and trace his birth mother.

The Home Babies: The Survivors Jun 29, 2018

Becky Milligan continues her series of reports about a former home for unmarried mothers in the West of Ireland and the work of an amateur historian Catherine Corless. Catherine's discoveries prompted the Irish Government to begin an investigation into mother and baby homes across Ireland. Episode six, Becky finds out what life has been like for two of those born in the Tuam home.

The Home Babies: Inside the home Jun 22, 2018

Becky Milligan continues her series about a former home for unmarried mothers in Tuam, in the West of Ireland, and the work of amateur historian Catherine Corless.

Catherine's discoveries prompted the Irish Government to begin an investigation into the institutions.

In this fifth episode Becky takes us inside the old home when it was up and running between 1925 and 1961 and hears from previous residents.

The Home Babies: The Grave Jun 21, 2018

Becky Milligan continues her series of reports about a former mother and baby home for unmarried mothers in the town of Tuam in the west of Ireland.

Amateur historian Catherine Corless is sometimes called the Erin Brockovich of Ireland. Her discovery of 800 babies buried in a mass grave in the grounds of that former home has prompted the Irish Government to begin an investigation into those institutions. In this episode, we hear about the excavation of the site.

The Home Babies: The Amateur Historian Jun 21, 2018

Becky Milligan continues her series of reports about a former mother and baby home for unmarried mothers in the town of Tuam in the west of Ireland.

The Home Babies: The Bones Jun 21, 2018

This is a story about the work of an amateur historian Catherine Corless, who uncovered a mass grave of babies buried in the grounds of a former home for unmarried mothers in the town of Tuam, Ireland.

Her discoveries prompted the Irish government to begin an investigation in the church-run institutions. In the second episode of The Home Babies for Radio 4's PM programme, Becky Milligan takes us back to the 1970s.

The Home Babies: The Wall Jun 16, 2018

Catherine Corless is an amateur historian. She has been called the Erin Brockovich of Ireland, after uncovering the story of an unmarked grave of nearly 800 infants at a former institution for unmarried mothers.

Her work prompted the Irish government to open an investigation into mother and baby homes.

For Radio 4's PM programme reporter Becky Milligan has been hearing the story of one home, and the woman who found out the truth.