Older Fathers Challenge Traditional Family Timelines
A man in his 20s could be fit and healthy and be knocked down by a car or get a disease,
Alex Kane recalled a friend telling him before he started a family later in life, The Irish Times reported.
The decision by men to have children well into their 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond is increasingly common across Ireland and internationally. While female fertility carries a biological ceiling, men continue to procreate later in life, driven by career pressures, housing costs, second marriages, and longer life expectancy. The over-65 population in Ireland has grown by 35 per cent over the past decade, more than three times the rate of growth in the overall population, even as the national birth rate declines. High-profile examples include Ryan Tubridy announcing he was to become a father again at 53, and Eurovision winner Paul Harrington welcoming his second child in 2019 at the age of 60. Globally, Al Pacino became a father at 83 in 2023, Robert De Niro welcomed a daughter at 79 the same year, and Mick Jagger was 73 when his son arrived in 2016.
Alex Kane Balances 71 Years with Young Children
Alex Kane, a 71-year-old journalist, political commentator, and former communications director for the Ulster Unionist Party, shares two children with his partner Kerri: 17-year-old Lilah and nine-year-old Indy. Adopted at age six by an adoptive father in his mid-50s, Kane experienced firsthand that older parenting can provide stability. When he and Kerri decided to have children, he reflected on his own upbringing and decided age should not be a barrier to family life.
Kane structures his freelance schedule to ensure he never prioritises work over school runs or weekend activities. He climbs trees, runs down beaches, and goes boulder-hopping with his children, noting that parenting keeps him active and engaged.
Ciarán O’Sullivan Trades Late Nights for Playground Runs
Dublin business owner Ciarán O’Sullivan, 51, spent his 20s focused on socialising, golf, and building his career before meeting his wife, Eimear. After marrying in 2018, the couple welcomed their son Cameron in August 2020 without needing fertility treatments, benefiting from the financial stability of established careers.
Fatherhood transformed O’Sullivan’s daily routine, ending weekend drinking and golf in favor of family life. To keep pace with his active six-year-old son, O’Sullivan underwent knee surgery to repair long-standing cruciate ligament damage. Although he expresses regret that he and Eimear did not have a second or third child for Cameron, he remains focused on the family they built.
Declan McCarthy Manages Family Life in Norway at 58
Declan McCarthy, 58, grew up as the eldest of eight children in west Cork, running his family’s pub in Baltimore before working as a festival programmer for the Skibbereen Arts Festival and Baltimore Fiddle Fair. Believing the opportunity to have children had passed him by, McCarthy met Michelle in 2015. The couple married and welcomed son Liam when McCarthy was 53, followed by a second son, Tadhg, when he was 56.
Based in Norway while Michelle completes her five-year PhD, the couple coordinates childcare around academic and domestic schedules. McCarthy gets up early to handle breakfasts while his wife writes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Older Fatherhood
What drives the trend toward older fatherhood?
Factors include second marriages, career pressures, housing affordability, job insecurity, and improvements in healthcare and overall life expectancy. Psychologist Colman Noctor notes that people are living healthier lives and staying younger longer.
How common are older fathers in Ireland?
While official demographic data specific to new fathers in Ireland remains limited, the over-65 population has grown by 35 per cent over the past decade. Public figures and private citizens alike increasingly demonstrate that starting families in middle age and beyond is no longer unusual.