Ireland's only set of quintuplets celebrated their 18th birthday today by returning to Dublin's Rotunda Hospital's neonatal ward.
The birth of the ‘Famous Five’ Conor, Cian, Rory, Amy and Dearbhail Cassidy saw them feature as guests on The Late Late Show both as tots and young adults.
The fivesome revisited the hospital yesterday and met the midwives and doctors who saved their lives in 2001. They marked the special occasion with a cake and balloons.
We're not stuck for Cassidys tonight! Welcome Amy, Cian, Conor, Dearbháil and Rory Cassidy with mum Veronica and dad Kevin! #latelate pic.twitter.com/FGTZZrThTa
— (@RTELateLateShow) March 24, 2017
Their mum, Veronica Cassidy, spoke about their high-risk birth in the Neonatal Intensive Care unit at just over 25 week's gestation;
"It was stressful but every day you came in and your babies were there and it gave you the strength to keep going. We didn't think 18 years ago that we would see this day but we have," she told RTE's Morning Ireland.
Veronica was told that she was only pregnant with one child at the first scan, with the next scan showing either twins or triplets. It wasn't until week 11 that the siblings were confirmed as quins.
Professor Fergal Malone, Master of the Rotunda Hospital said: "Any baby to survive in a quintuplet pregnancy is a success but for all five to survive and survive in a healthy manner is extremely unusual."
Happy birthday to the 'famous Five’ Conor, Cian, Rory, Amy and Dearbhail Cassidy.
