The Lost Children of Tuam to premiere at Galway Film Fleadh

Ellen O'Donoghue

The Lost Children of Tuam is to premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh on Saturday, July 11th.

It is based on The New York Times article, The Lost Children of Tuam by Dan Barry, published in 2017, and features Monica Dolan as Catherine Corless alongside Andrew Bennett and Ian McElhinney.

The film tells the real-life story of how, while researching the Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home in Tuam for a local historical society, history enthusiast Catherine Corless uncovered the devastating possibility that as many as 796 children had been buried in unmarked graves on the property.

The discovery began a campaign for justice for both victims and survivors of the home that has had a lasting impact on Ireland today.

Key cast members and creatives are set to attend.

The film was directed by Frank Berry of Aisha and Michael Inside, and written by Rebecca Leniewicz.

Catherine Corless said that the director, writer, producers and whole team put "their hearts and energy into this film, to portray the truth of what really happened in the Tuam Home.

"I am indebted to you all for bringing this movie to the big screen," she said.

In a joint statement, the producers, which include Liam Neeson, said "audiences will now see this profound story of 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.”

Liam Neeson optioned the rights to the New York Times article and acts as producer for El Paso Films, along with Jules Daly for Big Red Films, Chelsea Morgan Hoffmann, Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe for Oscar-winning Element Pictures and Martina Niland for Port Pictures.

The world premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh brings the story to audiences in the west of Ireland, just a short distance from where the events took place.

"We could not imagine a more meaningful and fitting start to the journey of this film," director Berry said.

Galway Film Fleadh programmer Charlene Lydon described the movie as a profoundly moving and important piece of filmmaking.

"Frank Berry approaches this story with immense sensitivity, compassion and humanity, creating a film that honours the lives of the children and the experiences of survivors while confronting a painful chapter of our shared history," Lydon said.

The world premiere will take place at 8.20pm on Saturday, July 11th at Town Hall Theatre in Galway, and tickets are available here.