Limerick quads mark another big milestone on their Confirmation Day
The children of Grace and James were dressed to impress with the girls wearing different coloured dresses with matching bags and white jackets while Lucas looked very dapper in chinos, a shirt and a jacket.
Confirmation is a big day in every household but especially so in the Slattery homestead with four children celebrating the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Quadruplets Amelia, Lucas, Lily and Mollie have their own higher power as they have a unique bond that will never be broken.
They weighed between 2.14lbs and 4.3lbs when they were born at just 31 weeks in 2014 but now they look all grown up.
The children of Grace and James were dressed to impress with the girls wearing different coloured dresses with matching bags and white jackets while Lucas looked very dapper in chinos, a shirt and a jacket.
Their immaculate appearance belies the chaos in their Caherconlish home prior to arriving at Caherline Church for the ceremony.
“Things are never calm in this house - they're always chaotic. No matter where we go, it's chaotic but in a good way,” laughs proud mum, Grace.
She said it was a fabulous ceremony last Friday and the rain stayed away for all the Caherline NS pupils making their Confirmation. Afterwards, the Slatterys enjoyed a party at home with family and friends.
It is an expensive day kitting out one child not to mind four but James and Grace are well used to it.
“It's not easy. Everything comes at the same time and hits you like a bang so we just try to save up. The shoes were probably the most expensive because they all want fancy runners but we were ready for it so we were fine,” said Grace.
It has been a double celebration as the quads turned 12 on Tuesday, May 26. Reflecting on the last 12 years, Grace says it “feels like it's gone in the blink of an eye”.
“It's amazing. They're very grown up now. They really shot up this year. They've gotten very tall.”
Grace said Amelia, Lucas, Lily and Mollie are great pals.
“They get a lot of comfort from each other. I don't think they realise yet how lucky they are to have each other. I think they get confidence from being with each other - that they all have a little kind of protection there.”
Lucas chose older brother Josh as his sponsor, Amelia picked cousin Jack, Molly plumped for her cousin Sarah while another cousin Amy stood for Lily during the Mass celebrated by Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly and Fr Roy Donovan. The parish priest had the honour of presiding at the quad’s baptism, Communion and now Confirmation.
“Fr Roy came over and said hello after the ceremony as well to us and congratulated the kids. He's fabulous. He's lovely and the kids love him as well,” said Grace.
Fr Donovan said: “They are a wonderful family and uplifting to meet. All the children did their school, teachers, family and parish proud.”