DONEGAL'S All-Ireland
win on Sunday is expected to spark a baby boom in
the county.
The exuberance and excitement among fans could lead
to a busier than usual maternity unit at Letterkenny
Hospital in nine months' time.
And the county is likely to welcome many Sams,
Jimmys and Michaels in the coming months as fans
name their bouncing baby boys after their GAA
heroes.
One of Donegal's largest childcare centres is
Errigal Montessori School and Creche in Letterkenny.
Managing director, Maureen Walsh, was among the
thousands of supporters who braved the wet weather
in Donegal Town on Monday night to welcome the
triumphant team home.
"We will be ready and able to accommodate a baby
boom if one transpires and you can be sure some of
the little boys will be called Sam," she quipped.
"The whole thing has been such a great family
occasion with parents bringing along children from
as young as six months to experience the
homecoming."
Statistics reveal that a baby boom often follows a
great sporting victory. Nearly 40 babies - double
the average - were born at a New Zealand hospital
over one weekend last June. It followed the All
Blacks' victory in the Rugby World Cup that kicked
off exactly nine months earlier.
Census 2011 showed that Donegal's population
currently stands at about 161,000. Of the 2,212
babies born in the county last year, Ryan was the
most popular name for boys. This will perhaps remain
unchanged next year - at least in the Inishowen
peninsula - home of half-forward Ryan Bradley.
Meanwhile, Ms Walsh said the Donegal football stars
have been great role models for the children of the
county.
"We were privileged to have two of the players,
Eamon McGee and Rory Kavanagh, call in to the creche
two weeks ago. One of our little four year olds
watched the entire game on Sunday looking for the
two players who came in to see us," she said. |
