THE first baby of the new year is Madison Doyle (pictured left), who was born at four minutes past midnight yesterday in the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin.
Madison weighed in at 5lb 13oz, as the new year was being marked with fireworks and church bells.
The baby girl and her mother, Ms Karen Doyle, of Ayrefield, on Dublin's northside were reported to be in good health and spirits.
The Rotunda birth was followed by a 12.16 am. baby in the National Maternity Hospital, in Holles Street, Dublin, and a 12.30 birth in the Coombe.
In Limerick Regional Hospital, Ms Mary Chung, of O'Malley Park, Southill, gave birth to a baby girl, Chloe, at 01.38 a.m.
The first new year baby born in Cork was Eoghan O'Brien who arrived at 17 minutes past midnight to Katherine and Owen O'Brien from Kinsale. He was born in St Finbarr's Maternity Hospital in Cork city.
In the Bon Secours hospital in Cork the first arrival was a girl, Niamh, who was born to Mary Ann and Gerard Hanafin from Tralee, Co Kerry. She was born at 12.50 a.m. Mothers and babies were reported to be very well.
Two new year babies were born at St Joseph's hospital, Clonmel, early yesterday.
A baby girl was born to Ms Siobhan O'Regan of Cascade Park, Old Bridge, Clonmel, at 3.50 a.m. and a baby girl was born to Ms Sharon Keyes of Elm Park, Clonmel, at 9.40 a.m.
Erin Elizabeth Scullion was Britain's first baby of 1997 after being born in Northallerton, Yorkshire, as Big Ben chimed midnight.
Birth documents for the 8.5lb baby girl show delivery time of 00.00 hours on the first day of the new year. It ended as the clock chimed for the 12th time.