Christmas rush: thousands come home for festive fun

THERE was hardly any room at the country’s airports yesterday as thousands of passengers streamed into arrival halls and the arms of waiting relatives and friends for Christmas.

More than 67,000 people travelled in and out of Dublin Airport yesterday while 7,000 passed through Cork Airport and 6,500 through Shannon Airport.

It will be the busiest Christmas ever at Dublin Airport with almost 800,000 passengers on the move during the season - up 7% on last year’s figures.

The country’s other international airports in Cork and Shannon will also host a record number of people.

More than 75,000 passengers are expected to travel in and out of Cork Airport, while 85,000 are expected at Shannon Airport.

It will also be Ryanair’s busiest Christmas yet, with more than 1.35 million passengers, while Aer Lingus will have almost 400,000.

The airports are particularly busy this year as more people are heading for winter sun and ski holidays.

The Canary Islands of Lanzarote and Las Palmas are the most popular sun destinations, while the Austrian ski resorts of Salsburg and Innsbruck are the most popular.

Stena Line will carry more than 105,000 passengers and 31,000 cars and Irish Ferries will carry around 46,000 passengers and 13,000 vehicles.

Meanwhile, Iarnród Éireann is expecting to carry up to 400,000 people on its Intercity rail services over the Christmas and new year period. Bus Éireann will serve 200,000 passengers over the festive season. Some 40,000 people travelled with the company yesterday and a further 30,000 are expected to use it today. AA Roadwatch has warned motorists to take extra care as they travel home for Christmas.

Met Éireann has warned of severe winter weather and sharp frosts over the Christmas weekend.

The weather will turn very cold across Ireland today and remain very cold through tomorrow and St Stephen’s Day.

Strong north-west winds will bring wintry showers across the country and these will fall as hail, sleet and snow in many areas.

Snow showers are forecast in the north, north-west and parts of the west today and Christmas Day.

Both Saturday and Sunday nights will bring sharp to severe frost, with ice forming on roads even where no snow is lying, so travel with caution.