AS A FORMER trapeze artist, Tara Gerbola is well used to performing high-wire acts but even she admits to suffering nerves when she gave birth to Isabella (above) in a 4x4 on the side of a road in Blanchardstown at 3.13am on New Year’s Day.
Tara and her husband Mikey, who run Circus Gerbola, were driving to the Coombe hospital from their home in Navan when things began to move a lot faster than they had planned for.
“We decided we don’t think we would make it to the Coombe and decided to try for Blanchardstown hospital instead, but we got lost and ended up in the wrong part of the town. I gave birth on the front seat and my husband lifted her up. I think it was just after 3 o’clock in the morning. I was so delighted to see she was breathing,” says Tara.
“We flagged people down to try and get help and enable us make our way to the hospital. Given the day that was in it, a lot of people were drunk but one lovely gentleman, a taxi driver, stopped and brought us to the hospital.”
Mikey, who started off his circus life as a clown with Fossett’s Circus, stayed with Isabella when they finally made it to Blanchardstown hospital, while Tara was tended to by the doctors. Despite her unusual birth Isabella, who weighed in at 6lb 6oz, was in good health.
“We cut the cord together at Blanchardstown hospital and then were transferred to the Coombe,” says Tara, who is predicting a life in the circus for Isabella.
“She’d be no daughter of mine if she wasn’t on a trapeze.”
Tara, who has two boys, says she wouldn’t recommend giving birth in a 4-wheel drive.
“I was scared, although probably more for my husband at the time. It all came about so fast.”