'It wasn't the New Year's Eve we were expecting!': First Limerick baby of 2026 is an early arrival

LIMERICK woman Pamela Connell-Dera was planning to ring in the New Year at home - but instead, she welcomed 2026 with a beautiful new baby boy!

Pamela, who lives with her husband Konrad at Punch's Cross in the city, was not expecting to give birth to her second child for 10 more days.

But at around 7pm on New Year's Eve, she realised the little fella was on his way early.

READ MORE: Limerick Chamber chief executive resigns after less than 18 months

"It wasn't the New Year's Eve we were expecting," Pamela laughs. "I realised he was on the way, and I made a panicked phone call to my mother who thought we were joking. But then he was born just after midnight."

The bouncing baby was born at 22 minutes past midnight in Limerick's Maternity Hospital at Ennis Road.

Weighing in at seven pounds and 15 ounces, or 3.6kgs, he has a full head of dark hair.

"His eye colour is to be confirmed at the moment, but it looks like they will be dark like his father's," Pamela added.

The couple have also yet to decide on a name for the baby, who was actually one of the first to be born in Ireland this year, given the time he came into the world.

Pamela praised the staff at the Maternity Hospital.

"The staff are amazing here. I couldn't speak highly enough of the care we are getting," she said.

First to receive the good news was her parents.

Now Pamela and Konrad are looking forward to getting home and letting their first-born daughter Fiadh, aged two-and-a-half, get to know her new baby brother.

Their new child was the second to be born at the Maternity Hospital this calendar year.

Rayan Khalled from Ennis welcomed her daughter Aseel into the world at 12:07am, weighing 3.335kgs.

The mother and baby, pictured above, are said to be doing very well.

Congratulations to all!