Santa makes some special deliveries on Christmas Day
Saturday December 27 2008
Patricia McDonagh
THEY are the best present any parent can ever receive but it is always extra special when you get a little bundle of joy on Christmas Day.
This year, newborn baby cries carried through hospital corridors around the country -- much to the delighted of a few exhausted but proud parents.
Lucky Cliona and Rory Carton managed to nab the distinction of having the country's first Christmas baby, at 12.20am in the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, Dublin.
A 9lb baby boy, the couple's first, brought festive cheer to his proud parents, who are from Harold's Cross in Dublin. And after going through a dozen names yesterday, they decided to name him Finn.
"We looked at lots of names and we decided on this because he looks like a cute little elf," dad Rory told the Irish Independent.
"We didn't expect to have him on Christmas. We were nine days overdue. It's been an amazing experience. Cliona is doing well and I have so much respect for her."
Cork University Maternity Hospital, meanwhile, hosted the second boy. He weighed at 7lb 8oz and arrived to George and Elizabeth O'Mahony, both from Cork, at 12.26am.
Elsewhere, baby boy Kai Richard Ryan arrived to Joanna Lynch at 1.40am in the Rotunda Hospital, weighting 9lb 4oz.
