“I BELIEVED for years it was best that the shop should be closed and the key thrown away but I was wrong” (Quote from Tom Woulfe in an Irish Times interview.)

Ex-shop front used for Rendition in Doncaster. Commissioned by Artbomb, 2025

Tom Woulfe was the first registrar of the Adoption Board who organised Maria’s adoption. Quoted above in 1997, speaking as the Director of Saint Patrick’s Guild. Around this time Sister Gabriel was retired and we finally received information that had been on record all along

During this showing of Rendition Fiona visited the site of St Mary’s, Tuam with a pair of the christening shoes

The installation took over the entire shop at Artbomb Viewable 24/7
Sculpture 1. Cherry blossom paper with a typed patina inspired by script lichens; sits in front of the detective board, red embroidery threads fly out and attach themselves to the documents and letters Maria and Fiona searched for and pieced together
Sculpture 2. A BBC documentary about Maria and her Philomena playing on the old 1950s Phillips projector TV that Maria's adopted family had in Ireland which exposes the need for an apology. An interview at the end has Fiona asking for an apology beca
A view from outside at night of the back of Sculpture 2. Including a remake of the washing line protest Fiona installed in front of the Irish Embassy when activists including Fiona first got the Tuam site to go viral
During this showing of Rendition Fiona visited the Tuam site with christening shoes from the exhibition
A shot showing Maria and Fiona's BBC investigation and Fionas documentary. They played 24/7
These two pictures were gifted to Maria from a nun at the convent of the Sisters of Mercy in Cantley Doncaster. The nuns founded Fiona's school. Sr Winifred used to deliver Christmas hampers from the school to their home. Fiona's Silé na gig sits bel
Examples of Fiona's Autocartography The left has had seeds growing in it. The right is now in the national museum of Ireland read more over there
Inspired by ideas of Orwells desk
Maria in a bally by Lewis Kenny who knitted DJ Próvai's original, which became a piece of art and cultural symbol. In front is a glass of Carmelite beer and a eucharist with cress on
A box of unsold silk christening shoes on eBay became concept art for the journeys survivors like Maria made through ‘the homes’ and for remembering those “cribmates” who were lost. Corporal punishment was meted out relentlessly to those who were not
Numerous talks and open days with the artists
Survivor Marie Arbuckle has campaigned with Fiona over the cross-border issues, Marie and her son were trafficked from NI to the Republic. Marie recorded an interview with Fiona which Fiona turned into journalism published by 'Left Horizons' Click or
A woman taking a photo of a display screen that shows people walking through a rock passage with the text "Seefin passage tomb".
A visitors photo exploring the sculpture. Its hoped we can fix the typewriter soon, and add audio. The ambition is to automate it. Can you help? Click/tap the picture