Why triplets celebrating their 18th birthday in Ireland will always hold Wrexham and Wales close to their hearts

18 years ago today, Daragh, Luke and Sam Morris were born prematurely at the Maelor Hospital where 27 staff were on hand to care for them.

Luke was born first, weighing 3lbs 12oz. Daragh came into the world a minute later weighing in at 3lbs. Finally, after another minute, 3lb 12oz Sam was born.

How the Leader reported the birth of triplets Daragh, Sam and Luke Morris at the Maelor.

Their arrival caused quite a stir - they were the first triplets born at the hospital in eight years - and they were front page news on the Leader.

Thanks to the amazing care they received they thrived before moving to the small town of Birr in Ireland a year later with parents Tony and Ita so they could be closer to Ita's family.

The brothers were christened at St Mary's in Wrexham. Above they are pictured with parents Tony and Ita Morris, Tony's parents Jack and Hilary, and Ita's parents Stan and Dettie who have sadly passed away.

Luke, cousin Joe, Daragh, Tony, Sam, and grandad Jack at Wembly.

But they still hold Wrexham in their hearts, with all three boys following the exiting events at the town's football club following the recent takeover by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

They watch Wrexham games, both home and away, when they are back over to visit their grandparents Jack and Hilary.

Daragh, Luke and Sam, aged four, with parents Ita and Tony Morris.

Two of the boys still support Wales when it comes to sport, but Luke is a proud Irishman.

Due to lockdown measures in Ireland, stricter than here in Wales, the boys' birthday will be a fairly quiet affair.

Far removed from the drama when they were born.

Tony said: "They had 27 nurses and doctors in the room, a team of nine staff for each baby. So when each baby was born their team would take them away and do what they needed to do and we would wait for the next one."

Ita added that the family will always be grateful to the Maelor and its staff.

The triplets love sport.

She said: "They spent the first month of their lives in the special care baby unit at the Maelor. They were born on May 20th and we brought them home on the 20th of June, exactly a month later. They came at 32 week and five days. They could breath on their own, it was just that they were small and had to be tube fed."

Ita added: "The hospital were excellent, they really looked after me and the boys.

"When we go back to Wales we always go to visit the hospital to see the staff there.

"When we moved to Ireland we did a fundraiser for the unit. My sister Gail shaved her head and a couple of lads had their legs waxed, and we sent £1,000."

Back in Wales in 2019: Sam, Tony, big sister Charlotte with her daughter Ava, Daragh, grandad Jack, Luke, and nana Hilary.

And the triplets still feel an affinity with Wrexham and Wales - at least two of them do.

Tony said: "Daragh and Sam would be the twins in the triplets and they support Wales. Even if it's Wales against Ireland, it will be Wales, Wales, Wales. If Ireland were playing someone else they would shout for Ireland but not very loudly. But Luke is the opposite. He says 'I'm Irish. I was born in Wales but I've lived in Ireland for 17 years'. He's always wearing Ireland tops and jerseys."

The lads do have a love of sport in common though.

Daragh, Luke and Sam Morris in hurling action for Birr in 2020.

Tony added: "They've played all sorts of sports. They played rugby from the age of six up to 12; they would play rugby on a Sunday and soccer on a Saturday. At 12 they had to choose, so Luke went with football and he still plays for the under-19s in Birr where we live. Daragh and Sam have played rugby right through to the under 18s. And all three play hurling."

Ita added: "When they were younger they all had Liverpool jerseys like their dad. But only Luke still supports Liverpool now; Sam supports Manchester United and Daragh is Tottenham Hotspur."

Tony said: "The town we live in is small, there's about 6,000 people here. When we went to the pub to watch the Champions League final, Liverpool versus Tottenham, I was surprised how many Tottenham fans there were. Daragh went away from us and sat with the Spurs fans."

And they love coming back to Wrexham to visit their grandparents and go and watch Wrexham play.

The boys with grandad Jack and nana Hilary,

Tony said: "They were born in Wrexham in May and we moved here the following May. My father and mother, who are 87 and 84, have come over here for their birthday every year until last year.

"In normal circumstances we'd be back over to Wrexham twice a year. I've got my daughter over there, Charlotte, who is a sister at the Wrexham Maelor Hospital where the boys were born. She has her own daughter Ava who is three.

"It was February 2020 the last time we went over and they saw their grandparents. But we Facetime them every day and I also speak to my daughter and granddaughter every day."

The Leader followed the triplets story.

He added: "We are still in lockdown. Last year we did the garden up and built a man cave at the bottom so we could enjoy that in the summer. We're hoping we can have a few of their friends over there, but we'll have a proper celebrations in the pub when we can."

On the way to Wembly to watch Wrexham are grandad Jack Morris, Luke, Tony, cousin Joe, Sam and Daragh.

Ita added: "They all follow Wrexham, any time they go back they want to go and see a match."

Tony said: "Two years ago Sam and Daragh flew over for the summer and they asked their grandad if they could go to an away match, so the three of them went on the bus to Notts County.

"Our whole family also went to Wembley when Wrexham got to the FA Trophy final."

Daragh, Luke and Sam aged 11 months.

As they grow older, the boys have one more year in school, they are starting to think about their future careers.

Tony said: "Daragh and Sam looked alike for a long time. One of them would come in and you couldn't tell which one it was. But now we can tell the difference because of their haircuts."

Haven't they grown: Sam, Daragh and Luke at primary school and in 2015 at sister Charlotte's wedding.

He added: "They haven't really decided what they want to do in the future as such. Sam is really interested in computers, he's always buying and selling things online. He'll buy a phone or an X-Box, fix it up and sell it on.

"Daragh would like to be a property developer and Luke is interested in engineering and construction."