State of the World from NPR Uncovering the Secrets of an Irish Home for Unwed Mothers
Aug 25, 2025
The podcast reveals the haunting history of an Irish home for unwed mothers, where societal stigma and deep emotional scars prevailed. It uncovers the heartbreaking tales of forced separations, as families were torn apart and a mass grave of infants was found nearby. Personal narratives illustrate the painful legacy of abandonment and the lingering effects of institutional neglect. The discussion also highlights the complexities surrounding adoption and the ways DNA testing is helping families reconnect with their lost loved ones.
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Hidden Family Secrets Revealed
- Anna Corrigan discovered in her 50s that her mother had two sons born before marriage and had hidden that past.
- She found admission documents and birth certificates that revealed family secrets kept until her mother's death.
A Child Separated And Reunited
- PJ Haverty was born in the Toome mother and baby home and separated from his mother by the institution.
- He later reunited with his mother decades later after growing up in foster care and learned of the nuns' refusal to return him.
Silence Enabled A Hidden Tragedy
- Locals in Toome long knew of a mass grave of infants but did not act out of deference to the Church.
- Historian Corliss uncovered 796 death certificates, revealing a far higher child death rate at the home than national averages.