Mayo woman close to completing 796 climbs of Galway hill in memory of babies in Tuam Mother and Baby Home
Anne Fahey Ronayne from Hollymount is climbing Knockma Hill in County Galway 796 times in memory of babies who died in Tuam Mother and Baby Home
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A Mayo woman seeking to climb Knockma Hill 796 times in memory of the babies who died in Tuam Mother and Baby Home is nearing the end of her journey.
Hollymount native Anne Fahey Ronayne began climbing Knockma on January 1, 2023. Her goal is to climb the hill 796 times by August 22 – once for each baby that died in the home. This date falls exactly 100 years after the first baby, Patrick Derrane (five months old), was place in the sewage system in Tuam in 1925.
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Irish Times
6 days ago
- Irish Times
Tuam mother and baby home excavation to begin on Monday with search for remains of 796 children who died there
The long-awaited excavation of the Tuam babies site in Co Galway is set to go ahead from Monday. The excavation will take place 11 years after local historian Catherine Corless 's original research revealed that 796 children died at the Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home between 1924 and 1961. A lack of burial records indicated the children could be buried on the site. Just two children were buried in local graveyards. The families involved were invited to visit the site over the last few weeks, as from next week there will be a 2.4-metre hoarding around the perimeter and 24-hour security. READ MORE The families will have an opportunity to view the site works as part of a Family and Survivors Day that the Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam (ODAIT) is holding on Monday. The director of the exhumation, Daniel MacSweeney, said the process is likely to take two years and will be a 'unique and incredibly complex excavation'. In 2015, the then-government established the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes to examine what happened to women and children in those institutions from 1922 to 1998. A test excavation carried out in Tuam in 2017 discovered a significant amount of human remains in what appeared to be a decommissioned sewage chamber. Tests conducted on the bodies revealed that those who died were between 35 foetal weeks and three years of age, and their deaths dated from the time that the mother and baby home existed. The commission concluded: 'The combination of an institutional boarding home and commingled interments of juvenile remains in a sewage treatment system is a unique situation, with no directly comparable domestic or international cases.' In October 2018 the government announced that it would introduce legislation to facilitate a full excavation of the site. As part of the upcoming excavation process, a multidisciplinary forensic team was recruited. The Sisters of the Bon Secours have offered to give €12.97 million to the Government's redress scheme for survivors of mother and baby institutions. In 2021 it issued an apology stating that the children involved were buried in a 'disrespectful and unacceptable way'. [ Woman was 70 when she found out her early years were spent in Tuam home Opens in new window ] [ 'I was a Tuam baby': Boston man appeals for records detailing his past Opens in new window ] The congregation's area leader, Sr Eileen O'Connor, acknowledged the order were 'part of the system in which they suffered hardship, loneliness and terrible hurt. We acknowledge in particular that infants and children who died at the home were buried in a disrespectful and unacceptable way. For all that, we are deeply sorry'.
Irish Times
02-06-2025
- Irish Times
Stephen Rochford's influence was all over Mayo's strong display over Tyrone
With the admittedly pretty significant exception of the 2021 All-Ireland final, Mayo 's record against Tyrone hadn't been too bad going into the weekend's All-Ireland Group 1 fixture in Omagh. The counties were honours-even from the six matches played until Saturday. In the absence of Kevin McStay, happily recovering from a health scare, the reins were taken by his assistant, Stephen Rochford. Nine years ago, Rochford was manager when Mayo sprang a tactical coup on Tyrone, then Ulster champions. In his column for The Irish Times, now Donegal manager Jim McGuinness was impressed by how Mayo had shut down their opponents in the opening quarter before posing a conundrum by forcing them to choose between sweepers marking inside forwards where Aidan O'Shea was causing havoc and staying farther out to prevent the extra men being used as kickout options. READ MORE 'The fact that they had first pre-empted what Tyrone were going to do until the dust had settled and they had a good read on the game was also interesting,' he commented. There were similarities on Saturday in that Mayo contained the home team in the early stages before turning the screw as it became clear that they were bringing more energy to the encounter than Tyrone. As Malachy O'Rourke said of his team's disappointing display: 'They came and hit the ground running. 'We were hoping to do the same thing ... it was a flat performance. We didn't get to the pitch of the game at all. At half-time we were whatever, six or seven points [actually, eight] behind. It was always an uphill task.' Mayo manager Stephen Rochford and Tyrone manager Malachy O'Rourke after the game. