Babies!




How I am held within a tranquil shell,
As if I too were close within the womb,
I too enfolded as I fold the child.

As the tight bud enwraps the pleated leaf,
The blossom furled like an enfolded fan,
So life enfold me as I fold my flower.

As water lies within a lovely bowl,
I lie within my life, and life again,
Lies folded fast within my living cell.

The apple waxes at the blossom's root,
And like the moon I mellow to the round,
Full circle of my being, till I too

Am ripe with living and my fruit is grown.
Then break the shell of life. We shall be born,
My child and I, together, to the sun.

                            by Freda Laughton






Born to Brett and Daleen McAteer, November 18, 2007, Liam Seamus McAteer weighed in at 6 lbs 7 oz. and 19 1/2 inches tall in theory (he's too young yet to stand up). Some of us will surely remember Brett from the Clan Mhac' World Gathering in Ballyholland in 2004.

Brett tells us that he is married to "Wonder Woman," and the last stage of the process only took about fifteen minutes. Liam was also welcomed by "the world's greatest big brother," Trenton (aged 12) who loves to spoil his new brother. Brett and Daleen celebrated their first anniversary on November 27th, 2007

Please join us in congratulating Liam on his arrival into the family, and Brett and Daleen for helping out - he couldn't have done it without them. Happy anniversary too!

Slán agus beannacht!



After a few false starts, Jamie and Robert McAteer of Ottawa received Mia Abigail McAteer into their family. Mia Abigail arrived at 17:26 on November 15, 2007, weighing 6 lbs 13 oz. She was enthiusiastically welcomed by her elder brother, Owen, who is so proud of her, you'd think he had produced her himself.

Mia was a week early, and had lots of fair hair, on arrival. She will grow up speaking French to her Mom and English to Daddy - something of a tradition in this area. Uncle Richard and Aunt Sara will be right next door with their three children, so Mia will not want for company.

Proud grandparents are May and Gerry Boris of Embrun, Ontario, and Dina and Brian McAteer of Ottawa.

Slán agus beannacht!



Born to Sara and Richard McAteer at their home in Ottawa, at 10:04 Friday morning, February 23, 2007, after only two and a half hours labour. It was a beautiful, crisp winter morning when Teagan Branna McAteer weighed in at 7 lbs 10 oz. She has mostly slept since, which leaves her parents wondering why she was in such a rush to get here. They were at a hospital appointment when it all began, and had to race home to meet up with the midwives. Richard observed that they were probably the only couple rushing out of the hospital to have a baby.

Some of you will remember Richard as the fellow who arrived in Newry, in the middle of the night, soaking wet and half frozen, having bicycled across Ireland for the 1999 World Gathering.

Slán agus beannacht!



Born to Chelsea Lambert and hubby, after only five hours labour, at 8:19 Monday, July 3, 2006, Gabriela Nicole Vargas arrived weighing 8 lbs 3 oz. She is a very happy baby, and the Grandma Missy Lambert tells us their lives have been blessed by her arrival. Abuela and Poppi (Spanish for Gram and Gramps) were with Chelsea in the delivery room. We all join in sending our love and congratulations to both families.

Slán agus beannacht!



Matthew Shay McAteer arrived at 17:20 on Wednesday, April 19th, 2006, weighing 10 lbs., 8 oz. He is welcomed by his parents, Christine and Sean McAteer, elder brother Daniel, wee sister Olivia, and grandparents Hugh and Kathleen McAteer. Many of us will remember Sean as our master of ceremonies at the Grand Ball at Hilltown, County Down, in 1999.

The wee fellow's arrival must have taken everyone by surprise, because they didn't have a name picked out for him. Rising to the occasion, Olivia stepped in and announced that her new baby brother's name was Matthew. (Where would we all be without you, Olivia?). Sensing the hand of destiny at work, the proud parents contented themselves with choosing "Shay" as a middle name. Love and congrats to all.

Slán agus beannacht!



