‘Hold on till the 1st for football!’

Baby Hannah is CGH’s first baby of 2023

There were widespread celebrations in the Connolly household in Monaghan Town when baby Hannah arrived at 12:32am on January 1, not least because she was the first baby delivered at Cavan General Hospital in 2023, but because her arrival falls nicely for future footballing reasons.

The GAA colours will be pinned firmly to this little one’s crib with high hopes she can follow in the footsteps of so many from the Farney county who have played a leading role in the development of ladies GAA in Ulster and remains the province's only county to win a Senior All-Ireland title.

“They were telling me hold on, hold on till the 1st for footall,” laughs mum Stephanie, whose waters broke shortly after 8pm on New Year’s Eve, arriving with dad Craig to Cavan General soon after.

But as Stephanie says “there was no holding on”, and her newborn daughter arrived “on her terms” and at her own time.

That strong will could bode well for the football pitch. Regardless, Stephanie, a native of Carndonnagh, Co Donegal, and dad Craig from Monaghan are simply delighted that Hannah arrived healthy and happy.

“We just wanted her to come safe and sound. The date didn’t really matter,” says Craig.

Both he and his wife agree it has been a “wonderful” way to kickstart the New Year.

It is the Connolly’s second child, with Hannah’s big brother Louie turning two at the end of November.

Little Hannah arrived weighing 7lb 12oz and measuring 50cm long.

Stephanie and Craig thanked the midwives and staff at Cavan General for the standard of care they received.

“It’s just unreal. They don’t get half enough thanks,” says Stephanie.

Craig adds: “The midwives, the doctors too, they’re just fantastic. We could not fault anything about the hospital up there, with both children.”

Ireland's first baby of the New Year meanwhile was born at the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) at Holles Street in Dublin, just minutes into 2023.

Baby boy Harry Denis McDevitt arrived at 12.03am weighing just 3.745 kilograms.