‘It was horrendous leaving my wife and baby’: Fathers call for more paternity leave

As a new campaign aims to extend paternity leave in Ireland, Emer Harrington talks to three fathers who believe it would be a crucial benefit for themselves and their families

James Costelloe, father of three-year-old Isabelle and 16-month-old Robbie. He says of fatherhood: 'It's arguably one of the biggest changes, if not the biggest change you're going to experience in your adult life'

When Daniel Gleeson’s son was born seven weeks early in 2024, he was moved into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at University Hospital Galway.

It was late, so Gleeson stayed for a short time before heading home to get some sleep. He didn’t want to leave his wife and premature baby, but he had work in the morning.