Limerick man putts baby boy first

Jimmy Woulfe, Mid-West Correspondent

Not to Tiger cheers but the cries of a new born baby in the labour ward at the Regional Maternity Hospital in Limerick.

RTÉ’S Des Cahill told Morning Ireland, on Monday last, of the golfer who dropped off his pregnant wife at the hospital before heading to the tournament.

Dad-to-be Robbie Keane explained to listeners how his wife Sarah had given her blessing for him to play in the event after she was taken to hospital for the birth of their first child.

At 4.48am yesterday, weighing in at six pounds and six ounces, baby David Keane emerged on the fairways of life.

“This is the most beautiful conclusion to an amazing week,” said Robbie, a 35-year-old wine company executive. “I was there for the birth. It was far more arduous than playing in front of the galleries in Adare.”

Sarah, 27, is the fashion manager with Brown Thomas in Limerick and the couple have been married for four years.

RTÉ radio listeners were amazed as Robbie told how he had left Sarah at the hospital before heading to the first tee.

The story was also picked up by the international media covering the Adare event.

Robbie said: “There was never any question of me playing if Sarah was going to give birth on Monday or Tuesday. The gynaecologist said it would be later in the week, but you never know.”

Just in case, Robbie had his mother Rita Keane and sister Suzanne keep in constant contact with the hospital.

Robbie, from Clareview in Limerick, said he got a lot of “friendly slagging” on the course when he played with professionals Paul McGinley and Andrew Coltard.

The wine company executive was last night putting the best of champagne on ice, at home in Ardnacrusha, to welcome Sarah and baby David.