Double vision – Galway town experiences epidemic of twins!

There’s something in the water out Gort way. What other explanation can there be for an avalanche of twins in the last 15 months?

At the latest calculation, there have been no less than 14 sets born in the town and surrounding areas.

Within a three-mile radius of the village of Lough Cutra, four sets have arrived since January last year.

“I was joking with my neighbour, could you not have waited a while to give me my glory – at least a week or two. She had her twins just three days after mine,” laughed Margaret Walsh.

GAA hurling aficionados in South Galway can certainly breathe a sigh of relief – at least for the juvenile teams.

Of the 14 set of twins, there are 21 boys born with a possible hurl in their hands. Just three of the 14 sets are all girls, with one set mixed.

That was the running joke among the inaugural meeting of the South Galway Twins Group when seven mammies brought their 14 bundles of joy to a local hotel in Gort for a cuppa and a chat.

“One more set and we could have our own hurling team,” remarked Lorraine Cummins, whose hands are particularly full as she is also caring for 20-month-old Calum alongside the only identical twins in the group, boys Kyle and Oran, who are five months old.

Of the 14 mums, six are first-timers.  Ten sets were conceived naturally.

The group was set up by Margaret after hearing about how many twins there were in the area from the public health nurse.

“It’s not in the least bit exciting to have twins here now because there are so many of us,” she jokes.

In her own case, she has hubby Donal and eleven-year-old son Samuel for some extra help at home, with a very obliging mother-in-law close by.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.