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ON SUNDAY, FOUR identical calves were born at a farm outside Ennistymon, Co Clare.
The odds of such a birth are about a billion to one, according to geneticists who calculated the chances after a similar situation in Norfolk, England over a decade ago.
Today, “the proudest farmer in Ireland” Tom Clair spoke to Áine Lawlor on RTÉ’s News at One about the unlikely birth of the identical quadruplets.
He’d been expecting the cow to have twins, due to her size. Clair had last checked on the cow late on Saturday night and thought she’d make it to the morning without giving birth.
“I came down then at half seven on Sunday morning,” he said, “and when I got down there were two calves standing in front of her.”
Then, the farmer noticed a third calf lying by the cow’s side. So, he put the three together before he heard a “another little moo”.
I looked down at the three, and knew the little moo wasn’t coming from them.
“There he was then standing outside in the yard,” Clair said. “It was unbelievable, Áine.”
When asked if he felt like he won the Lotto when he saw the fourth, he said that you get a lot more satisfaction out of a calf any day than you would from winning the Lotto.
The mother of the four is a Hereford cross while the father is a Charolais bull.
Clair gave the mother all the credit for carrying the identical quadruplets, giving her a chance to rest by hand feeding the calves for the last few days.
The farmer added that it was a “pure novelty” for many as people from all over the area came to visit to see the calves.
Mia, Rosey, Fluffy and Jenny are doing well and, nearly a week later, Clair is still as excited as the celebrations continue in Ennistymon.
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If she went to get elected in SU politics, she definately had an interest in entering politics. At least be honest
Totally. “I am developing my own thinking right now,” she said. I really can’t predict where I’ll find myself in a couple of years.” She sounds seasoned to me.
Don’t like women with tattoos on their forearms ,not so classy .
What about her brains Fred, has she got enough to make a difference and do you prefer guys with tattoo’s on their forearms?
She is not experienced or qualified sufficiently imho.
Getting more votes than the next person is the only qualification you need in politics.
Whereas using the name Fred West as your alias is?!!
Fred, I don’t take too seriously people who judge a woman entirely on appearance.
@Shawn, Yep she is full of it….. pretty much anyone I’ve know of who activley partook in student politics at TCD and campaigned for SU presidency had designs on a career in politics! I can think of one who was elected to the Dail a few years back and another has canvesed for European elections more recently. Lets call a spade a spade
@Fred, I’d rather Ming wasn’t allowed in the Dail wearing his Roma football Jersey or Mick Wallace wore a shirt and tie to work and didnt look like the love child of Krusty the Clown but more importantly are they competent to do their jobs….
Aodháin Ó Riordáin was elected to the Industrial and Commercial panel of the Seanad.
A couple of years ago he was calling for its abolition.
Irish politics is truly miraculous.
I’m pretty sure the 60,000 a year salary for two half days a week planted the seed. What a country.
The system is corrupt.
FG counting on that rat Lowery for votes on forming a government. That above all else tells you all you need to know about how corrupt Irish politics is. If by some miracle you never heard of Michael Lowery Google his name and corruption and you’ll see what I mean.
Diarmuid, u are right and fg have made the wrong decision on this.
Michael Lowry,Irish water,contempt for the people,flannery,relations with o’Brien,closing 130 Garda stations,Callinan,Doha Phil hogan.property tax,the lapdog etc etc …take your pick!!..there’ll be trouble ahead
The people voted to keep the Seanad. Who says you can’t fool all the people all the time.
Oh sweet suffering Jesus… where to even start on the seats reserved for the universities. Anyone taking one of these seats should be absolutely ashamed to describe themselves as being part of “democratic politics”.
I have a vote in these elections because of where I did my postgrad yet I wasn’t entitled to a vote before that because of where I did my degree. It’s a load of elitist boll*x and reason why I don’t vote in this sham election.
Exactly Paul.. a hangover from a time where having a particular third level education somehow made you more worthy as a person. It’s up there with the kowtowing to the clergy of yesteryear.
Paddy, I am qualified to vote but refuse to do so for the reasons outlined by you. Elitism does no help ireland. Whatever happened to Seanad reform?
“I had a right to vote for change but I didn’t because I don’t like the way the system is now”. Allrighty then.
Did you not, Lynne? Someone has forced you? Please give me the name of this evil person and I shall reprimand them. As far as I’m aware it takes considerable effort to be elected to the Seanad, unless you are a political appointee. Don’t annoy me further.
Why are commentators on this site so personal? This is a person who has got into politics out of conviction… Not sure I’d agree with all her views but I know her to be a person of authenticity… And she has got into politics to make a difference…The personal tone of comments on this website could put off conviction politicians and leave the political space to hard skinned and uncaring careerists, many of whom are undermining our democracy… Give this lady a chance. I say well done to her for facing adversity and wanting to give to society as a whole!
