How great thou Art!
Two south Meath councillors began their own political dynasty for Christmas by celebrating the birth of their first child.
Sinn Féin Councillor for the Ratoath area, Cllr Maria O’Kane gave birth to a bouncing baby boy on the evening of 23rd December and both mother and baby are doing fine.
Her partner, Cllr Darren O’Rourke is the Sinn Fein leader on Meath County Council.
Their newborn son is Art Seamus Ó Ruairc, who arrived in the Rotunda Hospital, weighing in at 8lbs 2.5 oz at 8.57pm.
“He was 13 days overdue, but arrived just in time for Christmas and we got home on Christmas Eve,” said his delighted Mum.
“He sat out the cold weather and waited for the milder weather to arrive.”
Darren and Maria live in Ashbourne and are planning to get married in June.
The couple met during the local election campaign in 2014. “Darren was my mentor and gave me a helping hand, that is how it all started,” she recalls.
Little Art has certainly made history, as it is the first time two sitting Meath councillors have had a baby together.
With both his parents politicians do they see him with a political future?
“Well he has a good environment if he has any inkling of having a political life, but he has long fingers and long legs, so he could become a musician or a sportsman instead,” his proud Mum said.
He is also likely to grow up a Gaelgeoir, as both his parents love their native language.