Proud Offaly parents celebrating after baby arrives on New Year's Day

Proud Offaly parents are celebrating after their baby arrived in the early hours of New Year's Day. 

The new arrival was the first of 2026 at Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe. 

Along with a picture of the proud parents with their new baby, the hospital sent a message of congratulations. 

"Welcome to the world baby Aqsa Afsal, the first baby born in Portiuncula University Hospital in 2026. Baby Aqsa arrived at 1.21am on Thursday, January 1 to proud parents Farsana Samad and Afsal from Banagher, County Offaly."