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho The contest came within a week of superb result for Tyrone, the defeat of Ulster champions Donegal on their home patch in Ballybofey for the first time in McGuinness's management. That was never really an influence on expectations though, as Mayo's most recent match had ended in a catastrophic home defeat by Cavan, which still threatens their progress. For most, the halfhearted insistence that 'you never know with Mayo – when least expected, they can produce a result," sounded like whistling past the graveyard. Instead, the Connacht finalists rolled back the years and produced a major performance. Where did it come from? There were extraneous influences. O'Rourke referenced Kevin McStay's health issues but nothing that had happened looked likely to move the dial on two desperately disappointing if not demoralising performances, the Connacht final against Galway and the opening group fixture against Cavan. There was, however, a fortnight to reset and take the sting out of the setbacks. They had been focusing on Tyrone for the previous fortnight, since the Cavan defeat whereas their opponents had to focus on Donegal for half of that time. Pressure also eased with underdog status, as apart from the 'wouldn't be surprised' constituency, most people with a view on it, would definitely not have been expecting what happened. For a team in that situation, a good start – as mentioned by McGuinness in 2016 – is very important. It steadies the nerves and also sows seeds of doubt in the opposition. Mayo were lively and alert in defence, challenging the ball carrier and winning the vast preponderance of their 12 turnovers in that area. Tyrone's Rory Brennan and Conal Dawson of Mayo. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho David McBrien's patient tracking of Conn Kilpatrick and the deft tackle to dispossess him was an exemplar. Mayo still effectively had to win the match twice. Thanks to Darren McHale's fortuitous goal before half-time after Niall Morgan had spilled a dropping ball, they led by eight, 1-9 to 0-4. It was a curious mirror image of the previous week when Tyrone were clearly the better team but looked to have been caught by Donegal before they finished more strongly. Mayo looked better on Saturday but after Darragh Canavan had been allowed approach goal a little too closely and duly raised a green flag for Tyrone, Morgan's two-point free cut the margin to one. Like in Ballybofey a week earlier, momentum looked to have switched completely. Instead, the visitors looked like they had got their second wind and stretched the margin nearly all the way back again, to seven points by the end. As well as the constant energy that Mayo brought to the task, they were able to supplement it off the bench, most eye-catchingly in the case of Davitt Neary , who earned the penalty that killed the contest and looked at times to be existing in a different dimension to the Tyrone defence, so easily was he speeding through the tiring defence. Ryan O'Donoghue hadn't been having the best of matches, turning over ball and missing kicks but when the penalty was awarded – despite its awakening obvious memories of the 2021 All-Ireland final – O'Donoghue stepped forward, underlining the view of him that he has no memory. He simply moves from one task to another with no thought of what has gone before. His kick gave Morgan no chance. Mayo's Rory Brickenden and Mattie Donnelly of Tyrone. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho One oddity of the win is that some of Mayo's stats were those of a team that could have lost. Their conversion rate was poorer and players got blocked down when kicking, on seven occasions. It didn't happen even once to Tyrone. The big difference was that like Limerick hurlers most days they go out, Mayo amassed a big shots count. They had 35 against a very low 17 for the opposition – which meant they could comfortably carry a lower conversion rate. This was made possible by a very impressive attack-to-shot ratio, which touched 90 per cent, meaning that Mayo were getting shots away with nearly every sortie forward, something that Tyrone were unable to do. That's hard work. There were also old-fashioned, big performances from leadership figures such as Paddy Durcan on his return from a year's absence with a cruciate injury. Understandably rusty after such a lay-off, he was one of the players blocked but he compensated with 0-3 from play and was the GAA+ man of the match although Aidan O'Shea was surely in that conversation as well. Tirelessly available whether on the inside where nearly everything sent his way stuck or around the middle for kickouts or simply orchestrating the sustained possessions that are so much a part of the new rules, he was still going at the end – shooting one of the last points and hustling all around the Tyrone half. Seán Morahan and Conal Dawson made debuts, the latter shooting two points. The performance and especially the result must have created massive confidence in the camp, presumably undisturbed by the engaging reality that if they can't get something out of Donegal, the season is likely done. But for a fortnight, Mayo will be back to what they do best – living in hope.
