Survivors Stories: Tuam and Ireland’s Institutional Past is a temporary exhibition to be held at Galway City Museum from 23 June–19 September 2026. The exhibition is a collaboration between the Tuam Oral History Project at the University of Galway (https://www.universityofgalway.ie/tuam-oral-history/) and Galway City Museum (https://galwaycitymuseum.ie) and will present an important public engagement initiative centred on survivor testimony and histories connected to Ireland’s institutional past. It will also represent the first exhibition on this topic in Ireland.

The exhibition will draw upon oral histories gathered through the Tuam Oral History Project, presenting personal testimonies alongside historical interpretation and carefully selected visual and material sources. Survivor voices and lived experience will form the core of the exhibition narrative, creating a space where visitors can engage with the human impact of Ireland’s institutional systems and their continuing legacy.

While recent years have brought greater public awareness of Ireland’s institutional past, much of the discussion has understandably focused on state reports, investigations and broader historical findings. There remains a continuing need to ensure that personal experiences and individual voices are visible and accessible within public memory. Survivors and affected families have repeatedly highlighted the importance of testimony, recognition and opportunities for wider understanding.

Galway City Museum provides an important public setting through which these histories can be explored in an inclusive and accessible way. As a free public cultural institution, it offers the opportunity to reach diverse audiences including local communities, survivors and families, students, researchers, visitors to Galway and younger generations who may have limited knowledge of these histories.