Trapeze artist’s New Year’s girl is now a class act
Louise Walsh
A well-known circus director who gave birth on the side of the road on New Year's Day says she is delighted that her daughter is now part of the family act.
Former trapeze artist Tara Gerbola can't even remember on what road in Dublin's Blanchardstown that she gave birth because it all happened so fast.
Little Isabella arrived in the front seat of their jeep at about 12.20am in 2011 and celebrated her 11th birthday last Saturday.
"You never think something like this is going to happen to you," said Tara from the Gerbola's home outside Navan, Co. Meath
"My husband's family were all over for Christmas and Mikey and I went up to the Duffy's who also have a circus to say Happy New Year.
"I wasn't due for a week or so but for some reason, I asked Mikey not to take a drink that night. Then the pains started coming and I knew we needed to go.
"I didn't even have a bag packed and I've never seen our jeep move so fast," she laughed.
"We were booked in for the Coombe but we knew we would never make it so Mikey detoured for Blanchardstown Hospital.
"He took a wrong turn somewhere and no sooner had he pulled in to the side of the road when she arrived. I didn't even have time to get from the front seat to the back seat before Mikey delivered her.
"Then I started to get a bit frightened because we were all on our own with no medical staff to check the baby out. It was New Year's Eve/Day and there were a lot of drunk people around but one kind taxi driver pulled in for us and led us to the hospital.
"We still don't know to this day whereabouts she was born in Blanchardstown!
"We got to the hospital and the staff ran out and put a little hat with a star on her head and took her to be checked. I only found out later that there had been a car accident earlier and lives had been lost so Isabella arriving gave the staff a bit of light on a dark night, I suppose.
"I'll never forget my father ringing me the next day after he heard I gave birth on the car radio on his way home from Clare. It was all a bit surreal. None of my family could quite believe it and others said, it could only happen to me.
"I think she was born about 12.20am on New Year's Day and weighed 6lb 6oz"
Isabella was the first girl for the couple who also have two teenage sons, Blake (17) and Michael (15)
"The jeep is parked out the back still. I refuse to get rid of it!
"Isabella is 11 on Saturday and she has such a fantastic heart. Her heart is in the circus and I'm delighted.
"She is really into her gymnastics and is absolutely animal mad.
"She was performing in Slane before Christmas with the Duffy's and the Fossett's so Mikey and I are just delighted that Isabella will be the next generation of the Gerbola Circus."