Production is underway on feature film The Lost Children of Tuam, directed by Frank Berry (Aisha, Michael Inside).
Written by Rebeca Lenkiewicz (The Salt Path, She Said), the film is based on The New York Times article ‘The Lost Children of Tuam’ by Dan Barry, published in 2017. The film will focus on history enthusiast Catherine Corless, who whilst researching the Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, County Galway, for a local historical society, uncovered a devastating possibility that as many as 796 children had been buried in unmarked graves on the property. The discovery rallied a campaign for justice for both victims and survivors of the home. Excavation of the mass grave began in the summer of 2025.
BAFTA award-winning Monica Dolan (Sherwood, Mr Bates vs The Post Office) has been cast as Catherine Corless, with further cast including Andrew Bennett (God’s Creatures, The Quiet Girl) and Ian McElhinney (Game of Thrones, Derry Girls).
The film is presented by BBC Film and Screen Ireland in association with Fremantle, Coimisiún na Meán, MK2 and RTÉ as an Element Pictures/Big Red/El Paso production in association with Port Pictures and co-producer Besides Pictures. MK2 is handling worldwide sales, with Volta Pictures Distribution releasing the film in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Liam Neeson, who optioned the rights to the New York Times article, will produce for El Paso Films, along with Jules Daly for Big Red Films, Chelsea Morgan Hoffmann, Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe for Element Pictures and Martina Niland for Port Pictures. Executive producers are Kristin Irving for BBC Film, Niamh Fagan for Screen Ireland and Christian Vesper for Fremantle.
HoDs on board include director of photography Kate McCullough (Normal People, The Quiet Girl), production designer Lucy van Lonkhuyzen (Normal People), costume designer Triona Lillis (Black Shore), hair designer Joe Whelan (The Doll Factory), make-up designer Liz Byrne (Blue Moon) and casting director Fiona Weir (We Live in Time).
Catherine Corless said: “It is a great honour to me that a dedicated, professional and high profile film crew are creating this film, which follows my arduous journey from when I first discovered what really happened in Tuam and the struggle I faced to bring this truth to light against so many obstacles. It’s startling too, that I have observed the passion with which Frank Berry and his team are ensuring that the truth of what happened is paramount, and I am grateful, for that has been the essence of my long journey. It is said that a good film is immortal, and I have no doubt that ‘The Lost Children of Tuam’ will come under that spotlight.”
Frank Berry, Director, said: “It is a privilege for us to tell the story of how Catherine Corless uncovered the truth about the Tuam Mother and Baby Home. As Catherine has said, we must face this history, and our hope is that this film makes a meaningful contribution to that process. We have a remarkable cast, led by the amazing Monica Dolan, and crew who are all approaching this subject with great care and sensitivity, aware of its deep significance in Ireland and beyond.”
Liam Neeson, Producer, said: “I am so honoured and proud that after eight years of preparation we are to start production on this profound story of one woman’s relentless pursuit and dedication in uncovering the horrific truth of the events in Tuam that shocked our nation to its core and is still reverberating in every aspect of our society. The truth will out.”
Rebeca Lenkiewicz, Screenwriter, said: “The story of Tuam is so important and is so resonant today in terms of children and who is deemed worthy of care and who is not. It is a shattering and vital interrogation into the past that carries into our present. It shows what one person can do in terms of action and Catherine Corless’ determination and passion is an inspiration.”
Chelsea Morgan Hoffmann, Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Martina Niland and Jules Daly, Producers, added: “Catherine Corless has served as an inspiration to so many in her campaign for justice, and along with the combined creative genius of writer Rebecca Lenkiewicz and director Frank Berry, the brilliant Monica Dolan playing Catherine, and all of our outstanding cast and crew we are honoured to finally bring this story to the big screen.”
Jon Creamer
Share this story
