The first baby born in the State in 2003 was a boy, the 16th child of a Limerick couple.
Ms Patricia Waters (40) gave birth to her new son just 30 seconds after midnight yesterday.
The baby had been expected on Christmas Day but instead arrived on New Year's Day at the Regional Maternity Hospital in Limerick.
"This lad was supposed to arrive on Christmas Day but he didn't come until now. So it has been a long Christmas," Ms Waters said.
Weighing 5 lb 9 ounces, the baby is the eighth son of Ms Waters and her husband John. Their family ranges in age from three years to early 20s. Ten of the children are of school-going age and are living at home.
The couple, who are from St Columcille Street, St Mary's Park in Limerick city, also have nine grandchildren
Ms Waters said she loved to be around children and was delighted with her son. She hoped she and the new baby would be back at home by the end of the week. The family live in a seven-bedroom double house, which has been specially reconstructed by Limerick Corporation.
Baby Waters pipped three other babies to the post by 30 seconds. Two were born at one minute past midnight in the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, and the Coombe Maternity Hospital, in Dublin.
Ms Paula Dolan from Donabate, Co Dublin, gave birth to a baby girl in Holles Street. The baby, Ms Dolan's third child, weighed 8 lb 7 ounces and has been named Sophie.
In the Coombe hospital, Ms Lindsey Kennedy of Bailieborough, Co Cavan, gave birth to a baby boy who weighed 8 lb 7 ounces.
Another baby was born in the Regional Maternity Hospital in Limerick also at one minute past midnight but the parents requested no publicity.