THE CIRCLE was complete when one new year baby delivered another new year baby at Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry yesterday.
Midwife Mary Jordan was a new year baby in 1966 and at two minutes past midnight yesterday, she helped to deliver the hospital's first baby of 2009.
The 6lb 7oz baby girl was born to Fave O'Reilly from Rostrevor, Co Down. She was one of the first babies of 2009 born in Northern Ireland. Things were more leisurely in the Republic where the National Maternity Hospital's first baby of 2009 arrived at four minutes past midnight.
Mary Cruise and her husband Martin from Skerries were surprised and delighted to find that she had given birth to a 6lb 8oz girl after having four boys in a row.
But she wasn't lying down in the Holles Street hospital contemplating the arrival of pink into her home. Instead, she availed of the early transfer home scheme and left the hospital yesterday afternoon.
Over at the Coombe Women's Hospital, the first baby was born at five minutes past midnight and again it was a girl.
Jillien Reyn Versoza weighed 6lb 11oz and surprised her mother Melujeau by arriving early. The Coombe's last baby of 2008 was born at 11.56pm.
Baby Scott Morrissey was the first baby of 2009 for the Rotunda Hospital. He entered the world at 12.17am, weighing 6lb 4oz.
Last January, Cork University Maternity Hospital recorded its first birth at one second past midnight but this year's crop of babies were not in such a hurry.
The hospital heralded the birth of its first baby of 2009 at 12.43am. Margaret Mary White weighed in at just over 7lb and is the daughter of Anne Dullea White who lives in Limerick but is originally from Bandon in Co Cork.
A spokeswoman said the night had been relatively quiet as births went especially given that with the amalgamation of maternity hospitals CUMH is now the only maternity hospital in the city.
The Midwestern Regional Hospital in Limerick recorded its first birth of 2009 at 12.53 am.
Jessica Meyler, weighing 8lb 12oz, was born to Elaine and John Meyler from Shannon, Co Clare.
The Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise delivered its new year baby at 1.34am while Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe logged its first birth at 2.05am.
University College Hospital in Galway didn't see a new year baby until 9.41am yesterday, but this arrived five minutes sooner than the first delivery at Letterkenny General Hospital.