Emma Tyrell Reveals How Dublin Firefighters Delivered Her Baby at Home

Irish radio newsreader Emma Tyrell has recalled the unexpected arrival of her daughter, Laoise, with help from Dublin Fire Brigade. Speaking on Ireland AM, she described how an ordinary family day turned into a rapid dash for assistance three years ago. Tyrell said that, through her work, she had often covered stories about firefighters helping women give birth when labour began unexpectedly. She remembered those reports as popular “and finally” items, including accounts of babies arriving outside a McDonald’s and beside a road. She never imagined that her own family would one day feature in a similar story. According to Tyrell, her pregnancy seemed to be progressing normally. Her contractions were about eight minutes apart, and she and her husband had been in touch with midwives. While he packed the car, she lay down briefly, but soon felt a strong urge to push. She told him they needed an ambulance and resisted getting into the car, saying she was not going to travel that way. Tyrell said firefighters Mark and Barry arrived at the house around ten minutes later. Laoise was born just four minutes after that. She described the speed of events as startling, given that she had expected to make it to hospital. The radio presenter’s account offered a personal twist on the kind of emergency-service stories she had previously reported from the newsroom. Viewers responded warmly online, with one calling Tyrell a hero and another praising the way she speaks. Her recollection also highlighted the Dublin Fire Brigade’s role in assisting with an urgent birth before an ambulance journey could happen.