Liam Neeson has co-produced The Lost Children of Tuam, a new drama that brings to the screen the true story of the Tuam mother and baby home scandal. The film opens in Irish cinemas on September 25, 2026, with a scheduled UK release for October 9 [1].
The narrative centers on Catherine Corless, an amateur historian who discovered 796 death certificates for children and babies at the Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home without corresponding burial records. The institution, which operated from 1925 to 1961, drew international attention after Corless uncovered these discrepancies in 2014. Neeson stated that a 2017 New York Times article detailing Corless's investigation prompted him to use his standing in the film industry to bring the story to life [1].
"I thought if my standing in the film business is anything at all I'd love this to become a film so more people could see it and we could share this atrocity," Neeson told RTÉ's Late Late Show. According to Corless, the New York Times writer Dan Barry contacted her shortly after the article, informing her that Neeson wished to speak with her to request permission to make the film [1].
Monica Dolan, an English actor, portrays Corless in the production, having developed a Galway accent for the role. Corless praised Dolan’s commitment, noting that the actress "went to the extremes" to capture the emotional struggle she experienced while campaigning for justice against the silence of church and state [1]. Directed by Frank Berry, the film was described by Corless as "true to life" and "fantastic" in a BBC Radio Ulster interview [1].
The film’s release coincides with ongoing archaeological work at the former institution site. In June 2026, excavation teams reported finding eight additional sets of infant remains, bringing the total number recovered to 77. Corless highlighted that her years of fighting denial from authorities regarding the neglect at the site are portrayed in the movie, which aims to give voice to the ordinary people who struggled to expose the truth [1].
The Lost Children of Tuam received the Best Irish Film Award at the 38th Galway Film Fleadh in July. As the film moves into wider distribution, industry observers will watch for its reception in the UK market and any subsequent institutional responses from the Catholic Church and Irish state, which face renewed public scrutiny over the institution's history [1].
[1] BBC News, "Liam Neeson involved in new movie revealing story behind Tuam babies," September 26, 2026. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckj063lq1jm6o
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