Families gathered to welcome home loved ones from abroad on what was set to be one of the busiest days in the run up to Christmas at Dublin Airport.
Around 93,000 passengers were due to travel through the terminals, while in total, the country’s biggest airport will welcome 1.4 million passengers this Christmas.
However, numbers travelling through Dublin Airport are down due to the passenger cap.
The cap limits the numbers of people who can use the facilities each year to 32 million.
Airport operator daa laid on a festive entertainment programme yesterday to accommodate travellers, as people began arriving home for Christmas, as well as a few tears and lots of emotional reunions.
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The Abu Dhabi flight landed early, bringing lots of people home from all over Asia and Australia.
Nicola Shields was there to meet her 83-year-old father, Noel Ruane. He flew back from Thailand with his girlfriend Lek where he has been living for years.
Nicola’s sister is getting married so Noel has a very important father-of-the-bride duty to carry out along with enjoying Christmas at home with the family.
Frances Murtagh from Limerick was at the airport to meet her daughter Aoibhe, who has not home from Manila since last Christmas.
There was also a large family reunion with Tina Patten waiting for sister Michelle, her husband and their four teenage children. They live in Melbourne and this is their first time in Dublin for Christmas.
Margaret Daly was thrilled to see her son, Gavin, who had flown in from New York.
She said he has been away for 20 years and got emotional about both her sons living away from Ireland.
“It’s really lovely to have him for Christmas,” she said, adding it is “so special”.
Jimmy and Geraldine Halpin, from Co Longford, waited for the New York flight that their son Conor, daughter-in-law Kristie, and grandsons Cillian and Ronan.
Dressed in Christmas jumpers and Santa hats, Jimmy said: “The granny always thinks we should be like Santy and I suppose she’s right too, it’s the festive season and I really enjoy it.
“It’s great to have them coming home, great to have the children around us, it makes Christmas, it’s all about them.”
Anne and Liam Dooley were waiting for their daughter Lauren, who is living in New York.
They had a very important family member with them: Buster the dog, who was dressed in his own Santa outfit.
Lauren said she was delighted to see her mother, but more thrilled to see Buster, who she said: “Will be sleeping in the bed with me tonight.”
There were dozens of local choirs and musical acts lined up to perform in both terminals across the day.
Although it was set to be the busiest before Christmas Day, it will not be the busiest day this month.
27 December will be the busiest overall when around 97,000 passengers are set to arrive and depart from the airport’s terminals.
The airport will close on Christmas Day – the only day it closes all year – but there will be a skeleton team on duty, including the Fire and Rescue and Airport Police.