From Tuam to Bessborough to honour kids

A three-day commemorative walk in remembrance of the children who died at Mother and Baby homes in Cork and Galway will take place between Friday 21 August and Sunday 23 August.

The walk – which will cover 215km – will take participants from the site of the former St Mary’s Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, Co. Galway, to the site of the former Bessborough Mother and Baby Home in Cork.

The route will begin in Tuam, passing through Claregalway, Oranmore, Kilcolgan, Gort, Ennis, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Sixmilebridge, Limerick, Patrickswell, Charleville and Mallow, before arriving at the Bessborough site in Cork city.

A short remembrance event will be held at the former Bessborough site at approximately 5pm on Sunday 23 August.

The walk is being led by Anne Fahey Ronayne in partnership with A Little Light of Love.

Ronayne previously carried out a remembrance walk in Co. Galway.

Between 1 January 2023 and 26 July 2025, she climbed Knockma, a hill eight kilometres to the west of Tuam, 796 times, once for each of the children who died in the Tuam home.

A Little Light of Love was a relay of walkers from Mayo to Galway.

They carried a lantern from Jack's Old Cottage - a heritage site in Islandeady, Co. Mayo – to the site of the former Tuam Mother and Baby Home, a distance of approximately 62km.

The walk was held annually for four years, until the site of the former home was closed for the excavation and exhumation in 2024.

As the walkers make their way from Tuam to Cork, they will speak aloud the name of every baby, together with their age, and the date on which they died.

A key point which the walk looks to raise awareness of is that many of the children who died at both homes were buried in unmarked graves.

By connecting these two places, the organisers hope to encourage continued reflection on this chapter of Ireland’s history, while affirming the dignity of every child and every family affected.

Ann Fahey Ronayne said: “Every step we take on this walk is for the babies whose lives were so tragically cut short. As we walk the 220 kilometres, we will speak every baby’s name aloud, together with their age and the day they died.

“We want every child to be acknowledged, remembered, and honoured. This journey is about connecting two places through remembrance, compassion and love, while giving each child the dignity of hearing their name spoken once again,” she said.

Valerie Jennings, founder of A Little Light of Love said: “This walk has nothing to do with politics or religion, just remembrance of the beautiful babies, the precious mothers and the brave survivors.

“We need to remember them all. The purpose of this walk is an extension of an artery of love from Tuam to Bessborough. Our lantern carries a message of hope and compassion for children and families whose stories deserve to be told.

“We are honoured to join Anne on this journey from Tuam to Bessborough,” she said.

The organisers also said that they are encouraging members of the public to support the walkers, and join them for sections of the journey, or to welcome them as they pass through towns and villages along the way.