Ciaran Finn McAteer arrived suddenly at 20:03 on Wednesday, September 7th, 2005, weighing 8 lbs., 3 oz. He was supposed to arrive on the 9th (Saint Ciaran's Day) but he just couldn't wait. The midwives had just decided nothing was happening, and had gone out for a puff. Moments later, a terror stricken father fled hollering down the stairs after them. The whole mob came thundering back up the stairs, breathless, but in good time to receive the honoured guest.

Parents Richard and Sara McAteer, and wee sister Morgan Fey (age two) of Ottawa, Canada, are all in good spirits, and Sara was up doing housekeeping the next morning! For his part, young Ciaran is carrying on a generations old family tradition of showing more interest in sleep than sustenance, so they have to wake him up to feed him.

Slán agus beannacht!



Born to Erah and Neal Tilton in McCall, Idaho, on Friday, April 9, 2004, Evan Michael Tilton weighing 7 lbs. Michael was in a bit of a rush, and the family just made it to the hospital in the nick of time. Michael has hazel eyes, is good natured, and arrived with some hair. We don't know the parents, but Marilyn Masten is a very proud great-grandmother, and we are happy to report that she, at least, recovered very, very well indeed!

You may have met Marilyn and Webb at the '99 World Gathering.

Slán agus beannacht!



Born to Rick and Julie McAteer, of Ottawa, Canada, at 21:11 on Monday, December 1, 2003, Alexandre McAteer arrived weighing 7 lbs 4.5 oz. The happy parents were accompanied by a very enthusiastic Christine McAteer, one of our clan youth coordinators. Rick and Julie are very happy, and young Alexandre smiles a lot, and it's only been three weeks! Our love and congratulations to all concerned.

Nous avons la joie de vous annoncer la naissance d'Alexandre McAteer le 1e decembre, 2003, a 21h 11. Né à l'hôpital Montfort, Alexandre est le premier fils de Rick et Julie McAteer. Tout le mond ici se joint à moi pour offrir nos félicitations à Rick et Julie, et aussi nous adressons nos voeux de bienvenue dans ce monde à petit Alexandre. Chère cousine et cher cousin, croyez à tout nos bonnes amitiés.

Slán agus beannacht!



Born to Mary and Robert McAteer, of Perth, Australia, on Friday, November 7, 2003, Rhiannan McAteer arrived weighing 7 lbs 8 oz. Mom and Dad are both well, and so is the young lady. She is welcomed by a growing team of brothers and sisters (as you can see reading down this page), and of course, her parents. That's about all we know, because that's all Robert wrote! Keep up the good work, you two. Can't be too many McAteers. We all join in sending our love and congratulations to all concerned.

Slán agus beannacht!



Born to Christine and Sean McAteer, of Craigavon, Ireland, at 8:48 a.m, on May 30, 2003, Olivia McAteer arrived weighing 8 lbs 2 oz. Olivia has a brother, Daniel, who just turned 19 at nearly the same time his new sister arrived. The happy father, Sean McAteer, is the son of Hugh and Kathleen McAteer of nearby Lawrencetown, Co. Armagh. Everyone is delighted with the new arrival, and Sean wants you to know that her time and date of birth are both palindromes (30 5 03 at 848 am). This is highly significant, because it means that if their fourth baby is a girl, the second and third both have to be boys, and we could use some more blue on this page! Congrats to all concerned.

Slán agus beannacht!



Dana and Jack Howton of Texas, USA welcomed the stork with their first born. Jackie Howton was born on December 2, 2002, and he weighed 8 lbs 13 oz. Dana Howton is the daughter of Liz (Mateer) Gary, president of the Clan Mhac' association in the USA, and Tom Gary, of Crosby, Texas. We all send our congrats to the happy couple, and we are sorry we didn't get the news posted a lot sooner.

Slán agus beannacht!



