My baby... I have not seen her in two years
Tears and hugs in abundance at the airport as families reunited in time for Christmas
IT was a tsunami of a hundred thousand welcomes mixed with tears, hugs and claps on the back, as the first of many of our much-loved emigrant sons and daughters came home for Christmas yesterday.
And among those arriving from the four corners of the globe at Dublin airport were newly engaged couple Jamie Ruth-Dunne and his brideto-be Dee Nolan from Tallaght.
The couple emigrated to Brisbane, Australia, two years ago and waiting to meet them were Jamie’s proud mum Belinda, his five-year-old god-daughter Alanna, as well as Dee’s mother and father, Brian and Ethel, from Firhouse, Dublin.
‘I haven’t seen him in two years,’ said a tearyeyed Belinda as she counted down the minutes to see her son walk through the arrivals area at Terminal 2.
‘They’ve being going out with one another for 15 years and they went to Australia two years ago. Jamie is working there as an electrician and Dee works in advertising. They are setting up home there now. It’s going to be a great Christmas.’
And when the couple eventually made it through from the baggage area, Ethel could not hide her delight. With tears of joy running down her checks she clasped her daughter tightly saying: ‘You don’t know how much this means to me. . . my God, my baby. I haven’t seen her in two years.’
Meanwhile, Ethel’s soon-to-be son-in-law Jamie was a picture of calm in a sea of emotion. The 29year-old admitted that he was looking forward to catching up with friends and family.
He added: ‘I’m going to spend Christmas with my family and catching up with friends... I’m looking forward to a drink.’
Meanwhile, Karen Heavey said the minutes waiting to collect her bags in the baggage area were agonising.
She emigrated from Dublin to Brisbane, Australia, two and a half years ago and waiting to meet her in arrivals were her mother and father Lorfew raine and David. When she eventually made it through the arrivals doors, Karen’s overjoyed parents hugged their daughter as if they would never let her go.
Describing what it was like to travel thousands upon thousands of miles to only then be separated from her nearest and dearest by a
doors Karen said: ‘I was waiting ages for my bags and I thought I’d never get through... I knew they were waiting for me. This is my first time home in two and a half years and I will be here for three weeks.’
Among those who also arrived at Dublin Airport yesterday to spend their first-ever Christmas in Ireland were five-year-old Luke Kelly and his sisters Isla, three, and Cora, 16 months.
They travelled from Perth, Australia with their mother Aisling and their father Ronan. And there to meet them were their grandparents Margaret and Paul Kelly, their aunt Una and first cousins Aoibhe, nine,
Elyse, six, Emily, five, Hannah, three, and baby Ben.
Ronan said: ‘This will be their first Christmas in Ireland... and instead of 30 to 40 degrees it will be three to four degrees. It’s too hot in Perth at Christmas and this will be a great change for them. We’re just looking forward to being with our families.’
Ronan’s mother Margaret, from Keadue, Co. Roscommon, said: ‘Ronan and Aisling haven’t been home for Christmas for four years. We have 15 grandchildren so it’s going to be a busy house.’
There were few words between the Burke sisters from Ballygar, Co. Galway, when they reunited at Dublin Airport. Their tears said what it meant for both Máire and her sister Aileen to be together for Christmas.
Dublin Airport is predicting its busiest Christmas ever, with 1.17million people expected to arrive and depart between last Friday and January 3. More than 90,000 passengers departed and arrived through the airport on Friday alone.
Nadine O’Brien, 23, from Tallaght, was smothered in a circle of hugs and home-made ‘Welcome Home’ signs when she was met yesterday by her thrilled parents Gina and David, her beaming grandparents and delighted sisters.
Meanwhile, Gillian McCormack, from Lucan, kept a promise she made many years ago to her pal Jeanie Kennedy from Tramore, Co. Waterford.
They met many years ago in Brussels and ever since moving back home Gillian has made an annual pilgrimage to the airport to be reunited with her friend.
Joining her yesterday were Gillian’s six-year-old daughter Annabelle, and her five-year-old son George.
Gillian added: ‘I come here every year to meet Jeanie to bring her home.’