Irish Times
30-05-2025
- Irish Times
Crunch time for Mayo and Galway on bumper weekend of GAA action
Saturday All-Ireland SFC, Round Two Group One Tyrone v Mayo, Healy Park, 7pm (Live on GAA+): In the county's extensive history of difficult weeks, Mayo put down yet another one over the last seven days. The optics of the GAA president and director general both attending a hastily called Mayo County Board meeting on Monday wasn't a particularly resplendent look for all involved. More importantly, news of Kevin McStay's health issues forcing him to step away as manager at this time is a worry that goes beyond football. All of this unspooled just one week after Mayo's surprise loss to Cavan . That loss means they will struggle to emerge from this group now so to at least keep their summer alive a little longer Mayo must not leave Omagh empty-handed. But if Tyrone reproduce their Ballybofey form, that's likely to be Mayo's fate. Verdict: Tyrone Group Two READ MORE Cork v Kerry, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 4.45pm (Live on GAA+): Once bitten ... and all that. Kerry received a hell of a scare from Cork in the Munster semi-final in April so that will be fresh in the minds of the Kingdom's players and management. Cork's lacklustre display against Meath last weekend must be a worry for the Rebels. That was a game John Cleary would have targeted for two points, but Cork played with no spark in Navan. Verdict: Kerry Roscommon v Meath, Dr Hyde Park, 6pm: Roscommon have never beaten Meath in championship football. This is the fifth time the sides will have clashed – with Meath winning the previous four (1952, 1991, 2006, 2009.) Robbie Brennan's Meath also beat Roscommon in the league this year but the Rossies still finished in the promotion places while Meath did not. This is likely to be a close affair between two evenly matched sides and could end in stalemate. Verdict: Draw Group Three Down v Louth, Páirc Esler, 5.30pm: Down delivered one of the most comprehensive displays of the opening round with a 3-27 to 1-16 dismissal of Clare in Ennis. Louth edged Down by a point when the sides met in the league in February so don't be surprised if this one comes down to a winning score at the death. Louth have had some injury issues in recent weeks though and they were denied permission to play their round one 'home' game against Monaghan in Newry as Down didn't want to cede any advantage ahead of this game. Verdict: Down Odhran Murdock of Down goes for a score. Photograph: Natasha Barton/Inpho Tailteann Cup, Round three Group Two Wicklow v Waterford, Wexford Park, 6pm: Wicklow's solid win over Laois last time out leaves them on course for a place in the knockout stages. A draw or a win here will guarantee Oisín McConville's side progression from the group. They face a Waterford side who, whilst competitive, lost to both Laois and Offaly. Verdict: Wicklow Offaly v Laois, St Conleth's Park, 6pm: Laois manager Justin McNulty was critical of his team's performance following their defeat to Wicklow in round two. Offaly, meanwhile, have been the form team in this group and that momentum should see them make it three wins from three. Verdict: Offaly Group Three Westmeath v Limerick, O'Moore Park, 2pm: This is a straight shootout for top spot and a pass directly to the quarter-finals. Dermot McCabe's Westmeath appear to have hit some real form in recent weeks and their high-scoring victories over London (0-26 to 1-10) and Antrim (4-24 to 1-17) suggest they might have superior firepower here on Limerick. Verdict: Westmeath Nickey Rackard Cup final Mayo v Roscommon, Croke Park, 1pm (Live on TG4 YouTube): Mayo had seven points to spare on Roscommon when the sides met in April and while Roscommon have shown to carry a real goalscoring threat this year, their Connacht neighbours look to have a better balance to their team. Mayo lost last year's final to Donegal. Verdict: Mayo Lory Meagher Cup final Cavan v New York, Croke Park, 3pm (Live on TG4 YouTube): New York's participation in the competition has sparked plenty of debate in recent weeks and they enter this final as unbackable favourites. New York were parachuted in at the semi-final stages, where they beat Monaghan 1-29 to 2-13. Verdict: New York Christy Ring Cup final Derry v London, Croke Park, 5pm (Live on TG4 YouTube): Derry overcame London by four points when the sides met in Ruislip during the group stages. Both sides have shown impressive form this season but Derry have been the most consistent side in this year's Christy Ring and are hoping to make it third time lucky after losing the last two finals. Verdict: Derry All-Ireland under-20 hurling final Kilkenny v Tipperary, UPMC Nowlan Park, 3pm (Live on TG4): Kilkenny's path to