Gran, great-gran and great-great-gran in 31 minutes

A WOMAN with 16 children, 68 grandchildren and 57 great grandchildren could be forgiven for thinking her days of changing nappies and kissing scraped knees better were behind her.

But any thoughts Eileen McGuinness may have had of finally enjoying some well-deserved peace and quiet will have to be put off for at least another couple of years after the latest additions to her family arrived.

In a 31-minute period last Friday, the 85-year-old from Ballyfermot in Dublin became a grandmother and great grandmother all over again after her youngest son Anthony and grandson Stephen Jess became fathers to new-born babies, Michael and Calum.

And as if the joyful double arrival wasn’t enough, at the same time Eileen was also becoming a great great grandmother after 18-year-old Lindsey Carey brought another child into the world.

“Some come up the road and I don’t know who they are,” joked a delighted Eileen yesterday after the family announced the triple birth to the country.

“I never thought I’d live to see this, let alone live to see a great great grandchild.

“I think there must be something in the water in this family,” she added.

Surrounded by a sea of babies in her sitting room, the pensioner explained that the joyous occasion came as a surprise even to the family as none of the newborns were due on the same day.

And in a further twist to the tale, Eileen explained that she did not have far to travel to see the new arrivals as they were all born at the Coombe Hospital in Dublin.

“It’s great. Well it will be great until Christmas comes around,” said the head of the mammoth family.

“I already have three children but I cannot believe this has happened,” added the mother of Eileen’s latest grandson, Mary Hitchcox.

“It would be nice for us all to have the christenings at the same time so we’re going to try and arrange that. Right now we’re all just getting used to being at home with the babies and then we can think about making plans.”

As if the thought of having 16 children, 69 grandchildren, 58 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild wasn’t enough, Eileen is due to hear more good news later this year.

Three more of her grandchildren are pregnant and expected to give birth in November — making sure the matriarch of the McGuinness family will be facing nappies and crying toddlers for a while longer.