The Full Story

In episode 2 of Troubled Ground, the spotlight is on Tuam, a small town in the west of Ireland where the excavation of a mass grave believed to contain the remains of up to 796 babies and children is getting underway.As excavation works begins at the site of the former mother and baby home, reporter Alison O’Reilly talks to relatives of children believed to be buried on the site who are hoping that this dig will answer the questions that have dogged their families for years.As the diggers begin their work, nobody knows what secrets the grounds of a former mother and baby home will finally yield but many hope that this will signal the beginning of a new chapter of this traumatic story.

Episode 1 of Troubled Ground explores the historic exhumation of a mass grave at the site of the Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, Co Galway involving the remains of 796 infants and children. Reporter Alison O’Reilly meets with local historian Catherine Corless who first uncovered the existence of the burial site and whose work eventually led to the excavation. Forensic experts describe the painstaking process of combing through the site in search of lost remains. The episode revisits the origins of the Tuam Babies story, beginning in 2014 with Catherine Corless’s research into the deaths of hundreds of children at the Tuam Mother and Baby Home. Anna Corrigan remembers the shocking discovery that her mother had two sons who died in the home.  Despite initial media indifference, the story gained traction on the global stage. As international attention mounted, political leaders were forced to respond, including the Taoiseach of the day Enda Kenny. The episode captures how a local investigation into a burial ground for forgotten children led to the first mass grave exhumation of its kind. 

Homeless people get almost a quarter of jail sentences handed out in Cork - hear the stories of Marcin and Niall who are homeless in Cork and learn what drives this trend with Kerry Brennan of Cork Simon and other guests. Presented and produced by Deirdre O'Shaughnessy, research by Ev Duggan and Eoin English, on location recording by Chani Anderson, editing and sound design by Ivan Rodrigues. 

Cork's Northside appears disproportionately in our crime statistics - we investigate why, with experts including UCC criminologist Orla Lynch and Katherine Harford of Let's Grow Together. Presented and produced by Deirdre O'Shaughnessy, research by Ev Duggan and Eoin English, on location recording by Chani Anderson, editing and sound design by Ivan Rodrigues. 

In the final episode of series 1, Ciara chats to Fine Gael Minister Paschal Donohoe who discusses coping with grief after the passing of his mother last year. He also discusses how controversy surrounding his election expenses impacted him as well as his childhood and personal challenges he sets for himself. 

Television presenter Katja Mia opens up about her parents fleeing a civil war and the expectations felt by immigrants after moving to another country. She also discusses the importance of faith in her life and managing body dysmorphia. 

This week Ciara chats to Fr Peter McVerry, a Jesuit priest who has devoted his life to helping the homeless. He speaks about his childhood, his views on celibacy and marriage and how helping homeless people has changed his relationship with God.

This week Ciara Phelan talks to comedian Rory O'Connor of Rory’s Stories who discusses hitting rock bottom with addiction, what he would change about the education system, minding his well-being and helping prisoners make different life choices.