A landmark new exhibition, Survivor Stories: Tuam and Ireland’s Institutional Past, has opened at Galway City Museum, marking the first dedicated museum installation in Ireland to explore the history and legacy of Mother and Baby institutions.
Developed through a collaboration between University of Galway and Galway City Museum, the exhibition examines Ireland’s treatment of unmarried mothers and their children, with a particular focus on the Tuam Mother and Baby institution and the enduring impact of institutionalisation on survivors and their families.
At the heart of the exhibition are the voices of 18 survivors, whose powerful testimonies are shared through audio, visual and oral history. Through personal stories, photographs, documents and treasured objects, visitors are invited to engage with first-hand accounts of institutional life and reflect on its lasting impact across generations. The exhibition also recognises the extraordinary work of Catherine Corless, whose research brought international attention to the history of the Tuam institution.
Survivor Stories has been developed in partnership with University of Galway’s survivor-led Tuam Oral History Project, led by Dr Sarah-Anne Buckley and Dr John Cunningham. Since 2018, the project has worked with survivors, their families and others directly affected by Ireland’s institutional past to collect oral testimonies, preserve personal artefacts and document lived experiences that might otherwise have been lost.
The exhibition offers visitors a unique opportunity to listen, learn and reflect on one of the most difficult chapters in modern Irish history, while highlighting the importance of preserving survivor testimony for future generations.
The exhibition also marks the first collaboration between Galway City Museum and University of Galway under a new memorandum of understanding designed to strengthen partnership between the two organisations in research, public engagement and cultural programming.
Survivor Stories: Tuam and Ireland’s Institutional Past will run at Galway City Museum from July to September 2026 in the museum foyer. Admission is free, and the exhibition is expected to engage both Irish and international visitors.
Learn more about Survivor Stories and the Tuam Oral History Project.
