Birthday party to toast leap year babies

Not too many 11-year-olds are the first citizen of a European capital, but Dublin currently holds that honour.

Lord mayor of Dublin Andrew Montague turns 11 today and the capital city’s head man is planning to share it with his fellow leap yearlings at a special birthday bash.

“It’s one of those quirky dates to be born. I’m technically the youngest lord mayor and I don’t look a day over 11,” he joked.

The Mansion House will be celebrating the leap year with a party for some of Ireland’s leap year children and adults. Seeing as they only get a birthday once in every four years, the lord mayor felt it was a party they more than deserved.

“In four years’ time, who knows who will be lord mayor, but seeing as it fell in a year when I was lord mayor, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to celebrate it with my fellow leap yearlings.”

Also attending the party will be Lana and Robyn McKeon from Clonsilla in Dublin. The girls were born on Feb 29, but four years apart. Their mother Suzanne said she didn’t know what the odds were on such an occurrence but flatly ruled out a hat trick.

“The papers keep talking about it but I’ve no idea what the odds were and it’s not likely that there will be a hat trick.

“The girls are really enjoying the excitement though so it’s great. They are going up to Monaghan to talk to Ryan Tubridy before going to the Mansion House. It’s nice to have a bit of fun amidst all the doom and gloom.”

The day will also give women the chance to see just how it feels to be the one who has to go down on one knee and pop the question of all questions.

The right of every woman to propose on Feb 29 only happens once every four years and, according to an 11850 poll, although most Irish ladies are staying traditional and are waiting for their man to propose, more than 20% will be taking things into their own hands by popping the question this leap year.