'It's the baby's first Christmas in Ireland': Joy at Dublin Airport amid homecomings
Deirdre Ruane-McAteer from Melbourne with her niece NĂłinĂn Ruane-McAteer O'Laoghaire, 2, and nephew Fiach Ruane McAteer O'Laoghaire, 4, both from Cork at Dublin Airport today. Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins
There were tears of joy this morning at Dublin Airport as more passengers arrived home just in time for Christmas.
More than 100,000 people are expected to pass through the airport with a further 90,000 due tomorrow, according to DAA.
Rosaleen McQuillan was in Terminal 2 to meet her two nieces Shailene, 5 and Adalyn, 2, and her sister Jacqueline Enhicner who has been living in New York for 16 years with her husband Keith.
“This is the first time I’ve been home in for Christmas in eight years with my kids,” she told the . “I’m delighted to be here.
“I’ve been home prior to this but not on Christmas. We are spending with my mother Maureen Gonnelly in Newry.
“There will be around 15 or 20 of us on Christmas day, my sister Ashling is cooking we are a very big family.
“We are going back in two weeks and my husband who is American is very excited about having a traditional Irish Christmas dinner here”.
Meanwhile, Anne and John Cooney from Athlone Co. Westmeath were in the arrivals to meet their daughter Aoife and her husband Geoff Farrell and their six-year daughter Jessica.
“We are delighted to have them home,” said Anne. “We are here to collect them, and my son John has flown in from Munich.
“We have another daughter Rachael who is in New York who can’t travel this year and another daughter in Dublin who will be with us.
“We are going out to Hudson Bay Hotel for dinner this year for a change and we are really looking forward to it.”
Mary Burke from Sligo drove to Dublin to collect her daughter Aoife 27 who flew in from Chicago.
“I’m there a year,” said Aoife. “I am working as an engineer, and this is the first time I’ve been home in a year”.
Aoife's dad John Burke said it was “lovely" to see her.Â
Mum of two Roxanna Allen was overcome with tears when she received a surprise visit from her daughter Sophie Krywonis 23 who jetted in from Nepal.
“I was here to collect my other daughter Nisha who came in from Colorado and I met my sister in the middle, and we flew together. I've worked there for a few years,” she said.
“It is a delayed birthday present for me. We are going to have a lovely Christmas together.”
Teresa Hegarty from Kilkenny met with her daughter Laura, 27, who is living in New York and who is home for two weeks.
“I’m living there a year and I love it,” said Laura. “I was born there, and I came here as a baby, so I’ve gone back to live and work there, but it is always lovely to come home.
“I love America, but home is home, we will have a big party on Christmas day.”Â
Timmina Cahill and Nick Waldron from Lucan in Dublin were there to meet their daughter Megan who has not been home for Christmas in seven years.
“She is the only child, so this is a very special Christmas”, said Timmina. “She is in New York managing a bar and she’s doing great, we miss her so much, but we can’t wait for the party”.
Claire Byrne from Dundalk Co. Louth met with her son Kevin and his husband Aristotle and their baby Sophia who are home from Chicago.
“It’s the first Christmas for the baby and we will have a lovely time,” she said.
While Kevin said: “We are there three years, so we are looking forward to being with family for Christmas Day.
“We will have Christmas porridge first, will go for a swim Christmas morning, then we go to mass and have a lovely dinner.”
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