Treasure it while it lasts, because the traditional big Irish family is on the wane. In 1911, the average number of children per family was 5.3, but people who married young (aged 15-19) in 1911 on average had 8.7 children. Today, fertility in the Republic is below replacement level, at 1.83 births per woman of child-bearing age, and the average family size is 2.1 children. What are we missing out on? "There is always someone to turn to. You are never, ever alone. It doesn't matter what goes wrong or who is in trouble, all nine rally around you," says Theresa Campbell, one of 10 children, pictured above with some of her extended family. The Campbell family will have four generations and more than 50 people around the table this Christmas.