There were tears of joy and laughter today as thousands of people were reunited with their families and friends and loved ones as they touched down at Dublin Airport just in time for the Christmas holidays.
Young and old embraced their loved ones as they walked through the arrivals gates in emotional scenes that haven’t been experienced fully since Covid-19.
Dublin Airport Authority (Daa) said a total of 45,000 touched down at the airport in what has been described as the busiest day in the lead up to Christmas.
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“Friday was the busiest day of the pre-Christmas period at Dublin Airport with around 45,000 arrivals and 45,000 departing passengers,” Graeme McQueen, Media Relations Manager with daa told The Mirror.
“Over the past week, around 700,000 people have passed through Dublin Airport, with a further 800,000 set to travel between now and the early part of January.
“It’s been fantastic to see so many people returning home for Christmas, following two very disrupted years for travel due to Covid-19. Dublin Airport has been the scene of some fantastically emotional reunions over the past week or so, and that will continue on Christmas Eve when another 35,000 or so passengers will walk through the doors of arrivals.
“The phenomenal efforts of the Dublin Airport team is ensuring that operations are running very smoothly in both terminals and we look forward to welcoming all passengers over the remainder of the festive period,” he said.
Eight-year-old Ellen Defossez, from Wexford, was beaming with smiles as she greeted her aunt Deirdre Long and daughter Anna who arrived in from Paris. All three sported reindeer antlers as they hugged each other.
Meanwhile Dubliners Zoe and Lea Watson were on hand with plenty of hugs and kisses for their grandparents Danie and Botha who arrived in from South Africa.
Sarah, Richard and Hayden McGee, who arrived in from Berlin in Germany were greeted by Paul McGee from Knocklyon while Hazel Matthews, from Wicklow, was emotional as she hugged her grandson Thiago Morgan as he arrived home from the Sunshine Coast in Australia with his mum Cara Casey Morgan.
Elizabeth O’Sullivan was on hand to give her niece and goddaughter Aileen Dulohery who arrived in from San Francisco while Meera Nathan and Mark Dardis, who both also arrived in from San Francisco were greeted by Kim Williams from Leixlip along with Lucy, 7, and Harry, 5.
Enne and Gary Duggan, from Rathvilly in Carlow were on hand with hugs for Heidi and Horst Bauer who flew in from Frankfurt in Germany.
And nine year old Grace Burns, from Lucan gave her cousin Roberta Leonti a massive hug as he arrived home from Geneva yesterday.
Meanwhile, Friday was also Bus Eireann’s busiest travel day of the year as up to a quarter of a million people availed of the services.
Bus Éireann's Chief Commercial Officer Eleanor Farrell said the service operated a regular Saturday timetable, with last departures around 9pm for city, town and rural services.
Bus services will finish on Christmas Eve at 9pm and there will be no bus service on Christmas Day, Ms Farrell added.
On St Stephen's Day, services will resume from around 9am, but some Expressway services will start earlier.
Iarnród Éireann Corporate Communications Manager Barry Kenny said over 100,000 people will travel on intercity services from this evening through to Christmas Eve.
He said trains will not operate on Christmas Day and St Stephen's Day but services will operate for the rest of the season.
Meanwhile, gardai will continue to conduct its Operation Slow Down supported by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) until 7am on Christmas Eve to highlight the dangers of speeding over the Christmas period.
In the first five hours of the 24 hour National Slow Down Day today, GoSafe checked the speed of 68,326 vehicles and detected 270 vehicles travelling in excess of the applicable speed limit.
To date, 156 people have lost their lives on Irish roads this year. This is 28 more than on this day last year and there have been some 1,172 serious collisions resulting in injury, often life altering.
Sam Waide, CEO, Road Safety Authority said, "The roads are going to be very busy over the coming days with people travelling for Christmas and the New Year. Busy roads mean it may take longer to arrive at your destination.
"My advice is to plan ahead, leave earlier if making a long journey, take frequent breaks to avoid driver tiredness and to slow down. Remember the time savings you gain from speeding are miniscule so don't put yourself or others at risk.
"Between 24 and 31 of December last year nine people were killed and a further 30 people suffered serious injuries following road collisions. Let’s ensure that no more families are left grieving. Together we can make sure that all road users arrive home safe this Christmas.”
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