Three sisters give birth within 24 hours at Mayo General Hospital

Fourth sister also due

Ciara Galvin

IT was very much a family affair on the Maternity Ward of Mayo General Hospital yesterday (Tuesday) as three sisters gave birth within 24 hours.
The three sisters’ babies were all delivered on the same day at the hospital. As if that were not coincidence enough, a fourth sister is awaiting the arrival of her baby, due last Sunday.
Mairéad Fitzpatrick, and her sisters, Bernie and Jolene, all gave birth within hours of each other yesterday (Tuesday) at the Castlebar hospital.
Mairéad gave birth to baby Thomas Óg, her first, while sisters Bernie and Jolene then welcomed baby boy Phelim and baby girl Sorcha, respectively. The fourth sister, Christina, should not be long behind them.
Speaking to RTÉ One News today, Mairéad said: “It was just so funny the way it happened. It was my first, and Jolene’s second, Bernie’s third, and Christina, this will be her fourth.”
Mairéad said she wasn’t sure which counties the babies will support ahead of the weekend’s All Ireland semi-final replay against Dublin, as their dads hail from Mayo, Galway and Roscommon.  
“We just didn’t realise it would all happen on the one day. I was the first one to go at 3.25am and then my sister had her section and her little girl, Sorcha, was born at 11am. Then Bernie’s boy Phelim was born last night at about half 8,” Mairéad told RTÉ One News.
Thanking all the staff and consultants at the hospital, Mairéad said staff ‘couldn’t believe it’.