Sunday, November 17th, 2002, at 19:35, Morgan Faye McAteer was welcomed into the world, at her new house in Ottawa, Canada, which her parents Richard and Sara McAteer, and her uncle Robert McAteer, had just finished rebuilding. Morgan arrived weighing seven pounds, two ounces. Midwives, Lilly Bianchi, Bobby Soderstrom, and Andrea Kohn, attended. First visitors were her grand parents Arlene MacLellan, who took the bus from Toronto, and ran the rest of the way, Dina and Brian McAteer, and Uncle Robert and Cousin Owen, who live next door. The wee lady has slept and fed well since her arrival, and seems to have a sweet, alert, and understanding disposition (I say that with complete objectivity!). Morgan Faye arrived on one of the most magical of winter evenings. The air was crisp and clean and still, with large soft snowflakes falling. There was a hush upon the city, which looked like a painting under the new fallen snow. Surely a good omen. May the peace and beauty of that evening always be part of her.

Slán agus beannacht!



We just received this news, so it will be a bit out of order. Sean McAteer attended the '99 World Gathering in Ballyholland, and he was so inspired by what he saw, that he went straight home to Pocatello, Idaho, and got married! At 6:21 a.m, on September 7, 2000, two years later, and almost on Saint Ciaran's Day, Sean and Brandy McAteer welcomed a baby girl into the world. Rylee McAteer weighed 6 lbs 9 oz on arrival, and we know she is a considerate wee thing, because she let her mother sleep up until a few minutes before her arrival, which she affected "with little fuss and no complications." Hearty congratulations to all concerned.

Slán agus beannacht!



This year, Sean and Brandy McAteer (Pocatello, Idaho), did it again. At 6:21 a.m, on September 29, 2002, scarcely two years later, the stork brought them another baby girl. (Something about 6:21 a.m.) Meaghan McAteer arrived weighing 6 lbs 11 oz. "Brandy was a trooper once again," Sean tells us. She was in and out of the hospital in 24 hours. Sean is very proud of her and of both his girls, and so are we all. Congrats once again.

Slán agus beannacht!



On Sunday, March 20th, 2002, a fine baby girl was born to Colm and Monica MCATEER, of Ballyholland, Ireland. These have been heady times for Colm and Monica. Colm was Goban Saoir before Jacqueline and Enda, and some of his most recent milestones were to become principal of the local school; to build a new barn for his beef cattle; to double his dairy herd; and to take the entire family to Milwaukee for the 2001 interim gathering. A baby girl is a wonderful addition to the family. Wee Kerry Maolíosa McAteer arrived five weeks early, and weighed exactly five pounds. She was welcomed home by her sister Cara, and brothers Connan, and Jarlith. Congrats to the happy parents and to the whole family.

Slán agus beannacht!



On Wednesday, February 13th, 2002, a fine baby girl was born to Enda and Majella MCATEER, of Camlough, Ireland. Blinne Aoibhín McAteer arrived weighing 8 lbs., 1oz. She was welcomed home by Matthew, who had just completed his "Eleven Plus" exams, Clíodhna, Eammon, and Barra, her proud new brothers and sisters. Clíodhna has fairly adopted her wee sister, and Eammon has taken the title of "Number 1 Nurse" for himself. Enda had just recently stepped down as Goban Saoir, and had spent a hectic year working toward his M.B.A. and getting his family over to Milwaukee for the interim gathering. Both parents are delighted and exhausted! Congrats to all.

Slán agus beannacht!



On Tuesday, December 11th, 2001 KEVIN & HEATHER MCATEE had a new son by the name of Cayden Quinn McAtee . Weighing 9 lbs, 10 oz, 20 in. long. Birth was in Overland Park, Kansas. Big brother is Colin Shawn. Granddad is Christopher J. McAtee. Uncles are Kelly, Patrick, Christopher, & Rory McAtee. Aunt is Brigid McAtee. Great grandmother is Kathleen O`Connell McAtee, ancestral relative of Daniel O'Connell O`Connell (the liberator of Ireland). MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR

Slán agus beannacht!



On Friday, December 7th, 2001, a fine baby girl was born to MARY AND ROBERT MCATEER, of Perth Australia. Kiara McAteer weighed in at 8 lbs., 15 oz. Just before her arrival, Mary and Robert had finished building a huge gazebo onto the house, and in Australia that means working with cement, bricks, and wood, so it had been a busy year for them. Both parents have come through it all in good shape, are delighted, and suitably pleased with themselves. We all are too!

Slán agus beannacht!







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