Brief
Monica Dolan says new film ‘The Lost Children of Tuam’ will shine light on Irish abuse scandal
The actress hopes the drama will bring wider awareness to the hidden history of neglect and loss in Ireland.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Bafta‑winning actress Monica Dolan told the Press Association that her new film The Lost Children of Tuam aims to highlight injustice by dramatising the story of amateur historian Catherine Corless, who uncovered the burial of 796 babies and young children at a mother‑and‑baby home in Tuam, County Galway.
Dolan, 57, noted that portraying Corless – a regular history‑class attendee – makes the investigation more relatable for audiences. She said, “People need to know about that… you see things from their point of view as an audience, and I just think that really helps the audience to sense the injustice.”
The film, produced by Liam Neeson and based on a 2017 New York Times article by Dan Barry, follows Corless as she confronts the local community, the Irish state and the Catholic Church. It also depicts a growing network of survivors and campaigners seeking justice.
Dolan, who previously won an Olivier award for All About Eve and a Bafta for Appropriate Adult, added that drama can connect viewers personally to historical wrongs, encouraging a broader public conversation about the mother‑and‑baby homes, where up to 68,000 women were placed and as many as 9,000 children died.
Key facts
- Monica Dolan stars in the film "The Lost Children of Tuam" as Catherine Corless. (standard.co.uk)
- The film is produced by Liam Neeson and based on a 2017 New York Times article. (standard.co.uk)
- Research by Corless indicated 796 babies and children were buried at St Mary's home between 1925 and 1961. (standard.co.uk)
- Up to 68,000 women entered Irish mother‑and‑baby homes and up to 9,000 children died in such institutions. (standard.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] standard.co.uk — originally reported as “‘I found story extremely affecting’: Monica Dolan on The Lost Children Of Tuam”
