No accounting for baby boom at bank

A CO Limerick bank has returned remarkable figures during a boom 2004. A baby boom year.

Seven of the 14 staff members at AIB Bank in Croom became mums and dads.

Branch manger Liam Healy led the celebrations becoming a father for the first time after 20 years of marriage.

His wife Bridget gave birth to Leo last November.

The other staff members in the family way during 2004 were Mary O’Sullivan, who gave birth to son Paddy; Maria Ryan who had daughter Megan; Geraldine Naughton who had Emma; Marian Hughes who gave birth to Sean; Trish O’Gorman who had a boy named Bobby and Billy Ryan, whose wife gave birth to son Peter.

Liam Healy said: “With so many out on maternity leave we had to get a bit of extra back up. But everybody was great and helped out whatever way the could.”

Liam, who comes from Inniscarra in Cork, became a dad after 20 years being married to Bridget Gleeson, the former Irish Golfing international.

He said: “Bridget was pregnant with Leo when she was non-playing captain at the interpros and had Leo shortly after. It’s just great.”

The bank staff are now planning maternity and paternity Christmas parties.

Liam, who lives in Croagh, said: “There has been great excitement in our own house and in both our families with the baby after 20 years. It’s a huge event for the grandparents as well.”

To mark the special baby boom year at the bank, the dads and mums gathered with their babies for a special picture.

Liam said: “I felt it was so unusual we had to mark the events.”