A baby boy has been born in the oratory of an older persons community
hospital in Co. Cork after his parents failed to make it to the
maternity hospital in time for his arrival.
Staff at Macroom Community Hospital had to deliver Conn Sylvester
O’Connell after his parents, Mary and John, headed for the local
hospital when they realised they would not reach Cork University
Maternity Hospital (CUMH) quickly enough from their home in Reidh na
Deiri because of treacherous ice on the road.
Mr and Mrs O’Connell had hoped that an ambulance from the maternity
hospital would pick Mary up in Macroom to bring her the rest of the way,
but nature intervened and Conn arrived in the hospital oratory.
“We were like Holy Mary and the manger and we found our inn at Macroom hospital,” Mrs O’Connell remarked.
Coincidentally, it was the O’Connells’ fellow parishioner and Macroom
hospital staff member Joan Dineen, who helped deliver Conn who weighed
in at 3.4kg and was said to be doing well.
After the delivery Mrs O’Connell and her new baby were brought to CUMH by ambulance, accompanied by Ms Dineen.
It was the first birth in eleven years at the 38-bed community
hospital, which once provided a range of services but now specialises in
looking after elderly patients.
SIC: CIN/IE