12’s a magic number for Millie

If Millie O’Sullivan ever wants to pick a lucky number for herself, she will find it almost impossible not to opt for 12.

While several more schoolchildren like herself will be celebrating a very special day today — their 12th birthday on the 12th day of the 12th month in the 12th year of the new century — Millie takes the sequence one remarkable step further.

The youngster from Castletownbere, Co Cork, was born at 12 minutes past 12, on the 12th of the 12th, 12 years ago.