THE NEW YEAR brought more than its usual share of new beginnings for a number of Kilkenny families as they welcomed some new arrivals.
Nine babies in total were born at St Luke’s Hospital on Friday on the first day of the new decade – including a generation of potential Kilkenny hurlers, as the total included eight boys.
Baby David William Fallon was the first born at St Luke’s Hospital, at 7.35am – the first Kilkenny baby of the new decade.
Proud parents Jim and Jane, who are based in Kilmoganny but who hail from Westmeath and Wales respectively, were thrilled with their newborn arrival, who weighed in at 9lbs.
Speaking to the Kilkenny People, Jim revealed that David arrived almost perfectly on schedule – being due for delivery on New Year’s Eve.
The proud father said that knowing a baby would be arriving around the turn of the decade made the holiday extra special for the family.
“We were delighted to have the first baby of the decade,” he added, “but having a healthy baby was the most important thing.”
The impending arrival wasn’t the only concern for the family over the holidays, however – the presence of David’s sisters Molly (5) and Caitlin (3) meant that “Christmas and Santa were big focuses first, according to the “absolutely delighted” father.
Last year’s total number of births in the hospital stood at 2,193 – a number likely to be replicated this year.
Remarkably, two of the eight boys born in St Luke’s on Friday arrived within a minute of each other – at 9.34pm – to Margaret Gunning of Kilkenny and Leah McCullough from Callan.
Other proud mothers at St Luke’s throughout New Year’s Day included Fiona McCusker from Knocktopher, Helen O’Dowd from Castlecomer, and Cait Madigan from Thomastown, as well as Carlow residents Lonita Pujate and Emma Murphy.