EXCITED families were full of the joys of Christmas as they welcomed home their loved ones from abroad at Dublin airport today.
It’s estimated that 93,000 passengers will travel through Dublin’s two terminals amid a pre-Christmas rush on the busiest day of the year.
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Choirs and musical acts were on hand to entertain the happy throngs who passed through the airport.
And among the thrilled passengers were babies and even dogs — including Daisy who’d travelled with their owner from New York.
The festivities are in place right up to Christmas Eve, when Dublin Gospel Choir will treat onlookers to a performance.
Some 1.4 million people will travel through Ireland’s biggest airport over this festive season.
Read more in The Irish Sun
That’s roughly 90,000 less people than the same period last year due to a passenger cap in place.
The cap, which was part of the planning conditions put in place 15 years ago, limits the number of yearly passengers to 32 million.
DAA spokesperson Graeme McQueen told thejournal.ie that the airport staff’s role is to make sure everyone gets where they need to be for Christmas.
He said: “There are lots of smiling faces in the arrivals halls. People getting back together, and then passengers heading away, are equally as happy as well with the experience that they’re getting.”
He also gave some helpful advice to those travelling over the Christmas period.
He said: “It’s going to be busy, but if you prepare in advance, you can make it nice and easy for yourself.
“Give yourself plenty of time, get yourself to the airport in good time and enjoy the experience.
“If you prepare well, it’ll make the experience that little bit better.”
One delighted mother, Margaret Daly, said she was thrilled to have her son Gavin home from New York where he has lived for 20 years.
She told The Irish Times: “It’s really lovely to have him for Christmas.”
She added that it is “so special”.
Jimmy and Geraldine Halpin from Longford were reunited with their son and daughter in law as well as their grandchildren.
Jimmy donned a Christmas jumper and Santa hat as he waited for the New York flight to arrive.
He 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.”
Anne and Liam Dooley were waiting for their daughter Lauren from the same destination.
And they brought a special guest with them, family dog Buster, who Lauren said will be sleeping in her bed now that she’s home.
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