The rights to the new memoir by activist Catherine Corless have been snapped up it was announced this week.

The amateur Irish historian was instrumental in exposing the Tuam Mother and Baby home scandal back in 2014.

Now her harrowing account of that time is being brought to the market by Hachette Books Ireland who has drafted in Naomi Linehan to ghostwrite the book.

Linehan is best known for her work on Vicky Phelan's award-winning memoir Overcoming and Karo Rosvall's Nowhere's Child.

Commenting on the acquisition of the memoir, Hachette editor Ciara Considine said: ‘We’re delighted to acquire world rights to Catherine’s important memoir. The story of the Tuam mass grave, and Catherine’s key involvement in bringing it to light, has long captured Irish and international imaginations.

We look forward to publishing this major book next autumn, which will bring new perspectives to bear on the life and work of an extraordinary woman whose campaign for justice represents a singular commitment to Ireland’s forgotten women and children.’

Catherine exposed the story of the mass grave by painstakingly researching the death records of the 798 children who died in the Bon Secours home but without burial records. The story broke nationally after being published in the Irish Mail on Sunday in 2014.

Speaking about the planned memoir Catherine said: ‘Despite often being asked to do a book, I have refrained from it till now.

My story has always been secondary to my work on behalf of justice for the Tuam mothers and babies. Yet, for me, that cause is also deeply personal. I am glad to have the opportunity now to create my own record, and I hope that it will further the cause of justice for the Tuam mothers and babies. We must never forget what happened our women and children in Ireland.’

The book is set to be published in print, audio, and eBook in September next year.