Cork and Kerry rivalry was reignited early yesterday but this latest contest was in the maternity ward instead of the football pitch.
Hospitals in Cork and Kerry both recorded the first births of 2008 at exactly one second past midnight. However, Kerry claims to have pipped Cork at the post because its first baby was born naturally, while the Cork delivery was by Caesarean section.
Amanda O'Connell (20) from Tralee gave birth to Kaitlyn Joan at Kerry General Hospital in Tralee. She weighed 6lb and 13 oz.
Ms O'Connell, who works at the nearby Bons Secours Hospital in Tralee, said her baby was due on December 29th. "A few of my friends had joked that I would have a new year baby. I said definitely not. I thought it was going to be well beyond the 29th."
At Cork University Maternity Hospital, Polish-born Agnieszka Kowalczyka delivered her son Tomas by Caesarean section at one second past midnight. He weighed 6lb 15 oz.
The Midlands Regional Hospital in Mullingar announced its first delivery of 2008 at 12.20am yesterday. The baby boy's parents, Barbara and Keith Dunne, come from Mullingar.
In Dublin, the National Maternity Hospital in Holles Street claimed the first birth in the State last year but this year it had to be content with the first birth in Dublin.
At 12.54am, Catherine Magee from Cabra gave birth to an 8lb 3oz baby boy. Rose Mugan, assistant director at Holles Street said 12 babies were born between midnight and noon yesterday "and 33 were born in the 24 hours prior to that".
At the Coombe Hospital, Brenda and Derek Reddell from Tallaght saw their baby born at 2.23am. Already decked in a Manchester United Babygro, there was no doubt over where his parents' allegiances lay. Baby Ryan, named of course after Ryan Giggs, joins brothers Eric (after Cantona) and Alex (after Ferguson).
At the Rotunda Hospital, its first baby of 2008 was born at 2.45am to Valerie Longmore from Donaghmede. Baby Jessica was 7lb 14 oz and is the third daughter for Ms Longmore and her husband Joseph.
There was no new year rush at Mount Carmel Hospital where its first baby of 2008, a boy, arrived at the leisurely time of 10.16am yesterday.
At University Hospital Galway, Magdalena Pietka of Newcastle, Galway, welcomed her baby Laura into the world at 1.03 am. In Limerick, Maria Marginean from Romania gave birth to her daughter Iulia at the Midwestern Regional Maternity Hospital at 1.22am. She was on holiday, visiting family here, when her baby signalled its imminent arrival.
Olivia Kelleher adds:
The parents of a Cork toddler who died last summer after falling 25 feet from the window of her home, were yesterday celebrating the birth of a new baby daughter. Sumaiya Saliba Ali (22 months) died from head injuries on August 26th after she fell out the window of the family's second-storey apartment in Hardwick Street near Cork city centre.
Her parents, Shawkat Ali and his wife Romana, who are originally from Bangladesh, told the coroner at their daughter's inquest that the tragedy happened in a matter of seconds.
This wasn't the couple's first loss of a child; they had a son in 2003 who died in hospital within 48 hours of his birth.
Yesterday the couple were rejoicing at the birth of their new baby, Saba Yasmin. Saba Yasmin, which means "morning breeze", was delivered by Caesarean section at Cork University Hospital on New Year's Eve at 5.15pm. She weighed 7lb. Her delighted father said her birth marked a new beginning following the tragedies of recent years.
Mr Ali has been living in Cork for the past five years. His wife and baby daughter joined him in Cork just over a year ago and the family established a base in Hardwick Street in Cork city centre. Mr Ali works in a city centre restaurant
Meanwhile, in the wake of Sumaiya's death, the owners of the rented flat have put a device on the windows to prevent them from opening more than nine inches.