Same-day delivery at Strabane takeaway

UNTIL this year, Alannah Calhoun and Cora Maguire could both say that the one thing they had in common was that they worked together in Jaspers takeaway in Strabane.

Now, thanks to good timing, sheer happenstance or, maybe divine intervention, both ladies can say that through a series of coincidences, they’re proud mothers, having given birth an hour apart!

Last week, Ruby-Mae Colhoun and Tommy Martin Maguire entered the world, little knowing the bond they now share.

Both Alannah and Cora spoke to the Strabane Chronicle this week about the experience.

Cora takes up the story.

“You couldn’t make it up really. Both of us got pregnant around the same time and announced the pregnancies to our workmates two weeks apart. From then on, Alannah and I ended up working every shift together so we were able to keep track on each other’s progress.”

Alannah jokes, “We were both waddling about the place!”

As the time to give birth crept nearer, Alannah’s pregnancy ran overdue by five days while Cora’s little one was also waiting to come out. Nevertheless, that didn’t stop fate from playing another hand.

Cora said, “Strangely enough, both Alannah and I were at the doctors on the same day for our last check-ups although I didn’t know that it would be my last one.

“I was told that my little boy was to come early and was booked in for that Thursday, having been to the doctors on the Monday. Little did I know but Alannah had been brought in the previous day!”

Alannah agrees it was a strange one.

“It was some shock I can tell you, I was already in the ward and I saw Cora coming up the stairs to her room. They put us in rooms next to each other and we went through labour at the same time, with my little Ruby Mae born one hour after Tommy.”

As if that wasn’t enough, Alannah and Cora’s coincidences don’t stop there.

Both ladies got out of hospital on the same day with their little ones (both are thriving by the way). Not only that but Alannah already has a son named Jaden and Cora a daughter named Milania. Both older siblings are the same age (five) and have become friends in recent months while attending St Catherine’s! Now that the dust has settled and both ladies are settling into motherhood for a second time, the prospect for coincidence has stopped – for now.

Cora added, “We haven’t seen each other since leaving the hospital, obviously getting the time to meet is going to be at a premium by now. Going forward though, there’ll be plenty of play dates arranged.

“I suspect these two could grow up to be the best of friends; a lifelong friendship. Their older siblings are already on the way. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – you couldn’t make it up!”