Mother who gave birth at a roadside garage thanks staff
Francesca Corrigan with baby Annabelle and Stephen Reid from the farm shop in Ashbourne, Co Meath. Photograph: Ciara Wilkinson
A Mother who gave birth to her new baby at a roadside garage in County Meath has returned to thank the staff for their help and support.
The woman who is also from County Meath was on her way to the hospital when the baby decided that it was time to be born at the roadside garage and farm shop in Ashbourne just last week.
Francesca Corrigan dropped by the shop with baby Annabelle on Friday to say thank you and how she appreciated the help when it was most needed.
All the staff at King’s Gala garage and Ashbourne Farm and Equestrian Supplies were delighted to see Francesca, baby Annabelle and her father Robert and big brother Logan (age 2).
On Annabelle's birthday, Francesca was being driven by her friend Helena Kane from Ratoath to Holles street hospital where Robert, the father was waiting to meet them as they arrived.
The contractions were coming fast on the Ratoath road on the approach to the N2 and the baby was not waiting to get to Holles Street, so Helena pulled into the car park beside the two businesses and they called out for help as Annabelle was being born.
A local woman who had been filling up her car came to their aid and then Stephen Reid from the Farm shop also went to help as the two women were both screaming and beeping the horn.
Stephen ran to the shop and got throws and cushions to make Francesca more comfortable as the ambulance service gave calm instructions to everybody on the car’s Bluetooth system until they waited for the ambulance to arrive. Stephen took his shoelace and it was used to tie the umbilical cord.
The staff in the garage also provided foam wrap to keep the newborn warm while other staff gave Annabelles’ big brother Logan some ice-cream to keep him distracted while his mother gave birth to his new little sister.
Jerry Brady the garage manager praised their quick thinking and presented Francesca with two hampers and a voucher to mark the occasion on Friday. Jerry said.
“This is a good news story. No one hesitated when they saw that this woman needed help, they downed tools and went to help. It reminds us of the good that there is in people. It was lovely to see them come into us,”
Francesca thanked them all and especially Stephen for their help and said next week she will be meeting up with the woman who was getting fuel and who came to help her too.
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