Roy Keane among the arrivals at Cork Airport as Christmas homecomings spark joyous scenes

Tears of joy as some of the 164,000 passengers Cork Airport will greet between now and Little Christmas arrive home

From right: Vivienne Bourke from Ardmore with her son James and his fiancée Dominique (who had just landed at Cork Airport from the Netherlands), and her daughter Orlaith, who Vivienne had collected from Dublin on Thursday. Picture: Larry Cummins

Joyful screams and very happy tears greeted people arriving home for Christmas into Cork Airport this afternoon.

One of Cork’s most famous sons, Roy Keane, flew in from Manchester, but catching glimpses of celebrities was of no interest to those in arrivals, who only wanted to see their loved ones walk through the glass security doors.

“Light in my head, you in my arms, woo-hoo-hoo,” musician Carl Flood sang the rousing Waterboys song Fisherman’s Blues as people grabbed a free pint of Murphy’s, which was being given out by the music stage.

Cork Airport expects 164,000 passengers between December 18 and January 6, communications manager Barry Holland said.

Almost 60,000 passengers are expected between now and Christmas Eve alone.

Vivienne Bourke and her daughter Orlaith were there to collect their son and brother James and his fiancée Dominique, who were flying home from Holland. Vivienne had just collected Orlaith, who is living in India, from Dublin Airport yesterday, her car packed with pillows and a duvet so her daughter could sleep comfortably on the journey home to Ardmore.

Gerard Scannell enjoying a complimentary Murphy's Irish Stout near a big statue of Santy at Cork Airport after he landed from Faro in Portugal on Friday. Picture: Larry Cummins

“Cork has such a beautiful airport. And it is so much easier than Dublin,” she said. “Dublin can be chaotic.”

Wearing reindeer antlers and a festive Nepalese scarf from her fiancé’s home country, Orlaith met her partner Dev while training to be a yoga teacher in Kerala, south India.

The pair have been living in Pune near Mumbai for some time. Despite living near a major international city, the pace of life there is less frenetic than in Ireland, she said.

Mark Crowley, Ballyvolane, and Hazel Higgins, Kileens, with their daughter Eve arriving at Cork Airport for Christmas from Arizona, USA. The couple have been in the US for 15 years. Picture: Larry Cummins

Nature is still nearby, and a lower cost of living and vibrant food culture make eating out a common, sociable occurrence. But the silence in Ardmore and the clean air are things she will deeply appreciate when home, she said.

“The sun always shines when she [Dominique] comes to Ireland, and look outside,” Vivienne said, pointing to blue skies as her son and his fiancé arrived in.

“We’re very, very happy to all be together.” 

Niamh Ní Mhaoláin from Douglas held a banner aloft with Troy Murphy from Glanmire, who were waiting for their respective children, a couple for seven years, Lannóg Mhaolaín and Ryan Murphy.

Troy Murphy, Glanmire, with his son Ryan, and Lonnóg Ní Mhaoláin and her mum Niamh from Douglas at Cork Airport as the couple returned from Sydney, Australia for Christmas in Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins

Lannóg, a dentist, and Ryan, an engineer, moved to Australia on September 11, 2023.

Ryan has not been home since, and Lannóg has only been home once, for her grandfather’s funeral.

“I’m so excited to see them it’s overwhelming,” Niamh said. “I have Tanora in the car waiting for them. We’ll have O’Flynn’s sausages, go into town on Christmas Eve, do all the real Cork things,” she said.

Troy said that his son Ryan wanted to make a pitstop on the way home to get a chicken roll.

“It’s the simple things,” he said.

The couple are living at Bondi Junction, just minutes from where the brutal terrorist attack recently took place, leaving 15 dead, including a 10-year-old girl, and many injured.

London Calling: Parents Cian and Katherine McCarthy with Finn, triplets Ben, Charlie, and Oliver, and Isabel at Cork Airport prior to their departure for Christmas 2025. Picture: Larry Cummins

“They texted to let us know they were safe before it was even on the news,” Troy said.

“I went down there the next day to pay my respects,” Ryan said. “You don’t expect something like this to happen in Australia. People are coming together, and there’s a sense of unity. But there’s a sombre mood in Bondi now.”

Although leaving the sunshine and warm weather of Australia for a chilly Ireland was a little challenging, Ryan said he was very happy to be back.

“We’re trading the weather for so much more,” he said.

Despite a 36-hour journey, flying from Sydney to Seoul in South Korea to Amsterdam and then on to Cork, Lannóg said that she was “buzzing” to be home.

“Australia does a lot of things really well but Ireland does Christmas better,” she said.

“I’ve been looking forward to this so much. And now it feels like I never left.

“I’m most looking forward to being with friends and family and catching up,” she said.

Michael Hickey Jnr, flanked by his father Michael Hickey Snr, and sister Elaine McGowran after he returned from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia at Cork Airport on Friday. Picture: Larry Cummins

Elaine McGowran wore a Santa hat and held a welcome home sign saying ‘Fáilte ar ais’ for her brother Mike, who is home for Christmas from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The investment banker moved to Singapore 11 years ago and his lived in Asia ever since.

His dad, Michael Hickey, was also there to greet his son and bring him back to the family home in Clonmel.

“He’s been gone so long now we’re used to it. But it will be great to have everyone home.” 

Gerard Scannell flew in from Portugal. He is going to the Algarve for one week of each month of winter to escape the cold and excessive costs of life in Ireland.

When his wife died five years ago he quit work and now travels as much as he can.

“Life is too short, you have to live it while you can,” he said.

Patricia Lenihan greeting her grandchild Erin at Cork Airport on Friday as she returned from London with her parents Muiris and Pippa, and her baby sister Florence. Picture: Larry Cummins

Eamon Lenihan and Pat Maloney from Whitegate were at Cork Airport to greet their son Muiris, his partner Pippa, and their two children Erin, 2, and Florence, seven months.

Muiris Lenihan with Pippa, baby Florence, and Erin at Cork Airport on Friday greeted by Patricia and Eamon Lenihan. Picture: Larry Cummins

It is the little girl’s first Christmas in Ireland. They were flying back from their home in London.

The family spent last Christmas in Sardinia, where they have lived for many years.

Climate change is very visible there, Eamon said, with no rain at their home there from May to August this year.

“Years ago, you might get two days of the summer where it was 40 degrees. But now it’s that temperature for two weeks,” he said.

Rosie Heffernan, Clonakilty, with Cody and Otis at Cork Airport on Friday. Picture: Larry Cummins