DUBLIN’S COOMBE HOSPITAL was a hive of activity on Christmas Day as seven babies were brought into the world in the first nine hours of the day.

The maternity hospital had a busy night and welcomed its first festive arrival at 00:37.

Little Sean Kelly-Murray born to mum, Paula Kelly and dad, Gary Murray from Parkwest Point, Dublin 12 arrived weighing 7 lbs 13oz.

Next was baby Lacey at 02:03, born to Jessica Coughlan and weighing in 7lbs 9 oz. Lacey has a brother at home, Warren, who is almost 3 years of age.

Five more babies were born in the following five hours as the baby boom continued at the southside maternity hospital.

Little Sean Kelly-Murray may be the first Christmas baby of 2016 but the honour of 2016′s very first arrival went to Kieran Patrick Gibbons, who arrived at 11 seconds past midnight at University Maternity Hospital in Limerick.

He’s the son of Jennifer O’Neill and Mark Gibbons, who are from Dooradoyle. It was a busy start to 2016 in Limerick, with babies born at 12.08am, 12.33am, 1.04am, 2.17am and 4.48am at the maternity hospital.

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