Dublin Airport welcomed back a very special passenger this past weekend, 18 years after she was born in the bathroom of Terminal 1.
Carey Ingwell arrived from Bristol to Ireland to celebrate her milestone 18th birthday, marking the occasion with 18 of her closest family members. The trip was not just a birthday celebration, but a return to the very place where her life began in extraordinary circumstances.
On February 25, 2008, Carey made an unexpected entrance into the world, surprising everyone, including her mother, who had no idea she was pregnant at the time. According to the Irish Independent, Carey’s mother, Catherine, had been travelling back to Bristol after spending the weekend in Dublin celebrating her father-in-law’s 70th birthday.
What began as a routine journey home quickly turned into a dramatic and unforgettable experience. Catherine suddenly became unwell while at the airport and, to her complete shock, went into labour. With no warning and no time to prepare, she gave birth alone in a cubicle in the women’s bathroom at Terminal 1.
Recalling the astonishing moment, Catherine told the media outlet: “I felt very unwell and to my complete surprise I proceeded to give birth to a baby girl in the cubicle on my own.
“My mother-in-law came looking for me and gave me her coat to wrap around Carey, she then called for help from airport staff. I really want to thank the airport's emergency services for looking after us so well and getting us to the hospital quickly,” she added.
Airport staff and emergency responders acted swiftly, ensuring both mother and baby received immediate care before being transported to hospital. Thanks to their quick response, the unexpected delivery ended safely.
Carey holds a unique place in the airport’s history, as she remains the only baby ever born at Dublin Airport.
Eighteen years later, her return was marked with warmth and celebration. Commenting on the special visit, a spokesperson for Dublin Airport said, “Happy birthday, Carey! Great to see you again.”
For Carey and her family, the trip served as both a birthday celebration and a remarkable full-circle moment, returning to the airport where her life story first began in the most surprising way imaginable.
For more on Dublin Airport, check out https://nova.ie/dublin-airports-new-t1-music-wall-showcases-legendary-irish-artists-including-u2-thin-lizzy-the-cranberries-christy-moore-and-sinead-oconnor-361780/
