Irish clinics currently deal only with heterosexual patients who have fertility problems, which meant neither IVF nor artificial insemination treatment in a clinic was possible for them.

Apart from travelling to the UK, Belgium, Holland or the United States for treatment, self-insemination was the only other option and this is what Kennedy and Ruotolo decided to try. Only no anonymous donors for them: they wanted their child to have a father figure as well as two mothers.

"Some couples might regard a third party as an intrusion, but for us, having a father figure was really important, " said Kennedy, 36, an artist and writer, who is also the director of Alternative Parents Ireland.

"That was where my friend Jonathan came in. He was the perfect person. His life ambition was to become a father and because he's gay he didn't think he would get the chance."

So Jonathan Neville, 36, from Cork, went through a series of blood tests and in November 2004, Kennedy began inseminations in her home in Milan.

"I conceived the following February thanks to the winning combination of Dalkey and Cork genetic make-up in Milan, excellent timing and a relaxed home atmosphere. Not a clinic consulted anywhere, " said Kennedy. "I am now the biological mother of a sixmonth-old baby boy. There is no looking back."

There certainly isn't. Fionn Piers, born last November, is in the unusual position of having three parents, six grandparents and a vast number of relations on all three sides. He should get more than the average number of birthday presents. Unfortunately, the Irish state does not feel so kindly towards this little boy, or his parents, due to a lack of legislation in this area. As the law stands, Ruotolo is not recognised as a mother of Fionn Piers, nor can she adopt him.

If she did, Kennedy would lose her rights as a mother.

Kennedy, Ruotolo and Neville drew out an agreement with a notary regarding wills and Neville's visitation rights, but there is no legislation to prevent Neville from claiming custody of Fionn Piers in the future.

According to Kennedy, If she was to die, Fionn Piers would automatically go to her next of kin and not Ruotolo. "All of these things can happen as long as we are unprotected and unrecognised as a family unit, " she said.

Kennedy and Ruotolo want to see a civil union system introduced in Ireland similar to the one established in France in 1999. This would provide legal and financial protection for non-married couples, whether same-sex or heterosexual. Lack of such laws could put Ireland in breach of international conventions, the Human Rights Commission said last week. Justice minister Michael McDowell is believed to favour legislation.

So far, at least 60 Irish samesex couples have conceived using clinics abroad or through a known donor, Kennedy says.

"We have around 60 members who have had their own families and that is mainly in Dublin.

We believe that there are a few hundred more gay couples with children around the country we are not aware of."

All are aware of the precarious nature of their family units. "As an Irish gay parent wishing to bring my child up in a protected family environment, I have less rights than those of a single mother, " said Kennedy. Ruotolo is also unhappy that her role could be undermined at any time.

There are other problems.

Kennedy's parents did not agree with her decision and they have not spoken with her since last July. They have not met their grandson.

Then there is the argument that Fionn Piers may find it difficult growing up in such a different environment to the majority of his peers, but Kennedy says studies in the US and UK have shown that children of gay parents are extremely well-adjusted and at a distinct advantage in terms of culture and tolerance.

"What is commonplace has always erroneously been regarded as right, " she said.

"Majority does not equate with the manner in which one lives on a daily basis and history has made some pretty awful mistakes theref Fionn Piers has two mothers and this must be recognised. Other than that there is no foreseeable issue in his upbringing."