‘Our gift from Emmeline’ Billy and Lanlih Holland announce birth of baby Matthew

Billy and Lanlih Holland have announced the birth of their baby son, Matthew.

The Munster rugby star posted a snap of him and his wife with their newborn on Twitter with the caption "our gift from Emmeline". In January, Billy and Lanlih touched the hearts of the nation when they spoke to host Ryan Tubridy about their baby daughter Emmeline. When she was six months, Emmeline lost her battle for life but her brave parents were keen to highlight the amazing care they had received at Crumlin Children's Hospital and how fundraising is necessary to ensure their stellar work continues. The couple also spoke of a GoFundMe page they had set up to help support families of sick children across the country and after the show, donations flooded in raising €555,886.

Matthew Conor Holland, our gift from Emmeline. So proud of my wonderful wife Lanlih ?❤️ pic.twitter.com/YSYUuHk5EZ

— Billy Holland (@billyholland) March 15, 2020

The fundraising efforts were divided between Crumlin Children's Hospital, Cork University Hospital (children's wards) and the Ronald McDonald House, all of which had helped them massively when Emmeline was born. Billy and Lanilh's appearance on The Late Late Show was part of a wider special focusing on Crumlin Children's Hospital - the patients, their families, the staff and the touching stories that were shared from people who have experienced CHI. Speaking about the special episode afterward, Ryan Tubridy said:

"We all wanted to acknowledge and give thanks to these incredible families, attending these wards day in, day out, and the phenomenal, constant and unparalleled dedication and work that takes place at CHI at Crumlin and throughout of Ireland's children's wards".