Baby boom: Births reach 113-year peak

IRELAND is in the midst of a baby boom, with the highest number of births in more than a century.

The country registered over 75,000 births last year, the highest number since 1896.

Figures published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) yesterday show there were 38,593 boys and 36,472 girls born last year, with Jack and Ava emerging as the most popular names.