‘The Lost Children Of Tuam’: First Footage Of Monica Dolan In Galway Opener About Shocking Burial Discovery

EXCLUSIVE: Here’s first footage of BAFTA-winning actress Monica Dolan (Mr Bates vs The Post Office) in drama The Lost Children Of Tuam, which will have its world premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh on Saturday 11th July.

Directed by Frank Berry (Michael Inside), and written by Rebecca Lenkiewicz (The Salt Path), the film is based on The New York Times article by Dan Barry, and focuses on real-life history enthusiast Catherine Corless, who whilst researching the Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, County Galway, for a local historical society, uncovered the devastating possibility that as many as 796 children had been buried in unmarked graves on the property. Excavation of the mass grave began in the summer of 2025.

The official synopsis reads: “In rural Ireland, amateur historian Catherine Corless begins researching a former institution for unmarried mothers and their children in Tuam, County Galway and uncovers a shocking hidden history of neglect and loss. Faced with the deafening silence of church and state, she embarks on a campaign for justice, confronting deep wounds that continue to shape Ireland today.”

Andrew Bennett (God’s Creatures) co-stars with Ian McElhinney (Game of Thrones).

Liam Neeson, who optioned the rights to the New York Times article produced for El Paso Productions, 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, Christian Vesper for Fremantle, Nathanaël Karmitz and Fionnuala Jamison for mk2, Dermot Horan for RTE and Dan Barry.

The film is presented by Screen Ireland and BBC Film in association with Fremantle, Coimisiún na Meán, and RTÉ as an Element Pictures, Big Red Films and El Paso Productions production in association with Port Pictures and co-producer Besides Pictures. mk2 Films is handling worldwide sales, with Volta Pictures Distribution releasing the film in Ireland and the United Kingdom.