A Co Limerick visitor farm celebrated an extra special Easter with the birth of three baby emus.
The emu is the world's second largest bird after the ostrich, and Stonehall Visitor Farm, Curraghchase, is now home to eight of the long-legged creatures.
Farm owner Sinéad Shanahan said the three chicks hatched at the weekend were a welcome surprise.
"We didn't think they'd arrive before Easter but three of the seven eggs hatched on Good Friday so we have three new baby emus on the farm now."
According to Ms Shanahan, when a female emu lays eggs the male partner sits on them for up to 60 days before they hatch.
"Seven eggs were laid by our female emu, Emily, last February and Eric the male has been sitting on them for the past eight weeks or so. We're not sure if the other four eggs will hatch or not but he's still sitting on them," she said.
Baby emus live off their large green shell for a few days after they are born.
The birds, which are native to Australia, can grow to their full size of five feet in height within one year. They are extremely fast runners and some can reach speeds of 40mph in short bursts.
"They aren't really bred here because they don't survive but we've had Emily since we opened in 2000 and last year she laid 10 eggs. We've had to find homes for some of her chicks but we now have eight on our farm, including the three new chicks," said Ms Shanahan.
Stonehall Farm is home to a wide variety of animals that can be viewed on the farm trail, which covers 45 acres. It is a popular destination for school tours and is home to chinchillas, rabbits, goats, chipmunks, pigs, sheep, ponies and mice, as well as some more exotic animals, such a Eurasian eagle owl named Scooter.