Christmas Day newborns were delivered on maternity wards across the country on Wednesday, to the delight of new parents.
At Regional Hospital Mullingar, Co Westmeath, Amber Curry gave birth to baby Noah William. He was delivered at 3.14am and weighed 3.3kg.
Ms Curry and William McBride, from Edenderry, Co Offaly, said that they wanted to thank staff in Mullingar for the safe delivery of their baby boy. “It was all worth it in the end,” they said.
Also in Mullingar, Bowe Murphy was delivered to parents Sineád and Aaron at 1.17pm. He weighed 3.4kg.
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“We are delighted with the arrival of our baby boy – the best Christmas present we could ever have asked for,” the parents, from Mullingar, said.
By 6pm, six Christmas Day babies had arrived at Dublin’s Holles Street, at the National Maternity Hospital.
A baby boy called Enzo was born to parents Maria Belen Di Paola and Matias Camera at 8.09am. The parents are both from Argentina, and live in Portmarnock, north Dublin. The baby weighed 3.75kg on arrival.
The first baby born at the Coombe Hospital on Christmas Day was delivered at 1.18am to parents Naga Harika Gutha and Phani Kumar Kodali. The baby boy weighed 2.8kg. The infant is yet to be named by his parents, who are from Naas, in Co Kildare. He is the couple’s second child.
At the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin city centre, Maria Pletea gave birth to a baby boy at 12.45am. She and her husband Florian, from Citywest, Dublin, named the boy Cassian. He weighed 3.63kg on arrival.
At Cork University Maternity Hospital, three babies were born between midnight and 8am. Baby Orla, delivered at 2.28am and weighing 4.01kg, was born to parents Nicola and Richard Hobson, from Blarney, Co Cork.
One baby was born at University Hospital Kerry between midnight and 8am. A boy was born to Emily Lloyd and Seán Deeney, from Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick, at 6.06am. The infant, yet to be named, weighed 3.07kg.
At Letterkenny University Hospital, Co Donegal, two Christmas Day babies were delivered by 3.30pm. Zach Doherty was born at 10.25am to parents Tara Harley and Charles Doherty, from Gaoth Dobhair. He weighed 3.7kg.
By Wednesday evening, one baby had been delivered at Sligo University Hospital.
Last Christmas Day, 75 babies – 38 boys and 37 girls – were born in the State, according to figures released by the Central Statistics Office.
Holly and Éabha were the joint-most popular name given to baby girls last December – 30 named the former, and 30 the latter. For boys, Jack was the most popular name, in line with year-round trends.
Seán O’Connor, statistician with the CSO, said there is a “seasonal influence” on naming trends.
“Throughout the whole of 2023, there were 104 girls born that were named Holly, a name that ranked 50th in terms of popularity, but it was the joint top name, along with Éabha, for girls born in December 2023 with 30 girls called Holly,” he said.
“Holly has been the most popular or joint most popular name for baby girls born in December for the last 10 years.”
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