The first lamb has been born on the Cooley peninsula in north Louth since the foot-and-mouth cull of almost 50,000 sheep there earlier this year.
A delighted 12-year-old, Peter O'Reilly, got the surprise of his life this week when he discovered the new arrival as he checked a flock of 18 ewes on the family holding at Gaultrimsland, Riverstown.
"My father and I bought the ewes just a few weeks ago at Maam in Co Galway and I went down the field to check them.
"At first I thought there was something wrong with the ewe and then found she'd given birth.
"I was delighted," said Peter, who was clearly excited at the new arrival.
Although the family only keep a small number of sheep as a hobby they had been devastated when their previous flock was among the last destroyed during the cull on the peninsula.
"It's been a terrible time for farmers here with so many losing their flocks and still waiting for proper compensation," said Peter's father, John.
The family is considering naming the new lamb "Queen Maeve" after the western queen who figured in the famous legend of The Tain - the story of the cattle raid of Cooley.