Watch: Early Christmas for naval families as LÉ Samuel Beckett sailors come home

Sailors were reunited with their families just in time for Christmas as the LÉ Samuel Beckett docked in Haulbowline, Co Cork, after a successful mission in the Mediterranean which involved saving the lives of 1,088 migrants.

Commanding officer Lieutenant Commander Tony Geraghty said the crew got in the festive spirit in the last few days of their mission with a full-scale Christmas playlist on rotation on board the ship.

“The atmosphere on board has been fabulous the last couple of days. People smiling from ear to ear. People playing Christmas music. We were playing ‘Driving Home for Christmas’ by Chris Rea earlier today. That was fabulous. It’s a great day. It is a really important day for the families.”