Thirty babies were born in the small village of Rathmullan in Co. Donegal

More than 30 children were born in the small Donegal village Rathmullan in 2016 (North West Newspix)

A seaside village in Donegal with just 550 residents is celebrating the incredible arrival of 30 babies born within the space of just a year.

Residents of Rathmullan are perplexed at the baby boom experienced by the village in 2016, which saw 15 baby boys and 15 baby girls born between February and December.

Expand Close Six month old Carter McKinley and his mum Kelly with some of the other parents who had babies in 2016 in the small Donegal town of Rathmullan. Carter was born on 22nd December. (North West Newspix) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Six month old Carter McKinley and his mum Kelly with some of the other parents who had babies in 2016 in the small Donegal town of Rathmullan. Carter was born on 22nd December. (North West Newspix)

Ten of the tots were welcomed in July and August, which has left the community speculating as to whether the long winter nights could have something to do with the influx of babies, while others believe "there must be something in the water".

Village administrator Katrina Tasker said the new arrivals have really boosted the community.

"It must have been all those dark, winter nights and the celebrations at Christmas because five babies were born in July and five more in August."

"Last year we just noticed that there were so many bumps appearing around town. When we sat down and thought about it, we decided to count them all up, and actually discovered that 30 babies had been born between February and December which is amazing because it's such a small place," she said.

Expand Close Thirty babies were born in the small village of Rathmullan in Co. Donegal / Facebook

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Whatsapp Thirty babies were born in the small village of Rathmullan in Co. Donegal

The village welcomed two babies in February, one in March, one in April, two in May, two in June, five in July, five in August, three in September, one in October, three in November, and five in December.

Mum Laura Edwards, who gave birth to her third child Kate in November, said she was the 26th woman to announce her pregnancy in the village between June 2015 and March 2016.

The mum, who is originally from Dublin, said: "It's all a bit mad! When I told one of my friends at my son's school that I was pregnant, she said 'You're the 26th person this year.' I'd say there might have been something in the water. Two of my friends and I had our babies within three weeks of each other. We all had boys in the past, but the three of us had girls this time around which was funny."

A special ceremony was held on Father's Day to mark the unusual baby boom, and all thirty children gathered together with their parents for a Vintage Tea Party in the village's District Resort Centre.

Expand Close Some of the fathers and their babies who were all born in 2016 in the small Donegal town of Rathmullan. (North West Newspix) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Some of the fathers and their babies who were all born in 2016 in the small Donegal town of Rathmullan. (North West Newspix)

"It was such a lovely afternoon but the babies all got a little tired at the end. The whole thing is just hilarious," said mum Laura.

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