TripZillaWe’ve already introduced you to some real bloodcurdling places where you’ll run into ghouls, haunted dolls, and frankly, some truly gruesome images. Now, we have something equally hair-raising to share. Get ready to read Ireland’s very own horror story.
Image credits: Catherine Corless/Tuam Historical Society
After more than five decades of its destruction, “The Home” as it was once called, has finally unveiled its secrets. In a small town in Western Ireland, the bones of 800 dead babies have been found piled up in a massive septic tank. “The Home” that was once home to thousands of ‘fallen women’ and their illegitimate children, is now the location of a housing development and children’s playground.
According to history, 1925-1961 marked a dark period of time in the lives of women. During that time, an unmarried pregnant woman was considered to be the worst thing in the world. If an unmarried daughter became pregnant, she would be completely ostracized, even by her own family. This was unfortunate as most of the women were raped. Without any support, hundreds of women landed up at the doors of the Home. Here, stigmatization did not end. The Home was run by Bon Secours nuns in Tuam where women could leave after finding work, but their children, known as “Home Babies” were made to live unbearable lives.
At schools, the Home babies were always segregated to one side of the class. If other students acted up in class, the nuns would often threaten to seat them next to the Home Babies. This basically perpetuated the stigmas. Students would play tricks on the Home Babies – they would wrap stones in brightly coloured candy wrappers and give it to the Home Babies. This was a terrible trick to play as Home Babies have never tried candy before.
Also read: 8 Real Haunted Places Around the World You May Not Want to Visit
Image credits: Limerick1914
Image credits: Limerick1914
They were described to be emaciated, pot-bellied, and “fragile with flesh hanging loosely on limbs”. According to reports, two babies were dying every week due to malnutrition, neglect, measles convulsions, TB, gastroenteritis and pneumonia.
Catherine Corless, the local historian and genealogist, heard about a graveyard near the demolished Home and decided to investigate. She found the remnants of a staggering 800 dead children littered across the septic tank. No burials or coffins were made; only skulls and bones remained.
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