this final came with wins over Laois and Dublin in Leinster whereas the round-robin format in Munster meant Tipp played all comers in their province – beating Cork, Clare and Limerick. They then beat Clare again in the Munster final and should enter this decider much more battled-hardened than the Cats. Tipperary are also still stewing from last year's All-Ireland final defeat to Offaly. Verdict: Tipperary Sunday All-Ireland SFC, Round Two Group One Cavan v Donegal, Kingspan Breffni, 2pm Interesting to see what sort of reaction Donegal bring here, having thrown away a good position after a very patchy display against Tyrone. Cavan surprised everyone by tearing Mayo to shreds so Jim McGuinness's side will be well-warned. Shaun Patton's importance can rarely have been better advertised than last Saturday night so the sooner Donegal have him back taking kickouts the better. They should probably be too strong for Cavan but then we said that about Mayo too. Verdict: Donegal Group Three Monaghan v Clare, Clones, 4pm Monaghan have been impressive, putting Louth away for more comfortably than the scoreline suggested last weekend. They will surely have plenty in hand against a Clare team that couldn't get out of Division Three and have lost by 11 and 17 in their last two games. Verdict: Monaghan Stephen O'Hanlon of Monaghan. Photograph: Ciaran Culligan/Inpho Group Four Derry v Galway, Celtic Park, 2pm (Live on GAA+) Not exactly a loser-goes-home game but not a million miles off it. Whoever is beaten here will still have a chance to escape deep water in a fortnight but it's a long, long way to the surface. The return of Odhran Lynch and Lachlan Murray give Dery some hope – god knows they need it. They won't find much encouragement from their home record anyway – they haven't won a championship match in Celtic Park since June 7th 2015, a decade ago almost to the day. Not a lot of succour in their history against Galway either – in five championship meetings down the years, they've lost every game. Galway look to have evolved past their dependence on having both Shane Walsh and Damien Comer available at the same time, which can only be a good thing. A team with their pretensions can't afford a defeat here. Verdict: Galway Dublin v Armagh, Croke Park, 4pm (Live on RTE Two) The only game of the weekend between two first-round winners. It's first time that Dublin have faced a proper All-Ireland contender in Croke Park in a group game in either the old Super 8s or the current format, so there should be some electricity. The absence of Con O'Callaghan is a killer for Dublin, who don't have a replacement. That said, they will be heartened to see Lee Gannon back after they feared his season was done. Armagh have a deeper squad and a cleaner bill of health. Should be enough. Verdict: Armagh Tailteann Cup, Round three Group One Kildare v Sligo, Dr Hyde Park, 2pm Sligo are nobody's mugs and drew this fixture in the 2023 Tailteann Cup. Both these teams will progress so it might take a slight edge off. With Daniel Flynn back firing, Kildare could have a class edge. But not by much. Verdict: Kildare Leitrim v Tipperary, Mullingar, 1.30pm Still something to play for here – a Tipperary win will likely earn them a spot in the next round. Leitrim's points difference leaves them with more of an uphill struggle and they haven't won a game since May 2024 so they can be forgiven for just wanting the season over. Verdict: Tipperary Group Three Antrim v London, Newry, 1.45pm This has really turned into a rotten season for Antrim. Relegation from Division Three has been followed by a championship in which they've been conceding cricket scores. Even this fixture is a bit forlorn – both teams have such a lead weight points difference that a win most likely won't buy them passage to the knock-out stage. Might favour London, oddly. Verdict: London Group Four Carlow v Longford, O'Connor Park, 1.45pm Joe Murphy has performed quite the exorcism in Carlow, going unbeaten against Wexford (Division Four champions) and Fermanagh (finished a point off promotion in Division Three). They should have enough to put Longford away and will probably top the group. Nobody saw that coming when Shane Curran walked in late March. Verdict: Carlow Fermanagh v Wexford, Croke Park, 1.45pm - GAA+ Crunch tie of the day in the Tailteann Cup. Fermanagh came so close to beating Down in Ulster that most presumed they'd breeze through the early stages of the Tailteann but Carlow nipped them in a stone-cold classic. Wexford were four up going into injury-time against Carlow the last day but gave up a goal and point at the death. In four meetings between the teams, Fermanagh haven't been beaten. This is no time to be making history. Verdict: Fermanagh
