Families and survivors of a notorious former mother and baby home in the west of Ireland are to visit the site ahead of its major excavation.

Personnel from Colombia, Spain, the UK, Canada, and the US have joined the team in excavating the mass grave at the site in Tuam, Co Galway.

Research indicates that almost 800 babies were buried in a sewerage system at the St Mary’s home in Tuam, Co Galway between 1925 and 1961.

Gardaí and emergency services attended the two-car collision, which took place on the Tubberjarlath Road (R332) at around 1.40am.

Gardaí issue appeal for witnesses

Families with relatives who were in the Co Galway institution have been informed of the timeline of work.

The single-vehicle collision happened on a local road in the Blackacre area of Tuam

Patrick Naughton, 70, was reunited with his birth mother Christina ‘Chrissie’ Tully in 2013.

Patrick Naughton, 70, was reunited with his birth mother Christina ‘Chrissie’ Tully in 2013.

Martin O’Brien (54) of Gurrane, Belclare, Tuam, Co Galway pleaded guilty to four charges of sexual assault on dates between June 1st, 2012 and February 2014

Carl Hanahoe SC, prosecuting, told the court that the victim in this case, Áine McHugh, who was aged between 16 and 17 years old at the time, wishes to waive her anonymity

Mairead Farrell said the Government finds it ‘incredibly easy to squander taxpayers’ hard-earned money’.

Carmel Creaven is taking legal action over an alleged injury she suffered during a game in January 2017

She has been missing since Saturday.

Gardaí arrested a 20-year-old man after seizing drugs worth €29,500 following two searches in Tuam, Co Galway, on Friday evening