Ireland's first baby of 2003 was born in Limerick just thirty seconds after midnight.
The as yet unnamed baby boy was born to Mrs Patricia Waters (44), a mother of seven boys and seven girls, at Limerick Regional Maternity Hospital.
The baby was born six days after his due date.
"This lad was supposed to arrive on Christmas day but he didn't come until now. So it has been a long Christmas," Mrs Waters said.
