Dublin’s National Maternity Hospital saw the dawn of 2025 with the birth of the first baby in Ireland just 19 seconds after midnight on January 1st. Baby Bradley, the son of Eve Colley and Eric Tyrell, marked a new beginning for the couple as they welcomed their first child with joy and anticipation.
A Busy Night Across Dublin Hospitals
As the night unfolded, maternity staff at Dublin’s Rotunda Hospital also had their hands full as mother Martha Gilroy Kelly gave birth to a baby boy, Theodore, at nine minutes past midnight. Weighing in at 4.08kg, Theodore brought happiness to his family and added to the excitement of the new year. The Rotunda Hospital welcomed eight more babies between midnight and 8 am, making it a bustling start to the year.
Meanwhile, at Cork University Hospital, Shannon Gibson from Cork City gave birth to a baby boy named Rowan, weighing 3.51kg, at 20 minutes past midnight. Over at Cavan General Hospital, baby Naoíse Beggan made his entrance into the world, weighing 3.54kg, as mother Shannon Kelly proudly welcomed her newborn at 12:53 am.
Spread of Joy to Different Hospitals
The joy of new beginnings extended beyond Dublin, reaching hospitals across the country. Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda welcomed the first baby of the year, a boy born at 1.32 am. At the Regional Hospital Mullingar, a baby girl arrived at 2.24 am, bringing happiness to parents Shaunagh Carverry and Sean Healy from Longford.
At Sligo University Hospital, Ornagh Burke and Ronan Cox celebrated the birth of their baby girl at 3.54 am, adding to the growing number of new arrivals. While Kerry University Hospital did not see any births within its walls, midwives assisted in the home birth of a baby girl named Féile at 5.41 am. Weighing 4.77kg, Féile brought joy to Andrea Thornton & Eoin Murphy at Ardfert, Co Kerry, with the help of midwives Sinead Murphy and Kirsty Hawthorn.
New Beginnings and Happy Endings
Mayo University Hospital welcomed baby Fíodhna at 6.33 am, weighing 4.5kg, to the delight of parents Naiomh Higgins and Chris Byrne from Claremorris. Finally, at Letterkenny University Hospital, Sharon and Lee O’Hara celebrated the birth of their baby girl Norah at 8.30 am. Weighing 3.9kg, Norah completed a night of new beginnings and happy endings for families across the country.
As we witness the arrival of these new lives, let us cherish the joy and hope they bring, reminding us of the beauty of beginnings and the promise of the future. Each birth tells a unique story of love, resilience, and the circle of life continuing its eternal dance. Congratulations to all the families welcoming their precious bundles of joy into the world, may their lives be filled with love, laughter, and endless possibilities.