New Year bundles of joy!
THE FIRST Wexford baby of 2017 was baby Danny McDonald, who was born at 23 minutes past midnight on New Year’s Day. Danny, who was born to parents Samantha and Tom McDonald, Templenacrow, Clonroche, weighed 8 lbs 1 oz (3.63kg) and was the first of eight babies to arrive on New Year’s Day.
Mum Samantha said Danny’s brothers, Thomas (9) and Jack (3), are over the moon with their new brother and are full of excitement. Danny, who was due January 4, decided to make an early arrival.
‘We never expected to have the first baby of the New Year’, said Samanatha. ‘We were in the Talbot Hotel on New Year’s Eve because Tom’s sister had gotten married the day before. I had half packed my hospital bag and threw it into the boot just in case and as it happened it was needed. Luckily we were only five minutes away from the hospital.’
Baby Alice Connors quickly followed Danny arriving at 12.44 a.m. weighing 8lbs 11oz (3.67kg). Baby Alice was born to parents Alice and Gerry Connors from Bunclody. Mum Alice, who is already mum to Larry and Kathleen, said that Alice had been due on New Year’s Eve. ‘She was one day over so it wasn’t a long wait for her. We are over the moon and so are the other children. It’s a lovely start to 2017.’
Baby Mollie Doyle was born at 1.09 a.m. to parents Rachael Murphy and Brendan Doyle of Charlotte Grove, Gorey. Weighing 5lbs 12oz (2.32kg), Mollie had kept her parents waiting for her as she was four days overdue. Mum Rachael said that Mollie’s big sister Kaitlyn (2) is very excited with her new sibling.
The fourth baby of the New Year was baby Charlie Oliver Alexander. He totally caught his parents, Jason Alexander and Joyce Foley from Shanna Court, Wexford, by surprise as he wasn’t due until February 1.
Baby Charlie was born at 3.15 a.m. weighing a very respectable 6lbs 3oz (2.85kg) despite his early arrival. Dad Jason said it was a great start to the New Year. ‘He wasn’t due for about another five weeks so he totally caught us off guard but it was a lovely surprise. We went to see the doctor a few days before he was born for a check up and he said “wow, this baby is ready to come” – and he wasn’t wrong!
‘We definitely hadn’t been expecting a New Year’s Day baby but it’s great to have him here with us. My son Cian (14) is really excited to have a little brother.’
Jason said that while Joyce has been released from hospital baby Charlie will stay there for another few days.
Baby Erin Dunbar arrived into the world at 9am weighing 7 lbs 15 oz (3.24kg). Parents Juanita Boylan and Robert Dunbar from Tara Hill in Gorey are overjoyed with the new addition to their family, as is four-year-old Callum, who is ‘absolutely in love with her’.
Juanita said Erin had been due on December 21 and was 11 days overdue when she arrived on New Year’s Day.
Baby Finn Allis was born at 10.10 a.m., weighing 6lbs 7oz (3.03kg). Finn was born to parents Deirdre Bolger and Séamus Allis from Screen, making it a very special start to 2017.
Baby Layla Murphy proved she’s a little impatient when she made her arrival at 12.19 p.m. as parents Karen Miller and Jamie Murphy from Urrin Valley, Enniscorthy, weren’t expecting her until January 13.
Dad Jamie said Layla, who was 8lb 7oz (3.94kg), was a lovely surprise to start off 2017. ‘We are absolutely over the moon with her as is her brother Tyler. She was obviously impatient – just like her mother!’
‘We obviously weren’t expecting to start the New Year off in the hospital but it is a great start to it.’
The last baby of the day was born at 10.10 p.m. to parents Honorata and Christopher Grzelak of Laurel Grove, Tagoat. Baby Hannah Grzelak, weighing 6lbs 8oz (2.76kg), couldn’t wait to meet her parents, arriving 10 days earlier than expected.
New mum Honorata said: ‘She picked a very special day to arrive. We are really delighted with her.
‘We had her name picked out in our heads before she arrived and it suits her. I can’t wait to get home with her.’