In February 2017, the one in a billion birth of four identical quad heifers on the Clair farm in Maghera, Lahinch received national coverage and now two of the foursome are expecting twins.

Rosie, Fluffie, Mia and Jenny are now two years old, their mother Bawny a Hereford cross this month gave birth to twins. Bawny has now had 15 calves in 11 years and despite farming for over 70 years, Tom Clair has never seen her likes before.

โ€œBy God sheโ€™s one of the best, itโ€™s often three of them wouldnโ€™t produce 15 calves in their lifetime,โ€ he told The Clare Echo. โ€œI figured she was carrying the twins this year,โ€ he said, two years ago Tom made a similar prediction but received a most pleasant surprise when not one but two extra additions arrived in what geneticists have classed a one in a billion birth with previous incidences at Norfolk (2004) and Texas (2015).

This time round, Tom didnโ€™t expect any surprises, โ€œI didnโ€™t but you could expect anything out of that ladyโ€. He added, โ€œAnyone can have twins, a lot of them have twins but itโ€™s the fact the quads are gone in calving and carrying twins is whatโ€™s making it special againโ€.

โ€œThe quads are gone in calving and there are two of them carrying twins, they are due to calve in September or October, it will be all go again,โ€ Tom predicted. โ€œThey made mighty news that time,โ€ he recalled of their birth and how camera crews from all over Ireland travelled to their farm outside Ennistymon, โ€œthey never looked backโ€ he said of the heifers.

Labelled as Irelandโ€™s happiest and proudest farmer at the time, Clair was nonplussed with what others thought but admitted to really enjoying the subsequent All-Ireland Ploughing Championships. โ€œThe week of the ploughing was the highlight of it all. All the people that went through to the stand to see them for the three days, you couldnโ€™t put a figure on itโ€.

Related News

john moran jennifer carroll macneill patrick o'donovan 1
Minister says option from HIQA review will be decided before Christmas
banner plaza 1
Planning system 'abused' as Uisce ร‰ireann pause works on Supermac's Plaza over judicial review
1 Cutting of Ribbon CI O'Flynn Bench-2
Stone benches unveiled in Eyre Square in memory of O'Gorman & O'Flynn
garda checkpoint ennis 10-04-20 3
Scariff checkpoint uncovers motorist's claim that his car is registered to six year old daughter
Latest News
Screenshot 2025-10-16 111517
Clare Echo Halloween photo contest
john moran jennifer carroll macneill patrick o'donovan 1
Minister says option from HIQA review will be decided before Christmas
o'callaghans mills vs ruan 04-10-25 colm cleary 1
Cleary swaps World Trade Center for Cusack Park in Mills bid for promotion
banner plaza 1
Planning system 'abused' as Uisce ร‰ireann pause works on Supermac's Plaza over judicial review
1 Cutting of Ribbon CI O'Flynn Bench-2
Stone benches unveiled in Eyre Square in memory of O'Gorman & O'Flynn
Premium
Stig hitting top gear as Magpies make final push for promotion
St Flannan's & St Joseph's Tulla come from behind to force draws in Harty Cup first round
Horgan hopeful of more success with Truagh/Clonlara
'There was no getting past our defence' - Kilmihil brought different attitude says captain Currane
Scariff checkpoint uncovers motorist's claim that his car is registered to six year old daughter

Advertisement

Subscribe for just โ‚ฌ3 per month

If youโ€™re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just โ‚ฌ3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter โ‚ฌ8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.