Four-year-old Jack has two mums and a dad, and all three of them are gay. Jack is the product of an unconventional but loving arrangement.
His existence proves that for those Irish gay couples without the money to engage the services of an in vitro fertilisation agency abroad, a DIY approach to conception often proves fruitful.
Jack's two mothers, Regina and Sharon, live in a rural area. Five years ago, they decided to act on their desire to have children. They decided against "picking up some guy in a nightclub for a one-night stand" and opted for a sperm donor.
They drew up a list of potential fathers among their gay friends. "We wanted the father of our child to be around," says Regina.
When they agreed on who the father would be, Regina and Sharon discussed their plan with him in detail, covering areas such as schooling, finance and access.
The night the baby was conceived, the three ate dinner together. The father provided some sperm in a sterile container and the two women retired to another room, where Sharon was successfully inseminated.
Jack enjoys the love and attention of his two mums and sees his father regularly. He will know who his caring parents are. There are plans afoot to have a brother or sister for Jack. The same donor will be involved.
Jack was a planned and wanted baby. Careful arrangements and forethought went into his conception. Hands up who among us can make a similar claim?
What others may perceive as unconventional will be normal for Jack. He will told about his birth in a sensitive, controlled and age-appropriate manner as his questions arise, according to his parents.
In the meantime, his concerns are his friends, his puppy and his first day at school, next month.