Meet Cork baby Zara, born on 21st day of 21st week of 21st year of 21st century...at 21.21 hours

Circumstances of Zara’s birth will lift spirits in what has been a tough time for the whole country

Under what Linda and Conor described as world-class care from Professor John R Higgins and midwives Colleen Daly and Blanca Gil, Zara was born at exactly 21 minutes past the 21st hour of the day — 21.21.

Some of us will choose a lucky number at some point in our lives, but there can’t be many whose number has been chosen by the universe in the first moments of our existence.

At Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH), mum Linda Clifford Daly and dad Conor Daly welcomed little Zara into the world three weeks earlier than expected on Friday night — the 21st day of the 21st week of the 21st year of the 21st century.