Ireland

'Pint baby' found after 20-year-old film clip goes viral

'Pint baby' on RTÉ show Nationwide in 1997
'Pint baby' on RTÉ show Nationwide in 1997 'Pint baby' on RTÉ show Nationwide in 1997

STATE broadcaster RTÉ's 'pint baby' has been found after becoming an overnight internet sensation.

The 20-year-old clip from Nationwide featuring a baby supping a pint of Guinness went viral last week after being posted online by an RTÉ reporter.

People immediately took to the story and "#pintbaby" began to trend on social media site Twitter.

The baby featured in the clip has been tracked down to Co Kildare where he lives with his mother.

Stephen Barron, now aged 20, told RTÉ: "I don't really mind [the attention] – I'd rather be called Steven than 'pint baby' though."

While some have criticised allowing an infant to drink alcohol, other internet users have been quick to point out that it was more common years ago.

Stephen was also quick to downplay the footage, saying, "I suppose everyone can relate to it. I'm sure I'm not the only one. I'm just the only one who got filmed doing it."

His mother Caroline said: "There was filming going on in the pub, we were there – there was great fun and atmosphere and craic.

"Stephen was sitting on my knee and he took a shine to a pint of Guinness.

'Pint baby' has been identified as Stephen Barron, now aged 20
'Pint baby' has been identified as Stephen Barron, now aged 20 'Pint baby' has been identified as Stephen Barron, now aged 20

She added: "It was only a drop of Guinness, there's plenty of parents even to this day that would do it, there's no harm in it.

"He's turned out perfectly fine and there's no bother on him."

Steven revealed that, rather than career ambitions in Guinness or alcohol, he hopes to become a blacksmith.

"[I make] pokers, knives, I might try the odd gate, it's a nice craft and I'd like to keep it going," he said.