Welcome ho, ho, home!
Families going plane crazy as they wait for loved ones to land
It’s very special to be home as my passport was stolen
EMOTIONS were running high at Dublin Airport yesterday as families and friends were reunited for Christmas.
Flowers and banners awaited loved ones as a steady flow of passengers touched down from Europe and far-flung destinations across Asia and America.
The arrivals hall was a sea of Christmas jumpers and Santa hats with emotive sighs of joy as families reunited. Deirdre Scanlon, from Co Tipperary, could hardly contain her excitement as she waited for her sister Roisin, brother-in-law Martin and niece Evie, 12, to arrive. She said: “She moved to Birmingham 20 years ago. They try to come back every year, but it’s not always possible because she’s a cancer nurse.
“My brother will join us from Bristol on the boat on the 28th. Christmas is so special when everyone comes home.”
Doting dad Kevin Lynch, 66, from Dublin, shared an emotional reunion with his 27-yearold daughter Amy who has been based in Budapest for six years studying to become a vet.
Amy said: “It’s very special to be home because my passport was stolen in November in Spain. I didn’t think I was going to get home for Christmas.”
Gary Kelly, 63 and Margaret Kelly, 59, from Dun Laoghaire in South Dublin, had an eager wait for their 19-year-old son Ciaran, who is on a gap year in Zagreb, Croatia. Blinking back tears, Margaret said: “We miss him so much, the house is empty without him, he’s our only child.”
More than 1.6 million passengers will travel to and from Ireland during the festive period.
Niamh Casey, 23, from Mullingar in Co Westmeath, has spent the past 16 months in Thailand teaching English.
As she entered the arrivals hall her 47-year-old mum Siobhan sobbed: “My heart is jumping out of my chest, she’s the eldest and
the first to leave home, there’s one party after another planned.
“We haven’t seen her since she left. She has a new baby cousin to meet.
“I asked her for her Christmas wish list and the whole list was Irish food.
“Gravy, chicken and ham pie, batch bread, Kerrygold butter.”
Niamh said: “I’m a homebird. I’ve missed family so much. Christmas last year I visited my friend in South Korea so this trip is long overdue.” Katerina Medeski, 36, and Jason Enright, 37, who have been living in Macedonia for seven years, were greeted by his sister 38-year-old Avril Enright wearing a Santa hat.
Katerina said: “It’s my second Christmas in Ireland and being surprised by Avril has been so exciting.
“It’s different here than Macedonia, we celebrate after the New Year so Christmas is more celebrated here than any other country.” Brazilian Julia Ferreira Carfona, 23, has been in Ireland for four months and her parents, brother and aunt are visiting for Christmas.
She confided: “I miss the weather and the sun in Brazil and miss moments with my family.
“But I love how safe Ireland is and how welcoming it is. I love how everything here is about potatoes.”
Engineer Joe Landers, 33, jetted in from Spain where he’s been travelling in his camper van for two months. He said: “I’ve lived in Sheffield for 10 years as an engineer but went off on sabbatical to Spain” He was reunited with 25-year-old girlfriend Eehooi Lee, from Malaysia, as their flights landed in Dublin 20 minutes apart.
Joe revealed: “She’s never celebrated Christmas before.”
More than 100,000 passengers passed through the Dublin hub alone yesterday, according to a DAA spokesman, with 75,000 expected on most days over the busy Christmas period.
I love how safe Ireland is and how welcoming it is also