By Kim O'Leary
Former Ireland and legendary Leinster rugby star Jamie Heaslip, a native of Naas, has announced that he and his wife Sheena O Buachalla have welcomed their first child a baby daughter who was born yesterday.
Taking to social media yesterday, the proud new dad shared the news with his followers around lunchtime to announce the birth of their "beautiful daughter Harper Heaslip born today."
The touching post was accompanied by a black and white photograph of rugby ace Jamie holding his tiny new baby daughter's hand.
Our beautiful daughter Harper Heaslip born today. So much thanks to the all the help from the mid wife Jenny, nurses, our doctor, Dr Allen, and everyone in Holles street. And to my wife, simply speechless. 👨👩👧 pic.twitter.com/bDgsEhsTkE
— jamie heaslip (@jamieheaslip) July 12, 2018
The former Naas RFC man also thanked the staff at Holles Street for their care and he said of his wife Sheena that he was 'simply speechless.'
Jamie Heaslip and his then partner Sheena married in August 2016 at the Newman University Church on St Stephen’s Green in front of 200 guests consisting of family, friends and Jamie's Ireland teammates. Jamie and Sheena, who have been together since 2010, announced in February they were expecting their first child together and they also have a bulldog named Jay-z.
In February, Naas native Jamie Heaslip was forced to announce his retirement from Leinster and Ireland Rugby due to injury.
On the day he announced his retirement from his beloved sport via social media, Mr Heaslip said: "Time will get us all, but it's cornered me earlier than I hoped. Every professional sportsperson always hopes to be able leave their chosen sport on their terms but too often that’s not the case. I’m very proud to finish my career as a one club man having played amongst some of the best in the game, who are all like a family of brothers to me. My goal when I started my professional career 14 years ago was to leave the jerseys that I wore in a better place and I hope I have done that."
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