Welcome to the website of Irish Premature Babies. We are a registered charity ( CHY 19532) set up in 2009 to support and provide information for parents who have premature babies in Ireland. Irish Premature Babies is the only nationwide support organisation for the 4,500 families affected by a premature birth every year in the country. The charity started as a parent support group solely run by parents of premature babies   who have lived the premature birth experience. Parent support is and will always be a core aspect of our philosophy. Due to the demands for the charity we have expanded and incorporate additional functions and we also now have numerous volunteers from doctors to teachers who advocate our work and are involved in the daily running of the charity. We also have additional medical and political  advisors who guide and support us. Irish Premature Babies is a 100% voluntary run Charity. Each person associated with the charity wants to help either the families or help buy equipment, they do this because they care and want to make a difference, the real essence of what a "charity" is about. As this is our ethos , any fundraising( once costs are covered) goes directly to where it is needed, to supporting families and buying life saving equipment.

The birth of a premature baby is an extraordinary journey that most people are truly unaware of unless they have been in that position. One day you are pregnant and looking forward to the future, and then circumstances change and you are hurled into the unfamiliar and unknown world of the Neo-natal unit. The joy that is associated with giving birth is overcome by fear, guilt, anger, loneliness and isolation. As parents who have all had preterm babies, Irish Premature Babies are here to support you in any way we can from the time you spend in the NICU to the next journey that begins when you all go home.  
We hope that you will find aspects of our website useful, whether its reading other parents experiences in Parents Experiences, availing of the Free Discount Scheme we have obtained for parents from numerous companies.

A key feature the group offers is access to a Buddy Support System  which offers one to one support for families. This unique system comprises of a substantial network of parents ranging from parents with babies born at 24 weeks, parents whose babies have ongoing medical problems, to those whose children have not survived, all of whom offer support to families new to the premature experience via the mediums of email, telephone, texting or face to face chats.

We also run Meet and Greet Sessions for parents through the country so parents can meet fellow parents of premature babies in their own community.  We also have a forum attached to the website so parents from anywhere can chat to each other and share experiences.

You can contact us directly via the feedback section on the website or through our email address at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Click on any of the icons below and they will bring you to our Facebook page, twitter account or YouTube account. 

Please read our disclaimer PDF in relation to the usage of this website. 

Latest fundraising updates and news

"Tiny Footprints”. This is a unique book that highlights that journey of 80 families from around Ireland. The book has been review by John Connolly, Sheila Flanagan and Cecilia Ahern. It is a truly inspiring, sad and amazing account from Irish Parents. The charity set up a book team and they have worked for over 6 months on this project and they hope it will really create awareness of prematurity but also raise badly needed funding for accommodation. The book is available online here, in numerous shops and also as an E-Book.

Other events

-The charity did Christmas hampers (full of goodies) drops to several of the Nicu's for both staff and parents at Christmas.

-Text “Prem” to 57802. Texts cost €2.00, a minimum of €1.65 will go to Irish Premature Babies. Standard Network charges may apply. CHY Number 19532. Helpline Irish Premature Babies 0818217100. Every text can make a difference.

-A group of parents are treking to Kilimanjero in April 2012 in aid of Irish Premature Babies. The Trek is run by a professional Treking company, the same one as most Irish Charities use for events of this nature. This is the opportunity of a life-time to go on Trek to Africa , while at the same time raising badly needed funds for our charity. Please visit the event page if you would like more information or contact Grace at grace@ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or contact her at 087-9459350.

-A group of bikers will be travelling around Ireland in our Road Warriors- Ride out for Prems 2012. Each rider must secure €1,000 to attend the 3 day trek around Ireland. The Ride will travel around different counties and meet different NICU's and SCBU's around the country. All funding made from the Ride out for Prems goes directly to buying equipment for the hospitals. The Riders will get the unique operation to meet parents and some of the wonderful staff in the hospitals. Each rider will get to see where their money goes to. 

This website is sponsored by Irish Premature Babies and www.24.ie kindly give us free hosting. Irish Premature Babies is a registered company without a share capital and  all the members of the charity from the chairperson to accountant are 100% voluntary and give their time and effort to the charity because they feel it's such a worthwhile cause. All funding will go directly to projects and families in need.

Allison Fegan Molloy is the website manager and provides all information for the website and maintains it. If you would like anything specific featured please contact her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it