She may be the nicest person in the world but won’t have an ounce of credibility sneaking into the Seanad on the 15th count in what’s probably the most undemocratic selection process in Western Europe outside the House of Lords.
I am sure she is a lovely person However we can all predict her opinions on most things The usual liberal progressive consensus
I know nothing about her, so I wouldn’t comment on her personally.
I have admiration for anyone that puts themselves forward for an election, be it student, council, Dail or Seanad.
They have put their neck on the line in a popular vote.
That’s not an easy thing to do, no matter what the comments on this thread will say.
Of its all so easy, why don’t some of the naysayers on here give it a go.
Are you serious?
Totally.
Did you put yourself forward for an election?
Did you have the conviction to face a public vote?
I can honestly say that I wouldn’t have the balls to do that.
Maybe you should.
Heard her on the Vincent Browne show.
Sweet Mother of Jesus.
Best of luck to her.
“I am developing my own thinking right now,” oh so glad she’s in the Seanad already
Never had a desire to get into politics….sounds very promising!
This woman is a gender warrior. She wants to bring in consent classes into schools so she can patronize and demonize young boys because she is a man hater. Her like has no place in politics and it’s horrible that the considerable taxes I pay are paying her wages. Check out the below article. http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/lynn-ruane-i-felt-liberated-when-i-learnt-to-say-no-to-sex-1.2522868
Bloody ‘ell unbelievable. Whatever happened to Seanad reform? It is not fit for puprose in its current state, did you see who crawled back in? Taoischeach nominations, really? In 2016?
I worry for my sons.
Consent classes? Who controls the content? Feminists no doubt. What happens to young men who refuse to be patronised by gender warriors? Accusations of rape apologists.
Mandatory workshops on sexual consent? What is the world coming to….. This smacks a little bit if a: ” There is a bit of a rapist in every man ” and this needs to be addressed before they are allowed to enter university life.
Its been quite a few years since I entered 3rd level education but im inclined to think id put my foot down and refuse to attend such a workshop if they were imposed….
Yeah, “Emily”, you go “girl” ;-)
What, you mean she’s one of those anti-rape nuts? This changes everything!
I personally didn’t feel she was targeting young men in her article, she spoke about “young people” throughout, and stated “This is not about pointing the finger at men – it is not only men who overstep the boundaries when it comes to consent.”.
If she is so reasonable then why make these “classes” compulsory
Why does she not praise the system that supported her all the way like back to education initiative through An Cosain, Trimity Access programme(free) back to education allowance etc. Without this help she would not be where she is now……yet not a mention of these supports or a question about them from any Jojournalist.
Or the male tax payers who paid for this education?
She spoke about this on The Late Late Show last night.
She talks about an cosain and (TAP) all the time and how it helped her gain access to education. But it’s Lynne herself who has worked so hard to get where she is. No one has gotten her grades for her, raised her children for her while being an SU president, and put herself forward for the Seanad to try and change the status quo.
Shame on those tearing her down and saying negative things. We should be championing people who a fighting against adversity to do well and life and fight for others.
I voted for the abolition of the Seanad and to date have yet to be convinced of it merits. However the election of people like Lynn and indeed Frances Black to the Senate gives me some hope that the authentic voice will finally permeate this pampered house.
It’s a huge Country, with a big population and so we do need another crèche for the wee ones going to the Dail.
As I wrote Stephen I voted for its abolition.
I only met her once but was inspired by her determination. She is a fighter and has beaten all the odds to get where she is today. She battled as a single mother. She battled to get into Trinity College. She broke the mould of the typical Trinity Student Union President. She will inspire people from an unprivileged background, that if they work hard, anything is possible. Hats off to her.
Why should she not be on the gravy train like the rest of them ?an undemocratic institution .
The country voted to keep it. A waste of space like the people in it .
No chance she would get a job and the tax payer could stop paying her way
She should get that arm looked at.
You never had a desire to become a
Politian?Youl make a great Politian!Croud of
wasters!
While it’s disingenuous for a Philosophy and Politics student to pretend she’s still finding her way politically, let’s not forget who she beat to get elected: Averill Power, who seems to have no function in life except for politics
Every cloud has a silver lining I guess.
Or every sliver lining has a cloud
What I find obnoxious about all of this the previous government td’s who by the way did everything in their power to abolish the Senate at Kenny insistance, I am thinking Buttimer / Nash in particular keeping their snout in the through
Fair play to her but the Seanad is about as useful as a burnt mickey. Full of failed political clowns.
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